Page 47 of Wickedly Yours
“I don’t give a shit what you’d tell him. Corbett promised me a large settlement. Seagraves too. Your bitch of an aunt hit poor Seagraves on the head. He’s got headaches now. Seagraves didn’t deserve such treatment as he never would have hurt her.”
Arabella snorted, her fear replaced with anger. “Seagravesabductedmy aunt, you lunatic. What should she have done?”
“I’ll tell you what you are going to do, Lady Arabella. I know all about you and your fancy toff. I’ve seen the house he bought you.” A hand reached out and batted the sapphire earrings.
Arabella cringed and tried to slide away. “Don’t touch me.”
“Those gems hanging from your ears will fetch a nice price.”
Arabella shook her head. “No. I’ll bring you money tomorrow. I—”
“Did you know Corbett had a sister? Doesn’t even know her brother’s dead, I’ll warrant. Poor girl.” He gave a low chuckle. “Wouldn’t she be surprised to know thewholetruth. Her husband’s a barrister.”
The threat was quite clear. She could already imagine the story Barker would tell Corbett’s sister. He would infer she’d changed her mind and then killed Corbett to marry Rowan. Given Arabella’s past behavior, she thought it unlikely anyone would believe Corbett’s death was an accident.
I should have confessed my stupidity well before now.
Slowly, she pulled the sapphires from her ears, knowing she had little choice. At least today. “I wish never to see you again, do you understand?” Her mind raced, wondering what she would say if anyone noticed the earrings gone from her ears.
I’ll say the clasps were hurting my ears and I had to take them off and I must have dropped them in the garden.
“I knew you’d see reason, Lady Arabella.” His hand opened at her side.
“That’s enough to keep you for the rest of your life, Barker. Do not bother me again.” She dropped the jewels in his outstretched palm. “Are we finished?”
“I suppose we are. My congratulations again.” The crackling of brush met her ears as he slithered off and left the garden.
Arabella sat staring at the rosebush for the longest time considering the options before her. She closed her eyes and focused on inhaling the sweet smell of the flowers and listening to the bird song, instructing her heart to stop beating so hard.
Rowan would never forgive her if he knew she’d omitted the truth. He would wonder if shehadmeant to kill Corbett. Her new husband would point at her willingness to pay Barker to keep such things from him. Not to mention her brother.
I was a different person then. I’ve changed.
She doubted that would matter. No one had ever assumed the best about Arabella; they were unlikely to start now.
28
Arabella was up to something.
Rowan wrapped the towel around his hips and stepped from the tub, ignoring the sputtering of his valet as water dripped all over the carpet. When he’d found her, sitting on the stone bench in his mother’s garden, she’d been deathly pale. At first Rowan assumed it was nerves for the day had been a bit trying. His mother in particular had been difficult. It wasn’t until they arrived at their new home that Rowan noticed the earrings she’d been wearing were gone. His new wife made a vague excuse about having dropped them in the garden as they pinched her ears.
“That will be all, Parker.” He dismissed his valet.
“My lord—”
“Out. It’s my wedding night. I doubt I need your assistance.”
Parker gave an exasperated sigh, pointedly looking at the water on the carpet. After a moment he nodded and quietly left the room.
Mother had behaved dreadfully, but he didn’t think that was the reason for Arabella’s odd mood after leaving his parents. Nor did he think it was the loss of her earrings. With any other woman, Rowan may have assumed nerves due to the wedding night, but Arabella’s behavior the night of the opera assured him of his wife’s enthusiasm for her wifely duties. Whatever was bothering Arabella, she didn’t trust Rowan enough to tell him.
The feeling was mutual.
He and Arabella were drawn to each other in a way Rowan didn’t wholly understand. What would she say if she knew he’d wanted her for years? The pull towards Arabella was so strong, so primal, Rowan often had trouble keeping his physical distance from her. Today was particularly difficult. But for all that, Rowan found he still didn’t trust her.
A soft knock sounded on the door and without turning he said, “Parker, I told you I had no more need—”
“It’s me.”
