Page 57 of Fatal By Design
“Oh, am I so relieved, I—” Cassie cut herself off as she seemed to realize what she was doing. She leaped away from him, a fine blush rising to her cheeks. “Oh. I’m sorry, I…” She cleared her throat. “I’m just pleased a physician was at Greenbriar to help.”
Her eyes wide with humiliation, Cassie gave her back to Thornton and came to Audrey. She sat on the side of the bed, her spine rigid. Audrey bit back a chuckle as the open bedchamber door filled again, this time with Michael and Millie. Hugh shifted straighter on the bed at her side. Michael’s keen attention did not overlook the intimate hold of his arm wrapped around Audrey’s shoulder, but he didn’t address it. Millie observed as well, her lips pressing into a small grin. She wore a new dress, likely taken from her luggage that had been left in her abandoned coach, and her hair had been re-pinned.
“Sir Ridley has arrived,” Michael announced. “He would like a word with you, Neatham. And you, Thornton.”
Hugh shifted again on the bed, slipping his arm out from behind her.
“I won’t be long,” he told her. Then, as he’d done in the woods, he kissed her forehead. When he pulled away, his eyes were bright with mischief. He knew exactly how improper it was to show such affection, and yet he did not care.
As he stood and joined Lord Thornton and Michael, who now arched a brow in disapproval, Audrey thought her cheeks must resemble Cassie’s pink flush. Although, her sister-in-law seemed to have discarded her own embarrassment in favor of grinning smugly at Audrey.
“I knew it,” she whispered as the men left the room. Audrey shook her head.
“We must change your dress, Your Grace,” Greer said, smoothing over the awkward moment.
The black frock was ruined, having snagged on thorn bushes on top of being shredded by a bullet and stained with blood.
“I wonder if I might first have a moment with my sister,” Millie said, her hands clasped before her. “It won’t take but a few minutes.”
Audrey nodded to Greer, who bobbed a curtsey and left the room. Cassie also stood. “I will let Genie know how you’re feeling. She’s been occupied with trying to calm Lady Kettleridge. The woman nearly fainted when she heard Mr. Henley shot you.”
“Lord Kettleridge will no doubt be just as faint when he learns he’s been fleeced,” Audrey said. She did feel sorry for him and Mr. Filmore for their lost investments. She supposed she should also feel sorry for Lord Westbrook, but the man was so disagreeable, it was difficult to feel pity.
“At any rate, I fear the house party has come to an early end,” Cassie said as she moved toward the door. “Lady Veronica has already directed her maid to begin packing her things.”
“Such a shame,” Audrey replied. They shared a grin before Cassie saw herself out.
The bedchamber grew suddenly empty and quiet. At the same time, the remaining person filled the room considerably.
“The viscount is in love with you,” Millie said.
Audrey inhaled and held her breath, waiting for her sister to say more. Express disapproval and reproach. But she didn’t. She only waited for Audrey’s response.
“Yes,” she replied. “He is.”
Kissing her forehead like that in front of everyone had all but announced that after her mourning period had ended, a happy announcement could be expected.
Her sister’s expression remained open and friendly. Something Audrey was not in the least accustomed to.
She braced for pain as she shifted her legs off the edge of the bed. Her feet touched the floor, and Millie rushed to her side.
“What are you doing? You should stay in bed and rest.”
“This will only take a moment,” Audrey said, extending her arm. Millie took it. “Help me to the desk?”
She looped Audrey’s arm over her shoulders and held her by the waist as she stood, putting most of her weight on her good leg. It still ached and burned like fire, but she was too eager to reach her writing box and ignored the pain as she and Millie shuffled across the room. The box, crafted of polished cherry wood, brass fittings, and a brass plate engraved with her initials, had been a gift from Audrey’s late grandmother. She’d asked Greer to unpack it from her trunk when her stay at Greenbriar had been extended.
Audrey released herself from Millie’s helpful hold, lowered herself into the desk’s chair, and reached for the clasp. Springing the lid, she saw the flat shelf inside, which held a stack of writing papers of different sizes. She lifted the shelf to access the bottom of the box, where smaller compartments held an ink bottle, pens and nibs, blotting papers—and the object of Mr. Henley’s greedy desire.
She scooped up the nautilus shell, its shape and weight familiar in the palm of her hand. She’d memorized the etchings James had worked into the polished exterior long ago and had thought she knew everything there was to know about the shell. She would often peer up into the main chamber, but nothing had ever caught her eye inside.
Audrey held it out to Millie, who took the shell carefully, as if touching something fragile. She turned it over and with a trembling hand, reached her thumb and forefinger high into the opening. After a moment, she let out a little gasp, and then withdrew a balled-up scrap of blue chamois. She set the shell back into Audrey’s palms, and then unwrapped the soft fabric, revealing one of the loveliest gemstones Audrey had ever seen.
The large, square cut diamond was a vivid lilac purple, the brilliant shimmer of its facets mesmerizing in the sunset light that was now slanting through the window. The gold setting and band had tarnished during the years the ring had been hidden inside the shell, but the stone was flawless.
“Oh my,” she said, gazing at the diamond. “I think I underestimated its worth. It would surely fetch more than the five thousand I told Mr. Henley.”
Millie rubbed the soft chamois along the tarnished band. “You were remarkable. I never would have thought to trick him in such a way. I was far too terrified.”
