Page 112 of The Dravenhearst Brides
“No. Do you feel…normal?”
He considered the question, tiny lines appearing on his forehead. “My stomach feels odd,” he admitted. “And my legs are a bit funny…heavy.”
“Merrick, I think Alastair put something in your drink. I’m worried.” She started to pace, thinking furiously.
On the one-year anniversary of Elijah’s death, Margot had found her mother on the floor of her parents’ bedroom, passed out, barely breathing beside an empty laudanum bottle. A bottle that had been full mere hours earlier. When the physician arrived, he stuck a tube down her throat and sucked out her stomach contents, purging the drug.
Margot had gotten there in time to save her mother. Years later, however, history repeated itself. Empty bottle on the nightstand. A cold, still body in the bed. A hollow shell of the woman who used to be her mother. Margot hadn’t found her in time. Couldn’t save her. And she wasn’t entirely sure her mother even wanted to be saved.
She blinkedback tears, looking at her husband.A curse on both our houses, not just his.
But not one that would take Merrick away from her. Not today. Not while there was breath left in her body to prevent it.
Merrick doubled over, hands on his knees. “Margot,” he groaned. “My stomach is twisting.”
She had only one option. She grabbed his hand and tugged him forward. “This way.”
She guided him on stumbling legs to the toilet, propping him against the porcelain. He closed his eyes and leaned back. His skin had gone pale, his breath shallow.
“Merrick, I’m dreadfully, dreadfully sorry about this,” she said. “I do hope you’ll forgive me.”
Before she could give herself time to back out, Margot tipped his head over the toilet rim and jammed her fingers down his throat.
There was only one person Margot trusted inside the ballroom, one person she could count on to help her protect Merrick.
And she was currently in the center of the room, dancing a tango in Alastair’s traitorous arms.
How on God’s green earth hadthathappened?
“Ruth.” She flagged her, pleased to see her friend had enough sense to abandon Alastair rather than bring the bastard along.
“Where’s Merrick?” Ruth asked, searching the crowd. “It’s almost time for his speech.”
“He’s ill. Someone spiked his drink. He can’t give the speech.”
“What?” Ruth cried, slapping a hand over her mouth.
“Shh.” Margot quieted her. “No one can know. He looks corked. We can’t have people talking. Pass along our regrets and give his notes to Colonel Blanton. Or get up there and do Merrick’s part yourself. Please, it’s such an important night for him…for all of us.”
“Of course. I’ll come up with something.” Ruth’s blue eyes hardened with resolve. “Just get him home and summon Dr. Smalls. Will he be okay?”
“I don’t know,” Margot admitted, turning to depart. Before she’d taken two steps, Ruth grabbed her arm.
“Who could have done this?”
“Alastair gave Merrick a drink shortly before he became ill.”
Ruth’s jaw tightened. “I understand. I’ll handle it.”
Margot had scarcely taken two steps when she was besieged once more.
“Mrs. Dravenhearst.” Toni sidled up to her, tipping his fedora. He tucked her fingers within his own, lifting them to his lips for a kiss.
Margot’s skin crawled. She would have to scrub the spot later with bleach. “Lovely to see you again, Antoni.” She forced a perfunctory smile. “If you’ll excuse me—”
He didn’t release her hand. “Where’s your husband run off to? I was hoping to catch up with him tonight, see if he’d reconsider our business relationship.”
Margot held her smile in place. “I’m sure he’s around here somewhere. If you would just release me”—she tugged her hand fromhis grasp—“I’ll go find him.”
