Page 85 of The Duchess in His Bed
“You’re not going back to him,” Aiden said quietly. “You’ll stay here until you’re strong enough and then I’ll find accommodations for you elsewhere.”
“I need to let Johnny know.”
“I will handle the matter. Don’t worry yourself. Try to sleep.”
“You’re such a good boy.”
But Selena knew he was an exceptionally good man.
When the countess finally drifted off, Aiden looked across the way at Selena and jerked his head to the side. She followed him into the front parlor.
“You need to be getting home,” he said quietly. “Dawn will be arriving soon.”
“I don’t understand how Elverton can be so callous, so vile. If your mother hadn’t come here, she might have died. And who would have been the wiser regarding the circumstances behind her death?”
“She’s with me now. And I will keep her safe.”
She didn’t doubt his words or his ability to do just that. “When are you going to confront Elverton?”
“Tonight. I’ll keep the countess here until that matter is done.”
“When all this is behind you, perhaps we can discuss our future.”
“We don’t have a future, Lena. We never did.”
“I can’t just cast you aside.”
“You are too vibrant a woman to live your public life alone and without escort.”
“Perhaps there’s another way.”
He shook his head. “You need to leave.”
“Will you at least give me one last kiss?”
She shouldn’t have asked but as he joined his mouth to hers, she was ever so glad she had. It was bittersweet to know it was the last and to know it would never be enough.
When he drew back, she gave him a soft smile, then turned on her heel and walked out of his life and into the one she had thought she wanted.
Chapter 23
The Earl of Elverton poured himself a scotch, dropped into a chair in his library, and brooded. Late last night, while he’d been at his club, his wife had called for a carriage. The vehicle and driver had yet to return. No one seemed to know where his countess had gone.
All day and into evening, he considered his dilemma. Was it better to sound the alarm and have people searching for her or to wait until someone came to inform him that she was dead? Because she would die, was probably already staring sightlessly into oblivion. Perhaps she’d expired in the carriage and the driver was too terrified to return her to the residence. Or she’d passed elsewhere and had yet to be found.
He would be shocked, of course, horrified, bereaved.
He wanted Polly, to become lost in her, but it would not do to be caught plowing into her when news came regarding the demise of his countess. His time would be better spent planning his lies, his disbelief, his sorrow. There was a small chance she still lived. If she returned to the residence... well, more direct measures might be called for because he was determined, one way or another, that Selena Sheffield, Duchess of Lushing, would become his wife within the year.
Aiden had gone to Finn’s farm and explained the situation to him, knowing his brother wouldn’t hesitate to saddle a horse and accompany him to Elverton’s residence. They didn’t bother to knock on the door, but simply strode in and demanded the butler tell them where they’d find the earl. Dismissing him, not waiting for an introduction, they marched down the hallway and into the library, where the toad who had sired them sat in a chair by the fireplace, glass in hand, sipping an amber liquid.
He released an impatient gust of air. “I rid myself of you bastards so I wouldn’t be bothered with you. You’re making a nuisance of yourselves.”
“Was your countess making a nuisance of herself?” Aiden asked. “Is that the reason you poisoned her?”
The earl went so still it was impossible to tell if he even breathed. “I did no such thing. Is she dead, then?”
Aiden lunged forward, grabbed the armrests, and caged in the vile excuse for a man. “She came to me. I nursed her through the night. But Dr. William Graves confirms she was given arsenic, probably during dinner.”
