Page 65 of Starlight and the Duke
“No, I hadn’t.” All Rob’s attention had been on Fiona during supper, during the evening games, and during Cherish’s piano recital. “Where did she go?”
“I followed her as far as Milbury Hill and then lost sight of her as darkness fell. But I don’t think she went much beyond that property because she only returned a few minutes behind me, after which she spent about an hour playing cards, and then retired to her bedchamber.”
“Sounds like that would have been well after midnight,” Rob remarked. “Maybe around one o’clock?”
Aubrey nodded.
“But you look as though you haven’t slept a wink.”
“Because I haven’t. I kept watch on her bedchamber.”
“How?”
Aubrey cleared his throat. “I might have hidden myself in the garden and positioned myself for a view into her windows.”
“What?”
“I happened to have my own binoculars at hand.”
“Youspiedon her in her bedchamber?” Rob did not know whether to be outraged or pity the man, since Aubrey had obviously lost all reason.
“I looked away when she undressed! What sort of knave do you take me for? I’m no Peeping Tom. This is about solving a mystery, not debauchery.”
“Did you learn anything from your nighttime adventure?”
Aubrey shook his head. “Not a thing. Now I’m exhausted. I’ll grab a few hours’ sleep this afternoon. Milbury and his sister are to join us for supper this evening. I plan to watch what goes on between the marquess and Florence.”
“Good idea. Stay close to Milbury. I’m sure he deserves closer watching.”
Aubrey nodded. “You think so?”
“Oh, yes.” Perhaps it was wicked of Rob to lead Aubrey amiss. But where was the harm in keeping Milbury too occupied to make a move on Fiona? That sister of his was already jealous of her and likely to arrive spewing venom.
No one knew he had spent the week with Fiona, but they would after this evening. Was this not precisely the gossip someone like Lady Cordelia would spread with malicious glee? Fiona did not need more theatrics from that wasp.
Well, he would worry about this later. No point in allowing his concerns to spoil his day, or Fiona’s.
He glanced at her as she chatted with Millicent over a cup of tea, seeming more cheered now. Sometimes it helped to unload one’s feelings on a person to be trusted. He was that person for Fiona.
As for Milbury’s sister, she was never to be trusted. What biblical plagues would she bring down on Fiona next? Though one could always hope that Milbury would attend without her.
Fiona looked back at him, but said nothing. However, when Millicent rose to serve herself from the salvers, Fiona took the opportunity to edge closer and speak to him. “Stop looking so worried, Rob. I am not fragile.”
Yes, she was. Perhaps not usually, but certainly at this moment. She seemed to be at a crossroads in her life, finding herself suddenly alone and facing an empty future unless she changed paths.
The question was, which path would she decide to take?
There were three, as far as he could tell. The first was never to marry and live out her life as a widow alone.
That would never happen. Fiona loved to be active and have people around her. She was not about to wither away in an isolated bedchamber.
The second path was to marry someone like Milbury, a man with children she could mother. But it would never be a love match because her heart was his and always had been his, just as his had always belonged to her. This would not change even if she married another.
The third was to marry him, an easy and obvious choice if only she would stop thinking ofhisduty and start thinking of their happiness.
“I had to get those tears out,” she said with a sigh, “but I am much better now. Thank you for always being such a good listener…and a dear friend.”
They weren’t just tears. They had been shattering sobs.
