Page 95 of Marigold and the Marquess
However, her footmen refused to leave her. “Lord Muir will carve us into little pieces if we dare let you out of our sight,” one of them said while the other nodded in agreement.
“All right. Problem easily solved.” Dillie motioned to the two men. “One of you pile on beside my own footmen and the other hop up beside my driver.”
Dillie then climbed into the impressive ducal carriage, and Marigold hopped in after her. Once they were settled, Dillie rapped twice on the roof and the carriage took off with a jerk.
“I still cannot believe I am a duchess.” Dillie snorted as she settled comfortably against the elegant squabs. “I think my parents are still stunned any of their daughters found husbands, much less titled ones. You’ve done nicely for yourself, too. Marchioness of Muir.”
Marigold sighed. “Oh, Dillie. I don’t care about the title. I just don’t want to be known as thewidowedmarchioness.”
“Leo behaving that foolishly, is he?” Dillie patted her hand. “I fret about the dangers every day, but I can never let Ian know how much these risks he takes on behalf of the Crown affect me. He has enough of a burden on his shoulders.”
“And I am about to pile another one on him.”
“He will tell us if this is not something he can handle.”
Ian’s clerks came running out and immediately began fussing over them as Dillie’s carriage drew up in front of the building that housed the Home Office. “His Grace is just finishing up a meeting and should be with you shortly. I’ll settle you in his office. Would you care for a cup of tea, Your Grace? Or refreshments?” The senior clerk would not stop chattering and asking after their comfort as he led them into Ian’s office.
“We are fine, Mr. Mercer,” Dillie replied. “Thank you. Please do not let us put you out. I’m sure you must be very busy.”
“It is no trouble at all. My pleasure, Your Grace.” He glanced from Dillie to Marigold. “May I be so bold as to ask…I thought I knew all of your sisters.”
Dillie laughed lightly. “We do look alike, don’t we? Dark hair. Blue eyes. This is my cousin, Lady Muir.”
His eyes rounded as though in recognition, but Marigold expected it was because Leo’s name had come up often enough within the context of this latest investigation. However, she did not press Ian’s clerk for information since he was not likely permitted to discuss anything of a sensitive nature with them.
They did not have long to wait before Ian hurried in.
She saw the soft smile he had for his wife, as though he wanted to wrap her in his arms and kiss her senseless. Of course, he would never do it in front of others. “What brings you here, love?” he asked Dillie, but his gaze kept darting to Marigold.
Obviously, he knew she had come to him because of Leo.
Marigold dispensed with the niceties since Ian had enough on his mind and did not need them taking up his valuable time with aimless chatter. “Leo’s run off. Have you spoken to Mr. Barrow yet? Apparently, Leo and Mr. Barrow discovered Cummings was in London and possibly met with the man who killed Lord Denby. Leo now believes his cousin, and not Denby’s cohorts, had Denby killed. That is quite a stretch, don’t you think? My money is still on his cohorts. Not that Leo cares.”
She took a deep breath and continued. “Not only that, but Lady Withnall thought Denby had been raised in Exeter which is where Cummings grew up. And they are of a similar age. Leo has now decided that Cummings must have been acquainted with Denby, and must have paid Denby to have him killed four years ago. But Beldon was with them on the Carpathian mission and stepped in to have him merely imprisoned instead because he wasn’t through being envious of Leo or taunting him. Well, the long and short of it is, Leo is now chasing Cummings, who we believe has run back to Exeter. He must be stopped. I am referring to Leo, of course.”
Dillie shook her head. “Did you understand any of what Marigold just said?”
He nodded. “All of it. I already have my best man on the task.”
“You do? Is it Lorcan Brayden, by any chance?” Marigold asked.
Ian emitted a snort. “How do you…? Yes. I suppose I should not be surprised that you know of him since he is also married to a Farthingale. Dear heaven, what is England coming to? And just how many more of you are there?”
Dillie rose and kissed him on the cheek. “A few more. But you will send Lorcan after him, won’t you?”
“I spoke to Mr. Barrow this morning. In fact, Lorcan is riding to Exeter at this very moment. Let’s hope he catches up to Leo. I want Cummings brought back to Londonalivefor questioning.”
Marigold cast him a look of dismay. “Do you think Leo will respect your orders? Oh, goodness. What if he is obsessed enough to hurt Lorcan? I had better ride to Exeter and stop him.”
“Absolutely not,” Ian said in a voice of authority. “First of all, Leo will never harm Lorcan. Nor will he try to wrest Cummings away.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because Leo gave us his word. He granted us thirty days to conduct our investigation without his interference, and those days are not up yet.” Ian’s expression softened and he regarded her kindly. “Despite appearances, his sense of honor is stronger than his lust for revenge. It is, Marigold. I haven’t a doubt.”
Thank goodness.
For she had plenty of doubts.
