Marcus shook his head. “He is a suspect, Naomi. Surely you must see that.”
She blinked as all this started to set in. The truth of it. The possibility. “But then why shoot at me? I can’t believe he would hurt me.”
Everett put his arm tighter around her. “As we said back in the beginning: if he wants you, he might have been hoping the attack would send you back to his home. Back to his influence.”
She bent her head. “Then what can I do? Is there proof? A way to prevent him from hurting anyone again? Or must I go live in a convent to keep anyone I love from being harmed?”
Marcus stared at her, tucked into Everett’s arms, and shook his head. “I will continue looking for enough proof to have him arrested for the murders. And until then…well, you need protection. The best protection would be for you to marry Everett.”
Naomi staggered back, out of Everett’s arms, as she gaped at Marcus. He looked so grim. So broken as he said those words.
“What?” she gasped.
“He loves you. You two could make a good life,” Marcus said. “And he knows the threat. He won’t be caught out if Harris were to go after him or you.”
Shock flowed through Naomi. This man who she loved, who Everett loved, was willing to walk away from it all. And the feeling that rose up in her was…anger.
She stepped forward and glared at him. “And what about us, Marcus? You and me and Everett? What about all we’ve shared and all we could share? All you want, even though you won’t admit it?”
He held her gaze a moment, then shook his head. “You don’t know what I want.”
“Neither do you, it seems,” Naomi said. “Or at least you refuse to fight for it.”
He recoiled as if he’d been shot. Then he turned and, without another word, he left the room. Left her alone with Everett. Left behind all her hopes and dreams of the future they could all share if he could only let go of his fears and embrace that life.
Chapter 10
Everett recognized the heartbroken expression on Naomi’s face. He’d felt it on his own a dozen times when Marcus refused to even consider a future with him.
“I’m sorry,” he said, bending his head.
She lifted her chin as she looked at him. “I don’t know why. I can see what Marcus is doing, I even understand why, after all you’ve told me about his past, how he had to lift himself up. He’s afraid, and that emotion is not comfortable for him.”
Everett swallowed. “I suppose not.”
She shook her head. “Marcus will use the fact that I’m in danger as a way to put distance between the three of us. So we must resolve this issue as soon as possible. For my sake—for our sake—I’m not giving up.”
Everett arched a brow. Naomi had come to them desperate, she had collapsed under the weight of her fear, but now…now she stood before him, power in her face. She was a warrior and that gave him…it gave him strength.
For the first time he had a partner in this battle to win Marcus’s heart.
He reached out and took her hand, lifting it to his own pounding heart. “I love you. I do want a future with you.”
Her expression registered surprise for a moment. Then it softened and she leaned up to press a kiss to his lips. When she pulled away, she said, “And I love you. I love him. And I have an idea that may help us get to that future faster.”
“What do you propose?” he asked, smiling as she pulled away and began to pace with a purpose, a drive.
“I want to go see Thaddeus,” she said with a glance in his direction to see how he reacted to this foolish notion.
He stared at her. “I know you didn’t just suggest such a ridiculous thing.”
Now she folded her arms. “Indeed, I did. Don’t look at me that way, Everett. It makes perfect sense.”
“In what world does your going to confront a man who may have killed for you make perfect sense?”
“First off, we are not entirely certain that he did any of that,” she said, her tone calm and cool. As if she were suggesting politely discussing missing silver with a servant, not a triple murderer. “But Thaddeus entered my life over ten years ago. I know him—at least I think I do. If I look him in the eyes, I’ll know, Everett. I’ll know the truth before you or Marcus would be able to uncover it with months of research.”
Everett opened his mouth to argue, but found there was nothing to say. She wasn’t wrong, after all. After such a long acquaintance, it was very likely she could read their suspect better than anyone outside of his life.
“Still, there is great danger in it. And it’s very unlikely he’s just going to confess to you, Naomi.”
