Page 46 of A Love to Remember
Soon there was a knock and Philip was there, concern evident in his face.
“Without letting Kirkwood or any of the guests know, can you go and check the attic for me?” At Philip’s questioning look, she told him, “Drake says someone pushed him down the stairs.”
Horror etched its way across Philip’s handsome face. “I’ll look right this instant.” With that he left the room, striding for the stairs.
She had never loved him more than in that moment. He had not told her that the boy was being fanciful or not believed Drake’s version of the events.
Elaine arrived back with some warm chocolate for Drake, who was still very shaken up, and a cup of tea and a scone for her. She was still feeling queasy herself.
They did not have to wait long. Philip was back but it was obvious he did not wish to talk in front of Drake. Her arms went around her child. She did not want to let him out of her sight.
Elaine looked between them. “Why don’t I take Drake to find Henry? His friend is very worried about him. I shall suggest Lord Coldhurst watch them both.”
“Thank you, Elaine.”
“Do I have to go, Mother? Can’t I stay here with you?”
Just then Henry and Lord Coldhurst stuck their heads around the door.
“Sorry, Your Grace. Henry would not wait to see if his friend was all right.”
Philip crossed to Sebastian and whispered, “Can you take the boy with you and watch over him? It seems trouble is afoot.”
Sebastian called to Drake, “Why don’t you come and play with Henry and me? Since the treasure hunt has been called off, we are building a battlefield with toy soldiers and horses in the nursery. I can teach you both about strategy.”
Drake looked tentatively at his mother before nodding and slipping off the bed.
He gave Rose one last lingering look and that was when the fear eating her guts was replaced by anger. How dare anyone scare her son like this, let alone harm him?
She waited for the door to close before turning to Philip. “What did you find?”
Instead of answering her he approached the bed and sat on the edge next to her. He took her hand in his. “How are you is more to the point? At least you have some color back in your cheeks.”
She looked away, hiding tears. She wanted to scream that she was feeling incredibly ill and that seeing him here and not being able to touch him, kiss him, and then Drake being hurt—It was all too much. “I’m fine. Please, just tell me.”
On a sigh Philip brushed a curl off her face and said, “The dust on the floor just inside the door to the attic showed Drake’s small boot prints and a large set of footprints, too. Whoever went up there was not looking through the trunks, though. The prints only went in partway, far enough to allow him, or her, to hide behind a crate.”
Her breath caught and strangled in her throat. Finally, she choked out, “Are you saying someone was lying in wait up there?”
Philip rubbed his nape. “It looks like it, but it might not have been Drake they were waiting for. How was the person up there to know Drake would go looking in the attic? Drake was there purely by chance. It could have been Henry or one of the other guests. The person hiding in the attic could have been waiting for anyone. What if he had been expecting someone else and he simply made a mistake?”
The knots of tension in her neck eased. “I suppose.”
“Besides, who would want to harm a little boy? Especially a duke. No one benefits.” He swung toward her. “Do they?”
Rose thought hard for a moment. The title would obviously die away as there were no male heirs in the Deverill family outside Drake, but the estates and money would go to her. That was the marriage contract and will her father had insisted on. He was not giving his only daughter to an old man who would die long before her without giving her protection. Her father at least thought about her financial well-being if not her physical one.
“You are correct. No one benefits but me. With no male other than Drake, the title dies and I inherit everything.”
“Then I think we should keep an eye on the boy but think about who the real target might have been.” He stood and looked down at her and she wondered what he was thinking. Did he miss her as much as she missed him? Or was he happy to move on?
She pushed up off the bed, willing her stomach to stop rolling. “Thank you. Thank you for caring about Drake.”
He stood motionless, just looking at her, and she grew hot under his gaze. Finally, he said, “I care about both of you. Are you well?”
Euphoria at his concern swamped her body and pushed the nausea away. “I’m fine, Philip. I was simply a little tired.”
He took a hard look at her. She must not have looked too weary because he smiled and said, “I should get back to the others. I’ll talk with Sebastian and Grayson and set the men to looking into this incident.”
