Page 72 of Marigold and the Marquess
“You are newly married. Do you think Leo wishes to lose his wife within a week of the wedding?”
“It has been two weeks since we were wed. Is it not painfully obvious Leo is more interested in Lord Denby’s cadaver than he is in me?”
“Ah, you believe he is already tired of you, so that makes it all right for you to run around London in the middle of the night?”
“I am hardly gallivanting since you are all with me. And we are riding through Mayfair, not some impoverished part of London filled with cutpurses and other manner of low criminals.”
Julius sighed. “Marigold, can you not see that Leo loves you and wants to keep you safe from harm? What if the killer had been lurking close by and decided to shoot you on a lark? You gave him the perfect opportunity.”
Octavian nodded. “You were fortunate the killer did not stay around.”
Tears formed in Marigold’s eyes.
Leo was her lion and he fiercely wanted to protect her.
But as to loving her?
If only he did.
She would give anything to hear those words from him.I love you, Marigold.Would he ever say them?
Nevertheless, she was determined to apologize to him for her actions tonight, and then she would tell him that she loved him. He needed to hear the words from her every day and know the depth of her affection even if it was not reciprocated. How dense she was, and so unappreciative of all his suffering.
The rain started in earnest as they turned onto Chipping Way.
Sterling opened the door the moment the Thorne carriage drew up in front of their home.
Marigold was surprised their gentle butler had not already retired to his bed. Well, she would have had to rouse him out of a sound sleep to open the door anyway. “Shall I wait up for Lord Muir, my lady?”
“No, Sterling. I’ll do it. One of us ought to have our wits about us by the time his lordship returns. He may not be back at all today. He and the Duke of Edgeware are investigating a murder.”
When Julius and Octavian frowned at her, she realized this ought to have remained confidential. “Oh, dear. Sterling, I spoke out of turn. Please do not say a word to anyone about this yet. The news will likely spread later today. But for now, no one is to hear about it. Not even our own staff. Please, promise me you will keep this to yourself.”
“My lips are sealed, my lady.”
“Thank you.” Marigold then offered her friends refreshments. “Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
Sterling offered to prepare a tray for them before he retired to his quarters.
“Not necessary,” Octavian said. “You had better get some rest, Sterling. There could be a lot happening tomorrow.”
Gory nodded. “I think the laces of my gown are going to burst if I eat another bite.”
Marigold noted her other friends were also patting their stomachs to signal they were full. “Never mind, Sterling. Good night.”
He bowed to her. “And to you, m’lady.”
Syd made herself comfortable on the settee now that they were the five of them alone. “Who do you think did in Lord Denby?”
“I don’t know,” Marigold said. “I’m just relieved it wasn’t Leo. And before you toss me looks, let me tell you that there is not a chance Leo had a hand in this since he was with me all night.”
“Are you sure?” Octavian asked gently, taking a seat at the opposite end of the settee. “Why don’t you tell us what is going on?”
Marigold was too wound up to sit just yet, so she paced in front of the fireplace as she recounted everything she knew about Leo’s captivity and the three men he suspected of setting him up. “I know what you are thinking because I thought it myself. He was out of my sight for about ten minutes while he went outdoors to scout Lady Gaston’s grounds. Mr. Barrow assured me it would have taken at least twenty minutes for anyone to get to Lord Denby’s home and back.”
“So, Leo is ruled out as a suspect?” Gory mused while comfortably settled in one of the large wing chairs beside the fireplace.
Marigold nodded.
