Page 47 of The Lady Glass
“Were you waiting for me?” Marcus asked.
Rolland swept his gaze back to the window and the streaming rain marring his view. “I didn’t know you were in there. I’m here because it’s the only quiet corner on the first floor. What about you? Did your guests commandeer the library and force you to this end of the house?”
“I was taking care of some papers I dare not leave out for just anyone to find.” Marcus glanced out the window beside him. “It’s really coming down.”
“It’s strange to be perfectly dry in a storm. There’s no deck for me to walk.”
Marcus eyed him, likely sensing his nervous tension. “You need a distraction.”
He shrugged. “Probably.”
“But every time you let your guard down, you worry you’ll regret it?”
Rolland met Marcus’s gaze. “Precisely.”
Marcus shuddered. “I have the same eerie feeling, just waiting for something terrible to happen.”
“Especially with a criminal among us.”
Marcus sighed. “Does it make me a poor host if I secretly hope someone will voluntarily leave early? I would love to cross a name off our suspect list.”
“We’re close on a few, I think. Miss Yearsley is hiding something, but I’m not certain it’s related to us. Lewis is convinced she is without any guile at all. I know he’s smitten,but I also trust his opinion. Mr. Hawke and Mr. Haversham are clearly motivated by money, but who would instruct them to kill someone? And I cannot discover a motive for Mr. Stewart.”
“What of Lord Vernon?” Marcus asked. “Will Cadogen find anything? Besides how vocal he is, I’d wager a great deal that he is still loyal to his country.”
Marcus’s uncanny ability to read people had Rolland questioning his own suspicions concerning Lord Vernon. He ruffled his hair in frustration. “Then, who is it?Mrs.Haversham? Or there’s always my own mother.”
“We’ve missed something.” Marcus studied the rivulets racing down the glass, as if one of them would lead to answers.
“Agreed. I’m afraid to think what it could cost us.”
“There you are, dearest.”
Rolland and Marcus both turned to see Her Grace striding toward them. She tucked herself next to Marcus’s side, reaching for his arm. “Our Lady Glass has not had a sufficient tour. Some of the others requested to accompany her, even though they’ve made the rounds already. What do you say? Do you want to lead it? No one knows the historical details and the stories behind the rooms like you do.”
Marcus glanced at Rolland. “It looks like we have your distraction. As Lewis would say, let’s mix a little business with pleasure, shall we?”
“Pleasure?” Rolland couldn’t see how viewing dozens of bedchambers would please anyone.
“You can escort Lady Glass.” Marcus and his wife gave each other a conspiratorial look.
Theresia was too much of a distraction. “She might prefer Mr. Stewart’s arm.” He hadn’t meant to say the words out loud. Perhaps his subconscious still questioned whether that were true.
Her Grace shook her head. “Mr. Stewart is taking hiscorrespondence in the library. It’s just Miss Haversham, Mr. Hawke, Mr. Lewis, Miss Yearsley, and Lady Glass. Everyone else is occupied.”
This was hardly business, then. What clues would they find on a house tour? But neither was he helping anyone by staring out the window and wandering aimlessly about. He gave a curt nod. “Some exercise might do me good.” If climbing stairs and strolling leisurely through corridors counted as a form of exertion.
He followed behind the duke and duchess, who wound their way to the drawing room to collect the others. He avoided Theresia’s gaze and pretended interest in plucking a piece of lint from his sleeve, half hoping Mr. Hawke would ask to escort her. No more singling her out and giving everyone—especially himself—the wrong idea. Last night he’d been impulsive and risked both of their reputations. He’d had the night and the morning away from her to steel his resolve once more.
He was marrying Miss Shields, and entertaining any other thoughts was foolish. Besides, at some point, Society would realize Lady Glass was a fake title, and her true identity as a Roma would be revealed. He’d dug a deep hole for them, and there would be no easy way out of it.
To his dismay, the couples formed naturally, with Mr. Hawke taking Miss Haversham’s arm since they were already midconversation. Lewis and Miss Yearsley, of course, were a pair, which left Theresia quite alone.
That pleasure Marcus had promised hit Rolland in the chest the moment he met Theresia’s gaze. The blue of her dress complemented her coloring, and her gaze warmed him. She reminded him of the sea on a calm, summer afternoon. The radiance of her coy smile seemed to brighten at least his mood, if not the entire drawing room.
Miss Shields. Miss Shields.He repeated the name in his headas Theresia came to stand beside him. They waited until the others filed from the room before taking their place at the end of the line.
He wanted to be standoffish but not rude. He forced himself to greet her. “Are you well today?”
