Page 72 of Barbarous

Daphne’s face heated. “I would have, Hugh. I had decided—”

He laid a big finger across her lips. “Shhh, darling. We’ll deal with that in a moment.” He smiled and continued. “He must have decided that if he could remove me from the equation, then he could marry you without worrying about any interference.”

“But he must have known that I would never marry him, no matter what he threatened me with.”

“I think you overestimate his intelligence—or at least his awareness.”

The dry certainty in his voice made her smile. “Even so, I can’t believe he would have been bold enough to attempt murder, and in such an uncertain way.”

Hugh shrugged. “I agree, but if not Malcolm, who else might have done it?”

Daphne stared at his damaged hand, which she was cradling in both of hers. “I was terrified you would think it was me—after all, I am the one who would stand to gain.”

Hugh snorted. “Don’t be daft.”

She hid a smile at his conviction “Maybe the person who did it didn’t want to kill you, but to give you a lesson.”

“A lesson?”

“Is it possible—”

“Yes, is what possible?” he prodded.

Daphne knew it was likely her roiling jealousy rather than any true conviction that provoked her to utter the next words, but she could not stop them. “I have dreaded saying this to you, my lord, but I haven’t been able to miss the fact that William Standish is angry with you. Very angry.” His eyebrows—already raised—went even higher. “You admitted that yourself when you said you thought it was because you sent him back. Is it possible he might be angry for some other reason? Perhaps not on his behalf but his sister’s?” There. She’d said it.

He blinked. “You believe William severed the girth to avenge his sister?”

It sounded utterly mad when spoken out loud. It also sounded like the statement of a jealous woman, which it was. Daphne wanted the floor to open and swallow her.

“My dearest Daphne.” He slipped an arm over her shoulders and caressed the bare skin of her arm with his big, warm hand. “I’ve realized almost from the first that you possess an impressive intellect, but now I see you have a staggering imagination, as well. This is the second time you’ve mentioned my amorous adventures in conjunction with people wishing to kill me. I am gratified you think I inspire such passion. I am also pleased by your opinion of my virility. And I am most fascinated to learn what acts your imagination has me performing to engender such long-lasting desire for vengeance.” He grinned down at her. “But we will speak of such things later.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Right now I will address your suspicions regarding Meg Standish and her brother’s quest for vengeance. I believe I mentioned that Meg and William and I grew up like siblings?”

She nodded.

“When Meg learned she was with child, it was to me she turned first. She confessed the father was none other than Blake.” He smiled at her gasp of surprise. “She was afraid Will would kill Blake if he ever found out. I happened to agree with her—Will would have killed Blake and then hanged for it. This all happened not long before Will and I departed on our fateful journey.” His hand, which was still on her shoulder, traced patterns on her skin. “My reputation was already in tatters so I told Meg to claim I was the father.” He chuckled at Daphne’s expression of disbelief. “I see you are thinking I’m some kind of martyr. But I’m not—it cost me nothing to accept the blame and it meant a great deal to her. It is sad but true that a woman giving birth to an aristocrat’s bastard receives far better treatment from her peers than if she gives birth to a butcher’s bastard. She accepted my offer and we both went to speak to Will together. Meg lied to Will and told him she’d become pregnant by a man who’d stayed at the local inn. When I told Will what Meg and I planned to do he was furious, but there was no way he could stop me, so I had my way.” He smiled, no doubt at the memory of getting his way.

“To add weight to the rumors, I had my solicitor draw up a trust for Meg’s child before I left. The purpose of the money was twofold: to take care of her and the boy, and to stoke suspicion that he was my son. It certainly seems to have stoked yours,” he teased, pulling her tighter against his body. Daphne swallowed, both at his story and at the sensations his touch was stirring.

He became serious. “Do you have any other questions for me on this subject?”

Daphne shook her head, too embarrassed to speak.

“Excellent. Then I’d like to address the topic of Euphemia Marlington. First, I apologize for not explaining myself immediately.”

She opened her mouth to tell him she had no right to expect anything from him but, again, he laid a finger across her lips.

“Please allow me to finish?”

She nodded but he did not immediately remove his finger. Instead, his pupil flared and he began to lean forward, his gaze on her mouth. But then he stopped, took a deep breath, and muttered something unintelligible.

“I understand what it may have looked like, but the night you saw us I was offering Mia nothing but comfort. She was terrified about returning home after almost twenty years. I couldn’t tell you who she was because it wasn’t my secret to tell.” He inhaled and then let it out slowly. “I’ll admit I was no saint when I was young or during the years I spent away, but since my return I have desired only one woman.” He ran his finger lightly up her arm and shoulder before taking her chin in his hand. “You must know who that woman is.” He stroked her jaw, the slight roughness of his skin leaving goose bumps. “Even when I believed you’d been my uncle’s wife”—he grimaced—“truly his wife and the mother of his children, I could not fight my feelings for you. I have never been skilled at denying myself what I want.” He dipped his mouth to brush her lips. “And I want you so very, very much, my love.”

She became hot, and then cold. “You want to be my . . . lover?” It was painful and mortifying to speak so plainly, but she could no longer abide dealing with uncertainties.

“Among other things.”

“Other . . . things?”

“Yes, many other things. Which only seems fair, since I returned because of you.”