Page 91 of Marigold and the Marquess
She ignored it. “The exhibit is coming along magnificently, by the way. I cannot wait for you to see it. I also stopped by Mr. Barrow’s office to make certain he was still available for the opening day ceremonies. His nephew assured me that he and his men will be there. They are also going to tour the museum several days beforehand to familiarize themselves with the exhibits and the building. All is in order. How was your afternoon?”
He raked a hand through his hair. “Productive.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened and she gasped. “Tell me everything that happened.”
But as she was about to drag him by the arm into the parlor, she leaned forward and took a whiff of his jacket. “Did you roll around in the dirt? Well, the odor is something significantly more foul than dirt. We had better talk upstairs. Sterling, order a bath brought up for my husband.”
“At once, my lady.” He called over one of the footmen who had escorted her earlier and instructed him accordingly.
Marigold settled in one of the tufted chairs in Leo’s bedchamber and began to ask her questions as he undressed. “What did you mean by productive? Oh, do stop seething and just tell me.”
“I am not seething,” he insisted as he removed his jacket, cravat, and waistcoat.
His valet rushed in, just in time to take the articles of clothing before Leo could toss them on the floor. The odor would have taken forever to get out of the carpet had he tossed them down.
“Take my shirt and trousers, too,” he said, now stripping down to nothing.
Marigold blushed as he now strode around naked while awaiting his bath.
“You can avert your eyes if you do not care for what you see,” he teased.
The tension eased out of her and she laughed. “Dear heaven, not on your life.”
Her heart was pounding and her stomach was aflutter. She had never seen more beautifully formed muscles on anyone. “You know I love you,” she said softly.
He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist. “I know, sweetheart.”
She sighed when he did not say it back to her, and tried to dismiss her hurt. “Is it just the Cummings situation that makes you unable to commit?”
He knelt beside her and cupped her face in his hands. “I am perfectly capable of committing to you and to our marriage. There was never a question. My concern has only ever been for you and how best to protect you.”
“But things are nowproductive, so does this mean you are no longer in fear for my safety?” She inhaled sharply as she realized what this word meant. Oh, how could she be so thick? She shot to her feet. “Leo, did you kill your cousin?”
“No,” he said with a grunt of disgust, rising along with her. “He is very much alive, as far as I know.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” She put a hand to her heart to stem its rapid beating. “Then what did you mean?”
“My cousin was in town but seems to have fled early this morning. He took a room above a rundown tavern by the wharves. Mr. Barrow thinks he had arranged to meet Denby or some mutual confederate of theirs last night, then must have panicked when he learned of Denby’s death.”
She nodded. “No doubt worried he would be next on the list.”
“Bah! Not at all. It is just as likely he was the one who arranged Denby’s death.”
“That is implausible, Leo.”
“Why? The confederate he met with last night could have been the assassin he’d hired to kill Denby. When the man reported the close call with Gibson, my cousin decided to leave London immediately and attend to my death another day. After all, he’d waited four years to do me in. What would a few more weeks matter?”
“I still say it makes no sense. What reason would he have for silencing Denby when their involvement was years ago and an insignificant hiccup in Denby’s primary business?”
Leo began to pace across the carpet. “You are assuming my cousin was aware of what else Denby was doing. Likely, he was not. This makes his little arrangement to have me killed far more significant in his mind.”
“Perhaps,” she admitted, not having considered this possibility. “Do you think he knows Beldon is being held in custody?”
“I don’t think so, but he’ll learn of it soon enough.”
“Leo, I am still not convinced about your cousin. Why wouldn’t he come for you first?”
“He may have tried.”
