Page 52 of The Secret Life of a Lady
Philippa closed her eyes, a single tear tracking down her cheek. ‘He was no worse a monster than any other man. And yes, he was awful to me. But even if he had been wonderful, it would not have mattered. He was not the one I loved. He was not the one I wanted.’
Hannah wished she weren’t naked in the cooling water. She wished she could offer her patroness comfort. Sanctuary from past grief. ‘I’m so sorry.’ Hannah’s words felt woefully inadequate in the quiet room.
‘So am I.’ Philippa wiped her cheek.
Betty stood frozen by the closet. ‘I’m right glad he’s dead then, madam. If you don’t mind me saying so.’ She crossed herself but thrust out her chin in a small act of defiance. ‘I don’t think a man deserves to live if he hurts someone as kind and generous as you.’ Her cheeks glowed pink as she turned to hang up the riding habit.
‘Well said, Betty.’ Hannah knew Lord Winterbourne loved her, but he also hurt the woman who had been Hannah’s family for ten years. For that, Hannah could never forgive him.
‘Get out of that water before you freeze, then tell me what happened today.’ Philippa stood, retrieved the neatly folded towel sitting on the vanity table and held it out.
Hannah emerged dripping from the copper tub and dried herself before Betty helped her wiggle into her nightgown.
‘First, you should know I did lose control of my horse. But it was only because someone shot at us.’ Hannah watched Philippa’s face transition from haunted memories of the past to a raging fury for the present. It brought Hannah some relief because facing the truth of her father’s duplicity was not easy, but seeing Philippavulnerable and hurting was impossible. She much preferred the duchess angry and ominous.
‘Someone shot at you? Who? How? Tell me exactly what happened.’
Hannah sat in front of the vanity while Betty brushed out her hair. She retold the events of the morning, leaving out the deal she made with Killian to trade answers for favours later that night.
Betty plaited Hannah’s copper curls into a long braid. ‘I’ll take my leave, miss. Unless you need anything further?’
‘You seem in a bit of a hurry, Betty. Do you have evening plans?’ Hannah couldn’t stop the smile curving her lips.
Betty’s blush flamed so brightly, her ears turned pink. ‘Of course not, miss. I can stay if you need me.’
Hannah laughed. ‘I’m teasing, Betty. I’m sure there’s a handsome young stable lad waiting to eat his supper next to you. But I would heed Lady Philippa’s warnings and guard your heart.’
Betty nodded vigorously. She bobbed a curtsey to Hannah and another for Philippa before she left.
Philippa leaned forward from her precarious perch on the edge of Hannah’s bed. ‘Exactly what was that about?’
‘I think our Betty has a sweetheart.’
Philippa snorted. ‘What is it with the country air that turns women into complete ninnies?’ She waved away Hannah’s attempted reply. ‘Never mind. We have more important matters to discuss. Lord Killian told you they found other women? Dead in caskets?’
‘Yes,’ Hannah answered.
‘Why would he share this information? It gives us an undue advantage, or at least puts us on the same level as the prime minister’s investigators.’
Hannah shrugged, feeling uncomfortably conspicuous. ‘I couldn’t presume to guess at his motivations.’
Because he cares. About me.She tamped down hope.Because he wants an upper hand in our game of flirtation. Far more likely.
‘Multiple victims. This changes things.’ Philippa rubbed her finger against her thumb. ‘The Queen must hear about this. Unless she already knows.’
‘She wouldn’t keep something so important from us. Would she?’
Philippa shook her head irritably. ‘When it comes to Queen Victoria, it’s impossible to guess. I respect her immensely, but I don’t claim to understand her. Regardless, she needs to hear this information. I must go back to London. Perhaps we should both return. We can leave tonight.’
‘No!’ Hannah panicked. She couldn’t leave. Not tonight. Who knew when she would get another opportunity to be unchaperoned with Killian?
Philippa’s gaze swung to Hannah. ‘Excuse me?’
Hannah took a breath. ‘We still have work to do here. I don’t want to abandon that when you could easily return to London for a night without me. You can speak with the Queen, and I can continue our investigation at Everly. Lord Cavendale is still a viable suspect. We know Sarah Bright was leaving her position with Lord Bradford to work for Cavendale. Even if he is not her killer, he may have important information about her last few days. Maybe he killed all of the girls, or maybe multiple killers are working together. I wouldn’t put it past St George to commit such a heinous crime. I don’t know. But I do know there are answers to be found here. I don’t want to leave until we find them.’
‘If someone shot at you, someone knows you are investigating this case. You are in grave danger.’
‘We don’t even know if the man was shooting at me.’ Hannah stood, needing to expel some of her nervous energy. She paced from the vanity to the bed and back again. ‘Killian is investigatingthis case as well. Wouldn’t it seem more likely the gunman was aiming for him?’
