Page 73 of The No Good Irresistible Viscount Tipton
“Partly.” He pressed his fingers to her throat, trying to assure himself with her pulse. “Do you recall becoming ill?”
She frowned. “Perhaps. I think I told Oz that I was hot.”
“Oz Lockwood?”
“Yes. You know he is a friend.” She narrowed her eyes. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Someone drugged you that night. Brock and I carried you out of the house screaming like a madwoman.”
An intangible thread of memory increased her unease. “I don’t recall any of this.” She tried to think of something, anything. Fear counted its way down her spine. “You said ‘that night.’ How long have I been insane?”
He kissed her lightly on the lips. “Not insane. Unconscious. You passed out three hours after our return home. It’s been two days, Devona.”
She silently mouthed the words. Two days were gone and she had lost her memory of that night. “How?”
“There is a mark on your back. We think someone came up from behind and scratched you with something that had been dipped with the drug. Whatever it was, it had to have been potent.”
Devona stared off, trying to put together the wisps of memory as if they were a complicated puzzle. There was laughter all around her. A woman. And something. It was sharp. The pieces turned, then fitted together perfectly. “A pin,” she said aloud. “A woman bumped into me. She apologized because her pin had scratched me.”
This news seemed to revitalize Tipton as readily as a night’s rest. His body hummed with excitement. “Who was it? Would you recognize her if you saw her again?”
“I—” She shook her head. “Her image escapes me, Rayne. It is akin to looking through a piece of piping. Everything is at a distance, and I can only focus on pieces of the memory. Forgive me for not being much help.”
He took the cup from her and placed it on the table. “There is no need to apologize for my irresponsible behavior, beloved.” Self-loathing hardened his features. “Your family has been quite forgiving, considering I almost got you murdered. Brock has restrained himself from issuing forth a single challenge.”
Devona shifted her position so she could rest against his chest. The rhythmic hammering of his heart was comforting. “You did not know—”
“The hell I didn’t,” he growled. “Nothing has happened for weeks. I thought, perhaps, we were too well guarded. Keeping you safe was important. However, I could not allow our mischievous friend to go unpunished for his deeds.” He tightened his arm around her. “I swear, I thought I was the intended victim. When I found you outside, screaming my name, I…” His words faded as the emotions from that night threatened to consume him.
Devona tilted her head so she could see his face. She had never seen him look so tortured. His bloodshot eyes were sunken and shadowed from fear and lack of sleep. His beard stubble tickled her hand when she reached up to stroke his cheek. “Still taking on the world single-handedly? I thought we were partners. Was that not part of our bargain?”
“To Hades with our bargain!” he fiercely declared. “You are my wife. I’m supposed to protect you.” The hand resting on his leg clenched into a fist. “Some protector. Maybe you should return to your family.”
She pulled back, not believing his words. “Return me? Like an unacceptable purchase? I’ll be the laughingstock of theton!”
“Devona, that wasn’t what I meant.”
The more she thought about the suggestion, the madder she became. “You would like that, would you not? You have regretted our union from the start, and a little incident like getting poisoned gives you the perfect excuse to bow out.”
“Little incident? You could have died.”
“Fine. Embellish the facts, forgetting the point that I did not perish.”
“I’m supposed to be grateful?” he bellowed.
Stricken, she put her hand to her heart. “Oh, I suppose having me die would have tidied up this mess quite nicely.”
Rayne sprung off the bed. “Madam, you are driving me mad.”
Devona sat up on her heels. “Just try to send me back to my father. I vow all of London will hear of it. Think of the scandal.”
He had been stalking away when she issued her threat. Her words made him pivot and march back to her. Dragging her into his arms, he gave her a shake to gain her attention. “You silly idiot. Do you think this is some sort of lark? I want to keep you safe.”
She lifted her chin and squarely met his gaze. “Sending me back to my father is not the answer. Besides, I do not want to put him or the others in danger.”
Some undefined emotion flashed in his eyes. “I see you have no problem placing me in the path of risk.” Rayne loosened his grip on her arms.
She pulled away and wrapped them around his neck. “We’re partners. The bargain has been struck.”
He grimaced, not pleased with the reminder. “There will be no more wandering about on your own,” he warned. “I promise to take better care of you.”
I’ll protect you as well, my love, Devona silently vowed.
She sealed the pledge by kissing him on the lips.
