Page 78 of The Hidden Heart

“Even if she did go to rob him, why would Kestwick kill her over it? Why not just reveal what she had done? Have her arrested?”

“True.”

They were silent for a moment, thinking, then Richard said, “I noticed that Mr. Talbot recognized her name.”

“Yes. Oh, you aren’t thinking it’s him because of that, are you?” Jessica asked. “Why would he kill her just because she was once a famous courtesan? Besides, he was clearly surprised when Radfield said that. He couldn’t have recognized her already or he wouldn’t have been surprised.”

“Perhaps it was an act.”

“Why do it at all? Why not just pretend not to know her?”

“What if Kestwick knew her, too?” Richard mused, thinking aloud. “What if he recognized her?”

Jessica sat up straight, struck by a thought. “What if he recognized her and threatened to reveal who she was? She would not want all of us to know that. She would not have wanted everyone to know, to lose her status here as a decent widow. If nothing else, it would have made Mr. Cobb suspicious of her, and Radfield said that she knew Cobb was a Runner.”

“Yes, but why—ah, yes, I think I see. What if he threatened her with revealing her true identity and she did go to his room for the reason we thought—because he threatened to expose her if she did not?”

Jessica looked at him. “Yes. That would explain it. Perhaps that was why she was nervous—she didn’t want to do it, but she had to. Poor woman.” She paused, then said, “Well, that would explain why she would want to kill Kestwick. But I can’t see how it would give him much reason to kill her.”

“True.” Richard sighed. “I am sorry to say it, but I fear that I cannot put Kestwick down as the murderer. I should very much like to, however, as I think he is my favorite suspect after your Mr. Talbot.”

“He is not my Mr. Talbot,” Jessica protested. “I hate to give up Lord Kestwick as a suspect, too. But I cannot see it having been her brother, either. Obviously he is good at deception, still I cannot help but think he was telling the truth today.”

“Yes. Perhaps it was nothing. Perhaps it was as Lord Vesey said, an accident and nothing more. Maybe I am jumping at shadows. Perhaps it is all coincidence. The study intruder was Radfield. Maybe the nursery intruder was Vesey, as we thought originally.”

“And my jewelry box was smashed by Darius? That seems like an exceptional number of coincidences to me.”

“That is true, too. My life has become quite complicated since you came into it.”

“Me?” Jessica’s eyebrows soared. “You are blaming this all on me?”

“My life was very dull before you arrived.”

“Well, I have not had murders and thefts and intruders in my life, either, I’ll have you know. It too has been quite dull. So I could as easily blame you.”

“Perhaps it is the combination. We are too volatile to mix together.” His voice turned husky, and suddenly it was clear that he was no longer talking about their meeting.

“Indeed?” Jessica asked, her breath catching in her throat, and she rose slowly to her feet. “Are you saying that you wish we had not—that we should not—” She was suddenly sick at heart.

“No!” He shot to his feet, too, consternation on his features. “No, that is not what I meant at all. I meant—I was saying—”

Richard came around the desk to where she stood, and he reached out to take her hands in his. “I meant that when I am around you, there is—I feel such heat, I cannot control it. I scarcely know myself.” He looked into her eyes, his own dark eyes blazing with intensity. “I should apologize for last night, for taking advantage of the situation. Of you.”

“You did not take advantage,” Jessica said firmly. “I knew what I was doing. I went into it with open eyes. I don’t regret it.”

“Honestly?” He raised her hands to his lips and kissed first one, then the other. “I am glad to hear you say so, for I find I cannot say I am sorry for what I did. I am not.”

“Nor am I.” She looked at him, her eyes huge and brilliant.

“I feel as if I could drown in your eyes,” he murmured. He leaned down, and she came up to meet him, and they kissed, their lips gentle and searching.

“I cannot stay away from you,” he said, kissing her lips, her eyes, her cheek. “I want to be with you again tonight. I know I should not—”

Jessica stopped his words with her mouth. Finally she pulled away and said, “I want to be with you tonight, too. I want you in my bed.”

He drew a sharp breath. “Jessica…” He pulled her to him, nuzzling into her hair. “It occurs to me that now would be an even better time.”

Jessica laughed. “I think you might be right.”