Page 92 of Marigold and the Marquess
“And we were unaware?” She shook her head. “You notice everything.”
He shrugged his massive shoulders, causing the butterflies in her stomach to flutter as they always did whenever she caught a glimpse of his body. “I like to think so, but none of us is infallible.” He tossed her a casual smile that brought on more flutters.
She forced herself to concentrate on their discussion and not his finely sculpted form. “I cannot get past Denby’s murder. Why him at all? Even if Denby realized your cousin was in London and trying to kill you, why would he care? And what reason would he have to report it to the authorities? Or even blackmail your cousin over it? Both of them participated and would be implicated.”
“My cousin might not have planned to do anything to Denby, at first. But things change. Perhaps he could not get close enough to me, so he modified his plan and sought to get rid of everyone who might implicate him. Is it so implausible? I returned in bad shape, love. It took several months for me to heal and restore my strength. I was in private care and constantly attended.”
“So you were never left alone?”
He nodded. “Once I was better, I spent most of my time right here at home. A recluse, until a skull tore across my garden followed by the most beautiful young woman I had ever seen in my life.”
She blushed.
“I was only just starting to move about in society when you came along and stole my heart.”
“I believe what happened is you compromised me and then felt honor-bound to marry me.” If only she had stolen his heart, she thought with much sadness. But he seemed content enough with her and was a truly good and kind husband to her, if one overlooked his bloodthirsty quest for vengeance.
“Oh, Marigold. You know me well enough by now. Iwantedto marry you. No one needed to coerce me.” He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “Wicked temptress. And now my cousin is frustrated because he still cannot get close enough to either of us. Between your exhibition and my being knighted, there are always people standing between him and us.”
“Well, if he ordered Denby killed, then it was a monumentally bad idea. If this is true, Denby’s fellow conspirators will now be out for his blood. So you see, Leo, you do not need to do anything. Those evil men will take care of your cousin for you. He’s certainly stirred a hornet’s nest.”
“Right now those conspirators are all scrambling to save their own hides. They are not going to drop everything just to go off and silence my cousin who probably does not have a clue about their identities.”
Marigold was relieved when the tub was rolled in and set on the tiles before the hearth. “Is there anything more you need of me, my lord?” Ethan asked, obviously not certain whether he should remain to assist him in bathing or leave the task to Marigold.
Leo turned to her, his smile appealingly wicked. “Nothing more for the moment, Ethan. Just take care of my clothes. They definitely need airing. My boots need polishing, too.”
“Very good, my lord.”
He quietly left the bedchamber, closing the door behind him.
Leo now approached her, leaning in close as he placed his hands on either side of her chair to trap her in. “Where were we, love?”
Oh, what a body on this man.
Taut. Lean. Muscled.
Glorious.
She licked her lips. “Um, Cummings. But we really have no need to speak of him. We’ve said all that needs to be said.”
Leo’s every thought was of his cousin. He twisted his every action and skewed the significance of every clue so as to point to him as the culprit.
Marigold was relieved her husband had not done anything rash yet.
She just needed to keep him close for the next few days in order to give Ian, Homer Barrow, and Finn time to investigate and find the perpetrator.
She did not care if Cummings, some hired assassin of his, or Denby’s cohorts had killed Denby. She just wanted Leo kept out of it for as long as possible.
“Marigold, do we have any plans tonight?” Leo asked, his voice a soft, seductive growl.
Her eyes widened, for the air suddenly felt charged between them. “No.”
“No friends stopping by?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“So it is just you and me?”
