Page 73

The butler’s steps receded down the hall.

“I would not advise developing a taste for it,” Brendan said, his tone warm with affection. “You are spirited enough as it is.”

Lily smiled, then gave a small squirm. “I believe I should like to sit up now.”

Brendan shifted carefully, easing her from his lap and settling her beside him. She smoothed her dress, straightening folds and tugs, trying to collect her thoughts. Brendan said nothing. He only reached for her hand and held it gently between both of his.

Michaels returned with the tray before Lily had quite gathered her wits. Brendan poured a cup, adding the generous amount of milk and sugar he had requested.

Lily blinked as he stirred the contents. “So much sugar?”

“To help clear the fog after your shock. And coffee is terribly bitter.” He extended the cup to her with a reassuring look.

Leaning forward, she accepted it, lifting the delicate porcelain to her lips for a tentative sip. “How strange it tastes.”

“It might be wiser to take tea,” he said with a faint smile. “Coffee can have peculiar effects on one’s energy.”

Lily nodded, uncertain whether that was a gentle jest at her expense. She certainly did not wish to chatter any more than she already had.

“Why did you come ba⁠—”

“Lily!”

She turned to see her brother entering the drawing room at a run. His face was flushed, glistening with perspiration, his hair disheveled and cravat half undone.

“Aidan? How did you arrive so quickly?”

“Ran here … as soon as we heard the news … Left our parents … to take the carriage … Terrifying … to hear you had been attacked. I …” Her brother raked his hands through his damp hair before crossing the room to drop on a knee by her side. Taking her hands up in his, and shaking his head as he sought words, he exhaled sharply. “This is my fault! If I had taken care of you that night, instead of abandoning you to carouse with my friends …”

Lily frowned, pulling him closer and lifting her arms to hug him. “It is not, Aidan. I am well. Gracious! You must have run like the wind to arrive here so quickly.”

“I should never have left you alone.”

“But you did, and now I am married. Life goes on.”

Aidan groaned. “Until it does not.”

“I am safe. See, you are speaking with me at this very moment. The entire matter is settled.”

Aidan pulled away. Her brother was so tall that even lowered to one knee, they were practically eye level. From this close, she could see his pupils were dilated. “Is it over? Was the footman the one who committed the murder?”

Brendan cleared his throat. “No, I am afraid not. He claims he was paid to conceal the identity of the killer. At least we know now that it was nobody in the household.”

Aidan jumped to his feet. “How do we know it is true?”

Her husband must have felt uncomfortable with her brother towering over them. He rose up, walking into the cleared space in the middle of the room. The drawing room had plenty of the large, wooden furnishings of the rest of Ridley House, carefully placed around the perimeter of the room. They were surrounded by the exceptional strapwork of very fine pieces, even if their home was as gloomy as a cave. But Lily had heard that the King preferred to arrange his furniture in a different manner. Perhaps when they renovated Ridley House, they would rearrange the furniture into the informal groupings of the royal household.

Brendan’s voice called her back to the more pressing subject at hand. “I suppose we shall search his things to find evidence of the payoff.”

Aidan’s nostrils flared. “If it is true, then there is still a killer out there. Someone who might harm my sister!”

“We will keep our guards to patrol the house⁠—”

“What?”

Brendan glanced over at Lily, who had straightened in dismay. She did not want to be followed around the house now that they knew Wesley had been the one on their staff working in collaboration with the true perpetrator.

“They do not need to shadow you. Simply take care of our home until we know we are safe. In addition to that, we will have a new housekeeper and maids at the end of the week, so Ridley House will be properly staffed, along with a new lady’s maid. It will be far more difficult for any attempt at intrusion once there is a full staff on duty.”