Page 35 of An Honorable Deception
He’d already won. Years ago. He’d won, and there was no changing that. The damage had been done. Talking about it wouldn’t fix it—it would only make the hurt fresh again.
And it would show them how broken she was. How could that help?
They were still sitting outside when the sound of wheels on gravel met their ears, and though Alethia’s side was growing achy and her muscles weary, she was glad she hadn’t gone in yet. Within a few minutes of the carriage’s halt, Lord Fairfax had found them, looking fresh despite the four hours he’d already spent on a train, his smile bright as he took them in.
“Well if this isn’t a welcome sight. You must be feeling better, my lady. I am surprised to see you up and about to this extent.” Even as he greeted her, he leaned down to kiss his sister’s cheek and then reached over to tug the long braid spilling over Lavinia’s shoulder. “Still doing your routine, Vinny?”
Lavinia snatched her hair from him with a laugh but then, curiously, darted a glance at Marigold and sobered. “As instructed, my lord. And no longer praying for death every time I sit down.”
Alethia’s confusion must have been on her face because Lavinia directed a smile her way. “Lord Fairfax is convinced that in order to regain my full health, I need a regimented exercise routine. He and Marigold have devised one for me, and it is utter torture. The first several days I could scarcely move without muscles screaming that I didn’t know existed before then.”
That would explain the odd clothing she’d been wearing the other day—Alethia had noted it but hadn’t wanted toquestion her on it. She smiled her acknowledgment now. “And do you feel healthier yet?”
“‘Pathetic’ may be a more accurate term, given that Marigold can outpace me even in her current condition. But she assures me I’ll improve. Eventually. And Lady Alethia,” she continued, directing her gaze back to Yates, who had taken a rather precarious-looking seat on the railing, “has been venturing farther for longer each day. She is a far better patient than you—she’s breathed nary a complaint.”
Fairfax grinned. Alethia frowned. “When were you a patient, my lord?”
“I was gravely wounded last spring saving Lavinia’s life,” he said with such obvious exaggeration that she looked to Lavinia.
She was rolling her eyes. “He took a scratch on the leg and acted as though it had been amputated.”
Alethia smiled. She liked listening to their banter. It reminded her that not all was ugly in the world. Not all was loss. There was friendship, too, and joy, and laughter.
There were also many unspoken things she couldn’t follow. She didn’t know what script was playing out, but she got the feeling Lavinia skipped a line. Fairfax lifted his brows, clearly waiting for something that didn’t come—and when it didn’t, he glanced at his sister with something that looked like accusation.
Marigold stood. “Time to visit Leonidas. Anyone want to join me?”
Alethia sat forward, even as her side sent out a new ache. She wanted to go, but what if she grew too weak while they were away from the house?
“Before that...” Lord Fairfax’s face shifted, amusement falling away, a heavy, serious expression taking its place. An expression he directed towardher, making her stomach gotight with premonition. “I hate to be the one to give you bad news, my lady. But your friend Victoria Rheams . . . she didn’t miss your lunch on Monday. She was attacked—robbed, beaten, and left for dead. I’m afraid she passed away last night. It was in the morning paper.”
His words went hollow, distant. She wouldn’t have called Victoria afriend, really—a friendly acquaintance, more like. But they were supposed to have met that day. AboutSamira. And she’d been beaten? Brutally enough to result in her death?
Nausea churned, but her throat went blessedly tight to keep it down. Words, if such things could even exist in her head, refused to come to her lips.
Fairfax eased a bit closer. “I am so sorry. I know this is a terrible shock.”
Hands settled on her shoulders—Marigold’s and Lavinia’s. The gentle pressure of their fingers couldn’t make it go away, but it was nevertheless a precious reminder that she wasn’t alone.
She forced air into her lungs. “Is it ... does Mr. A think it’s linked to the attack on me?”
He gave a slow nod. “It’s an avenue he is investigating, he said. Especially since the papers report that shedidhave lunch with a friend, presumably you. I don’t know why they think that.”
Her brows knit. Then flew up. “Oh! I’d completely forgotten. She’d originally asked to meet at eleven, but I sent a note back pushing it to noon and saying I needed to visit the Ayahs’ Home afterward.” How could she have forgotten that bit when she told them of it originally? She shook her head. “I thought I must have confused her and made her think to meet me at the Ayahs’ Home at noon. Regardless, she could well have had the original time in her appointment book.”
Lord Fairfax offered a small, tight smile. “We’ll pass that along to Mr. A. In the meantime...” He stood, motioning toward the stables. “Perhaps a visit to the animals will soothe you. I’m happy to play your crutch again, my lady. Itisa bit of a walk, but I won’t let you fall. I promise.”
She could hear her mother in her head, telling her to put aside the grief for a woman she’d only met a handful of times and focus. That this was a perfect excuse to spend more time on his arm. What was worse, she thrilled a bit too much at the thought, which seemed a betrayal of poor Victoria. But shedidwant to see the animals. So she smiled. “Thank you, my lord. I would appreciate your help.”
He moved to her side, which put him across from Lavinia, who was taking her seat again. “Vinny? Coming along?”
Lavinia folded her hands in her lap. “You go ahead. I have correspondence to catch up on.” When Fairfax turned toward her, Lavinia sent her a small, private smile. Encouragement. A touch of conspiracy. A clear message that it wasn’t correspondence holding her back.
Alethia hadn’t time to dwell on it, given that Fairfax’s hand was outstretched before her, his other coming to her back as it had that first day here. She could move far better today than she had then, but even so, it was no exaggeration that had her leaning on him, letting him support her. She was fairly certain she never would have made it down the stairs otherwise. Marigold skipped ahead, outpacing them in a matter of seconds.
“How was your time in London, other than learning of poor Victoria?” Yes, the strain was audible in her words, but they would distract her from the pain, at least a bit.
He let out a long breath. “Mr. A’s surveillance apparently involved watching a few gentlemen who seemed to be talking about your disappearance—including Mr. Rheams. Theyseemed quite surprised, he said, that your death hadn’t been splashed across the headlines along with his wife’s attack.”
