Page 103 of The Lover's Eye
Giles lay still, his fingertips tracing a feathery pattern over Isobel’s back.He took several seconds to answer.“It’s not been just one thing, I’m afraid.At first, I wanted to hide myself.To avoid any mentions of Aurelia and try to rid myself of the rumors and my own suspicions about what happened after she left me that night.And then when you showed up …”
Isobel twisted in his arms to look at him.Her eyes were wide and searching, hungry for understanding.Giles couldn’t resist brushing a kiss to her forehead.“My plan wasn’t going very well to begin with.But when you showed up, it all became more complicated.I wanted to know you, but I felt I could never show you all of myself.I’ve been complicit in Pemberton’s unfaithfulness against your sister, for God’s sake.I got wrapped up in his scheme with little concern for the consequences, and Aurelia died because of that.”
“I know your heart, Giles.”Isobel brushed the backs of her fingers over his brows and eyes, as though she could sense the fiery burn of tears that threatened.“I don’t believe you intended to harm anyone.I think Aurelia knew that, too, even if the last time you spoke was in anger.”
“It’s the damnedest thing, Isobel.What if—what if Iwaswhat people said?”Giles shifted a little to his side to face her.“What if I was the type of man to have willfully harmed her?”
Isobel’s eyes glistened with the sheen of tears.
“No one would do a thing.Not a damned thing.”
This aspect had bothered him before, populating his mind in those small, restless hours, but enduring the inquest had made it far worse.Those men had bowed their heads, thinking they understood.They imagined that Giles had acted in some form of righteous anger, and they didn’t question what actions resulted.They might think him a murderer, but because he was a man of title, a man whose surname was synonymous with wealth and esteem, they didn’t care.They didn’t bloody care what had happened to Aurelia.
“I know,” Isobel whispered.“I know.It’s horrid.”
They lay like that for a long time, the fire at their backs and their bodies pressed together.Warmth seeped in from the outside, slow and quiet and patient, loosening knots and settling in all the tender places of pain.The past couldn’t be changed, but wounds could mend into scars.Regret could percolate into virtues, lessons, teachings.
“Giles?”
“Mm?”
“There’s one thing I still don’t understand.How did Pemberton learn of Aurelia’s plans?”
He exhaled, drawing her closer against him.“That’s the one answer I cannot provide you with.I’d been to the village that last day I saw her, and no sooner than I returned home, she called.She was outraged.She kept saying she didn’t trust me.She believed I took issue with her spending and spoke to Pemberton about it.How she supposed that conversation resulted in his wanting to have her examined by a physician … I’ve no idea.
“I knew nothing of what was happening between them, but she didn’t believe me.She broke off our engagement and vowed she’d find a means of escape.”Giles squeezed his eyes closed.The memory was a painful, blistering wound.“I-I shouldn’t have let her go.At the time, I only saw her anger.But in the months since, when I think of it … She was frightened, Isobel.She needed someone to help her.I should have tried harder.”
Isobel rested her head on his chest.“She deserved much better than Pemberton.And so does Marriane.”
A long moment passed, both of them limp and gazing skyward.The clouds were breaking and thinning, and in their weak points, bright stars winked.
“You know I’m going to tell her, right?”
“I know.But it won’t be pretty, Isobel.Pemberton will do anything to refute the claim.Even with me, he pretends nothing happened.He’s refused to speak of it since the day she disappeared.You’ll need proof.”
Isobel sat up, her brow furrowing.“Proof?How am I supposed to find that?”
“I haven’t a clue.”
Unless—
Giles rose and took long strides toward the cottage, lighting another candle once inside.Black smoke rose to his nose and he coughed it away, rummaging through cluttered tangles of netting and rope.He hadn’t the faintest idea where Pemberton would have stashed the lover’s eye.It was a brief transaction of few words, but just maybe—
“What are you doing?”Isobel asked from the door, waving a hand to dismiss the dust.
“I’m looking for that damned eye necklace Pemberton gave her.I returned it to him.”
Aha.A dusty writing desk crammed into the corner.Giles wrenched the drawer open and shoved his hand inside.Relief washed over him when cold metal met his fingertips.He smiled, turning to dangle the necklace in front of Isobel’s confused gaze.
“Found your proof, my love.”
To his great surprise, Isobel rushed to him and pressed her lips to his.Giles had to struggle to remember where he was, that he was holding a lighted candle and that she was ill andbarefootin the cold.Now was not a time to be giving into passions, no matter how great—
“I love you.”
He dropped the candle and the necklace in riotous clamor.Isobel burst into laughter as his expression transformed into a very different type of surprise, and he spun in all directions looking for something to extinguish the flame with.
Isobel could hardly speak for giggling.“Just step on it, you buffoon!”she finally choked out.