She shrugged. “Except that I’ll have the element of surprise on my side. Thaddeus will never expect that I’ll show up at his home, especially after his unpleasant interaction with Marcus earlier today. And you’ll be there.”
“That will inflame him if he truly desires to possess you,” Everett mused, beginning to understand her plan.
“Especially when we announce our engagement to him,” Naomi said. When Everett’s eyes went wide, she waved her hand to dismiss his reaction. “I’m not trying to force you into marriage, my lord. It is a ruse to judge his reaction. To see if I can obtain a confession that will help us end this. Or determine if he is, indeed, innocent.”
Everett rubbed his chin. “I don’t like the danger here, Naomi. I don’t like the risk.”
“You’ll be there, right at my side,” she said, coming to take his hand in both of hers. She looked up at him, with that expression that had been stealing his breath since the first moment he saw her. That combination of beauty and strength, vulnerability and surrender. Pure acceptance.
“Yes, I will,” he whispered. “Always.”
She blushed and squeezed his hand. “And we’ll be prepared. Everett, I assure you, I am likely the only person who could obtain his confession.”
Everett shifted. He didn’t like the idea, but he also knew she was probably right in her assessment of the situation. He found himself nodding. “Very well. Let’s tell Marcus the plan and see if we can convince him.”
She released his hand, and he moved to ring for Verrick. When the butler arrived, Everett asked, “Will you ask Mr. Ridgeway to join us again?”
Verrick glanced at Naomi and then back to Everett. “I would, my lord, but Mr. Ridgeway went out.”
Everett glanced over his shoulder at Naomi. She had stepped forward, her expression concerned.
“Went out? Where?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. Couldn’t be far, as he was walking,” Verrick said.
“Thank you,” Everett said, running a hand through his hair. “Lady Walridge and I may be departing soon, so be at the ready.”
“Of course, my lord.” Verrick stepped away, and Everett returned to Naomi.
“You look worried,” she said.
“Marcus and I have had more arguments than you can imagine over the very subject that stirred all our passions today. And he’s walked away before, but never…never left, if that makes sense. The fact that he has done so twice in one day…”
She touched his face. “We’re going to work this out, Everett. I promise you that. I won’t stop until he understands what this future could be. Together, all of us.”
He nodded, though he had a bit less faith in that outcome than Naomi did. Still, he wasn’t ready to give up. He shook off his negative emotions and smiled at her. “I think you and I should carry on with your plan anyway. Come, get your things and I’ll arrange the rest.”
She kissed his cheek, then hustled from the room to get her wrap. As she did, he went into the foyer and motioned for Verrick to join him. “I have a message for Marcus when he returns,” he said. “Tell him we went to see Mr. Harris, and we’d like for him to join us when he’s finished with his fit of pique.”
Verrick had been scribbling down the message, and now his gaze lifted. His one good eye sparkled a little with humor, and Everett returned the expression. The
man had served under Marcus during their army days. He was a good and proper butler now, but occasionally Everett caught a glimpse of what he’d once been.
“I will read this to him verbatim, my lord,” Verrick said, tucking the note in his pocket. “And have your carriage brought ’round.”
“Thank you,” Everett said. “And if he sacks you, never fear. You’ll come work for me.”
Verrick was chuckling as he walked away, but Everett’s smile fell as soon as the man was gone. He and Naomi were about to play a dangerous game.
And they had to win this part in order to win it all.
Naomi drew a deep breath as she and Everett climbed the stairs to her stepbrother’s home across from St. James Park. She hadn’t been here in weeks. It was a place she tried to avoid whenever possible. Now a shiver ran up her spine as Everett knocked and they awaited whatever fate was inside.
He touched her elbow gently. “I’m here and I will keep you safe from him.”
She nodded as the door opened. Her brother’s butler, Patterson, stood in the entryway. His gaze flitted over her, eyes widening in surprise. He glanced back over his shoulder and then said, “Lady Walridge, good afternoon.”
