Page 44 of Marigold and the Marquess
When the wedding breakfast ended late into the evening, Leo escorted Marigold across the street to their home. Her belongings had been moved over by the Farthingale staff earlier in the day and his staff had her quarters in readiness. “That is quite some family you have,” he remarked as they walked the short distance.
“Aren’t they wonderful? A bit much at times, I expect. I’ll do my best to ease you in.”
Leo shook his head. “Don’t fill our calendar up too soon with commitments, Marigold.”
“I won’t. I know you are distracted. Let tonight be just for us, free from our cares. We’ll get to the business of our investigation in the morning.”
Leo groaned. “Ourinvestigation?”
She nodded. “We are in this together whether you like it or not. And you still haven’t told me who Denby is.”
He supposed it was best she knew all the facts. He did not want her going off on her own to snoop while ignorant of the dangers.
Perhaps he ought not dismiss her assistance since four years of his thinking about this situation had yielded him nothing beyond these three suspects. “Denby is the diplomat I was charged with escorting on that fateful mission. I have started looking into his business affairs. On His Majesty’s orders, he was sent to negotiate mineral and precious metal rights agreements with the Carpathian representatives. But I understand nothing came of it after I was captured. Relations fell apart and the Crown pursued other resources.”
Marigold pursed her lips as she took in this information. “So Denby had no more contact with the Carpathian government after your ambush?”
“They are more tribal units than one unified government, but that was his claim in the original statement he made four years ago. Ian showed all of them to me several days ago. Beldon’s, Denby’s, and those of the other officers on this mission.”
“You do not appear convinced Denby had no contact with any of the Carpathian factions.”
“I’m not. This is what he claims. However, it is reputed his wealth has increased substantially in the four years since the incident. It feels suspicious to me. How did he suddenly come into all this bounty?”
“Assuming the rumors are true.”
He nodded. “It is something easily checked out. Ian is looking into it and ought to have something for me by the end of the week. I suspect Denby made his own private agreement with the Carpathians and, in turn, has secretly been selling their mined minerals through some middleman to conceal his identity while the English government purchases them at exorbitant prices.”
“That seems more promising than a schoolmate’s petty jealousy or a cousin’s desire to inherit your title. Not that I am dismissing Beldon or Cummings. But Cummings would have needed you dead, so the fact that you have returned alive when it would have been so easy to dispose of you, leads me to believe he is not your traitor. And as I’ve said, if Beldon had tired of his games of jealousy, he could have simply stopped playing them.”
“But if he is deranged and hides it well, he could be plotting something sinister right now.”
Marigold said nothing.
“Marigold?” He shook his head and emitted a curt laugh. “Gad, I know you are keeping something from me. Tell me now or I shall hunt Beldon down and beat it out of him.”
“Leo! You wouldn’t dare.”
He cast her a look that warned he would.
She sighed as they entered his townhouse and stepped into the entry hall. “All right, I will tell you. But not before we are alone upstairs.”
“Why wait? Are you stalling for time?”
“No, I promise. I will tell you all in the privacy of our bedchamber.”
He grunted in approval, for he did not want Marigold keeping anything from him. It had nothing to do with his being demanding or possessive and all to do with keeping her safe.
Candles were lit in the wall sconces in the entry hall and along the stairs in preparation for their return. Leo also knew Sterling had done the same in the upper hallway since this was a hard and fast rule in his household. All the main access halls were to be illuminated so he would never have to walk in darkness.
“Good evening, my lord,” Sterling said in greeting, then bowed to Marigold. “My lady.”
She cast him a glowing smile. “Good evening, Sterling. We had a lovely day. I hope yours was just as pleasant.”
Leo stifled his laughter, for Marigold was much like her little pup, Mallow, in her enthusiasm and the purity of her joy. What a pair of opposites he and Marigold were. However, she was good for him. He was too cynical for his own good. He trusted few people and always looked at the world through doubting eyes.
She grabbed life with boundless exuberance and optimism. Her smiles had a way of touching his heart. There would be no descending into a dark pit of despair for him while she was close by to draw him back.
She truly was a ray of sunshine.
