“But listen to me, Bella, your father did not murder Magdalaine. She killed herself. I was here. I was with her all during her final hours. I won’t lie to you and tell you that your father loved her and was devastated that she had tried to leave him, for at the end he didn’t. She had betrayed him. He did not kill Magdalaine, although from reading this letter I can imagine how you drew such a conclusion. No, she killed herself. I swear it to you. She must have hidden the emeralds and written their hiding place to her brother before your father knew her intentions. She believed they would be her birthright to her son, Gervaise.” He paused, then drew a deep breath. “No, he bore no love for her but he did not kill her.”
Her tears stopped, though she still didn’t look up. Justin saw the flash of pain in her eyes and knew her shoulder was hurting her. He said nothing. He would let her gain her own control.
She said then, “I have had this incredible burden of doubt and uncertainty lifted from my heart. All along you knew, sir, yet it never occurred to me to ask you.”
“Had you asked, Bella, I am not certain I would have told you the truth. It was a long time ago. She was my patient. But now, to clear all this mystery away, well, I am certain she wouldn’t have minded.”
Lady Ann said, “But how did you know, Justin? No, don’t try to deny it. Never would you have taken such a chance without knowing the answer first. Tell us, how could you be so certain that the earl did not kill her?”
He shrugged, saying simply, “He told me several years ago, not any of the details, of course, merely that his first wife had taken her own life. I could not be certain that you would believe me, so I asked Dr. Branyon to tell you.”
Dr. Branyon said, “I think it time you destroyed this letter, Justin. No one need know anything. As for all our neighbors, I have already begun spreading it about that Gervaise was a desperate young man who had somehow discovered the existence of the emeralds. Indeed, to further dampen rumors and gossip, Ann and I have both told certain people that the gun went off by accident. As for Gervaise, we have simply said that he was shot trying to escape with the necklace.”
“I had not even thought of doing that,” the earl said. “Thank you both.”
Dr. Branyon smiled down at Arabella. “Now, young lady, you need to rest. No, do not gainsay me, for I have a formidable ally in your husband. Also he tells me that he will wash your hair for you if you are obedient.” He passed the palm of his hand over her cool forehead. “Yes indeed, there can be no finer physician in the county.”
Dr. Branyon and Lady Ann left the earl’s bedchamber, arm in arm.
“Now, do you swear you will always trust me?”
She gave him a long assessing look. Slowly, she pulled him down to her and whispered in his ear, “Did I tell you about the second letter, Justin?”
He could but stare at her. “You little tease, by God but that was well done. My heart had plummeted to my toes. Promise me, Arabella. There is no second anything, is there?”
“No,” she said and laughed. Her shoulder had been paining her, but her laughter had made it feel better.
He kissed the tip of her nose. “When we are not yelling at each other, do you think we could laugh together?”
“I should like that very much,” she said. “It hurts my shoulder to pull you down to me. Could you come to me willingly now?”
He did, kissing her until she was breathing rapidly and her eyes were vague. He lightly laid his palm over her breast. Her heartbeat was quite fast. He grinned down at her. Between small nipping kisses, he said, “Life is really very nice, isn’t it?”
Table of Contents
1: Magdalaine
2: Ann
3: Arabella
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5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
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The Heir Page 34