Page 74 of Marigold and the Marquess
She must have hurt him so badly by ignoring his wishes when he was only trying to keep her safe. “Even if the killer left no clues behind, will you tell us what you did find? Or can you not speak of this incident yet? Is it too hurtful for you?”
He cast her a wry smile as he dipped his hands in the water again, and then took the towel she handed him to dry himself off. “I have a very snoopy wife who will not give me a moment’s peace until I tell her what I know.”
Marigold shook her head. “Yes, I am a snoop. But I will understand if it is too difficult for you to speak of Denby.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Since when have you been so understanding?”
The remark cut her to the quick.
She loved him. Hadn’t she shown it in every way possible? Did he believe she always put her own interests ahead of his?
How could he not? Isn’t this exactly what she had been doing tonight? She could have stopped Syd from tossing her reticule. She could have insisted they all remain inside their carriage.
She had behaved abominably.
Tears threatened to cloud her eyes.
Drat.
She was not going to cry.
“Leo, have I been unbearably horrid to you? Yes, I must have been. Why did you not tell me you were so unhappy in the marriage?”
His eyes widened and he tossed the towel onto the bureau. “Unhappy? Whatever gave you that idea?”
“Shall I start listing all the reasons? I am naive. I am spoiled. I am selfish. I am demanding. I meddle. I–”
He sighed and drew her into his arms. “Come here, sweetheart. I know I was harsh with you tonight.”
“I am not blaming you. I was so stuck on whatIwanted that I gave no thought to you. I should have been more considerate of your feelings instead of sticking my nose in your business and being relentless about it. I was selfish, insufferable, and thinking of my own desires. I am truly sorry, Leo. We all wanted to help you. I may have been useless, but Gory and Syd could have contributed. Their knowledge of medical anatomy is better than most experts and would have been of great assistance to you.”
He stiffened. “Is this how I make you feel? Useless to me?”
She burrowed against his magnificently hard chest, emitting a shattered sigh as he wrapped his muscled arms around her. “Yes. You shut me out of everything. But as I said, I do not blame you. How can I be anything but useless when I seem to always be getting in the way?”
“Blessed saints, Marigold. You are a little miracle. You are my sunlight.” He hugged her tightly to him. “You are the best thing in my life.”
A life he meant to toss away for revenge, but she was not going to mention this now. It was enough that he wanted her. She doubted she was the best thing in his life, but hoped to become special to him one day, if only he would give her the chance. More than that, he needed to givethemthe chance to grow old together in their marriage.
There was so much she had yet to learn. She was trying her best to acquire a wisdom of the ages and become a person Leo would be proud to call his wife.
She was trying to improve for herself, as well. With or without him, she meant to make something of her life. However, she hoped these years would pass with him by her side. She could not imagine her future without him.
Oh, how dearly she needed him.
“Let’s return to our guests.” He took her hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze as he led her downstairs. Instead of immediately striding in, he paused at the door of the parlor to stare at their friends. “All right,” he said, letting out a breath as he apparently made the decision to confide in them. “I will tell you all we discovered at Lord Denby’s. I will also tell you how Denby and I are connected, although Marigold might have told you that already. Well, it doesn’t matter now. Let me talk first and then you can ask your questions. Anyone care for a drink?”
Octavian tossed him a look. “Why? Do you think we’ll need it?”
“It’s up to you.” Leo poured himself a brandy. “I surely do.”
“What did you learn that has you so rattled, Leo?” Gory asked.
“Nothing,” he said with a harshness aimed mostly at himself. “That’s just the point. Entirely the point. Four years of surviving on dreams of retribution, and…”
“That pleasure was snatched from you?” Syd remarked, cautiously finishing his sentence.
Leo nodded. “I spent years thinking of this moment, planning it out. But nothing turned out as I expected. Not Denby. Not his home. Nor his servants.”