“Good afternoon, Patterson. I’m here to see Thaddeus. Is he in?”
Patterson swallowed and stepped back from the door to allow them into the foyer. “I will check, my lady. Will you follow me to the green parlor to wait?”
Naomi flinched but followed the butler to the door a few feet from the foyer. As they entered, she cast a side look to Everett to get his reaction to the room.
When Patterson left, Everett pivoted to her. “It’s hideous,” he whispered.
She nodded as she took in the chamber. Thaddeus’s wife Portia thought herself quite the decorator, but she had no editing eye when it came to colors or trinkets. As a result every surface in the room was covered with stuffed birds and glass figurines. The walls were a sickly green, and half of them were papered with a paisley pattern that was just as ugly.
“I despise this house,” Naomi whispered. “Every moment here was torture.”
Everett paced over to a portrait above the fireplace. She followed and looked up at the couple. Thaddeus, looking handsome in his formal attire, and Portia, lovely as anything but with a sour expression that never left her face.
“That’s them?” he asked.
“On their wedding day eight years ago,” she said.
Everett shot her a look. “If that was the happiest day of her life, I shudder to think what expression she carries every other.”
“Portia is perpetually angry with everything, I think,” Naomi sighed. “She can be friendly, even kind, but then turn to a rage on the tiniest perceived slight.”
Everett examined Portia in the painting a bit closer. “Interesting.”
She was about to ask him about the tone to that one word when the door opened behind them. They both faced it, and Naomi’s heart sank. It was Portia who entered, and she was alone.
Her sister-in-law was truly lovely, with fine, pale blonde hair and a face that could have launched ships if she ever did anything but scowl. She was doing so now as she shut the door behind herself and glared across the room at Everett and Naomi.
“I didn’t expect you,” Portia said. “Perhaps I should have, considering. Perhaps it’s for the best, at last.”
Naomi moved toward her, forcing a smile and with her hands outstretched. Occasionally effusive friendliness could shake Portia’s upset.
“How lovely to see you,” she said, and drew a breath to continue.
But before she could, Portia pulled her hand out from behind her to reveal a tiny, but deadly, pistol. Which she aimed directly at Naomi’s heart.
Chapter 11
Everett let out a cry and took a long step toward Naomi and the woman who was now training a gun at her chest. “Mrs. Harris,” he began.
The blonde’s eyes darted toward him. “Stop right there. This has nothing to do with you, but I won’t hesitate.”
He froze, for there was nothing in her voice that said that statement was a lie. She looked prepared to shoot Naomi. Happy to do so, in fact.
His stomach turned. Here he had come, ready to be the one in danger if Harris reacted badly to Naomi’s claim that they would wed. He’d never pictured this.
“Portia, what is going on?” Naomi asked, her voice trembling as she stared at the weapon. “Please explain why you’re aiming a gun at me.”
“Who is he?” Portia asked, nudging her chin in Everett’s direction.
“Lord Glenmarrow,” Naomi explained, shooting a glance over her shoulder at him. “My…my fiancé.”
Portia stared at her a moment, then over to Everett. She began to laugh, even though she didn’t move the gun from its deadly aim. “Not even a week after poor Stephen is cold and you’re fucking a new one.” She shook her head. “How is it that you’re always able to get them to put a ring on your finger? We’re all taught that opening your legs never results in that.”
Naomi ignored the ugliness of the suggestion. “I’m sorry to upset you, Portia.”
“I’m not upset. Marry another one, marry them all for all I care. But Thaddeus, oh, Thaddeus will be enraged.”
Everett stiffened. It seemed they might get their information after all. He edged forward slightly and said, “Thaddeus is very concerned with what Naomi does and with whom.”
Portia nodded. “Oh, indeed he is. He’s been obsessed with her since she was a girl. Disgusting. I thought he might get over it when we married. God knows I tried. But do you know he sometimes asks me to wear a red wig, Naomi? To turn my back while he takes me so he can call me by your name.”
Naomi recoiled in disgust, her hand coming up to her mouth. “He is practically my brother, Portia.”
“Practically,” Portia repeated. “Not by blood. Oh, he couldn’t marry you, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his fantasies about keeping you in this house, sneaking off to your bed. He never even hides them.”
“You must know I have no interest—”
“Doesn’t matter. He wants what he wants and he’ll do anything to get it.” She glanced at Everett. “Anything.”
“Anything,” he repeated, slowly inching closer every time Portia put her focus on Naomi. “Including murder?”
Her gaze darted to him. “You know then. You know what he did for her? For her, never for me? Killed all those people in her name.”
“Oh no.” Naomi wobbled and tears swelled in her green eyes. In that moment, her guilt and pain over the deaths of three innocent men, the murders she’d been trying desperately to still see as accidents, was palpable. Everett wished he could comfort her in that pain. But right now there were much more dangerous matters to attend to.
“Oh yes, live with that for the short time you have left to draw breath.” Portia’s voice had elevated now. She was shouting, and the gun in her hand shook. “You are why three men are dead.”
“Where is your husband now?” Everett pressed.
“Looking for her,” Portia growled. “He came back from her home in a rage that some new man had come to collect her things. Was it you? It doesn’t matter. He was driven to find her, to get her before she found herself another man to fuck. But it looks like he’s too late.”
“Portia,” Naomi whispered. “I’m so sorry you’ve endured this hell. I had no idea Thaddeus’s obsession was so deep. I would never allow him to—”
“No, you won’t,” Portia interrupted. “I have stood quietly by for nearly a decade as this nonsense went on. But no more. There is only one way to end this. To make him mine and mine alone.”
“Mrs. Harris,” Everett said, desperate because he was too far away. He couldn’t stop this in time if she pulled that trigger.
“If I kill you, as I tried to do last week, if I succeed, then you’ll be gone. He’ll have to love me then.” Portia nodded, seemingly more to herself than to Naomi or to him. “He’ll just be mine.”
“Please don’t do this,” Naomi whispered, and glanced over her shoulder at Everett. Her expression was one of love. Of apology. Of regret.
Portia didn’t respond, but Everett saw her finger twitch on the trigger of the pistol. He began to dive toward Naomi, but before he could reach her, the door to the parlor flew open and Marcus bounded into the room, his own pistol at the ready.
Portia pivoted, and the gun discharged just to Naomi’s left. Marcus fired in response. It hit her in the chest and she collapsed, her gaze already glassy before she hit the floor.
Marcus shook the hand of the magistrate who had come after the shooting. “Thank you for your discretion,” he said, pursing his lips at the amount he had just paid for it. “And for your swift handling of this matter.”
“Indeed, sir. Thank you for your help in solving these cases,” the man said, acting as if he had been doing anything at all to prove three murders and at least one attempt on Naomi’s life.
Marcus turned and left the house. The carriage was waiting for him, his horse had already been taken home by one of the shaken servants. He drew a long breath before he opened the door and climbed inside.
Naomi and Everett sat on one side of the vehicle, her head on his shoulder. Marcus’s heart hurt at the streaks of tears on her cheeks. The fear that still lingered in her eyes.
In truth, it was a fear that was echoed in his own chest. When he’d burst into that room and found Portia Harris ready to shoot Naomi, found Everett moving to block that shot and take the bullet himself, his world had shattered. He could have lost them, lost them both.
Even now his hands shook as he thought of it.
“The matter is taken care of,” he said softly. “The magistrate has heard the explanation of what happened and agreed that it is a matter best kept quiet.”
“Quiet,” Everett repeated in disgust. “That’s all fine and good when it comes to that poor dead woman, but what about Thaddeus Harris? If he is not pursued, he will never not be a danger to Naomi.”
Guarding the Countess Page 7