In the Garden of Deceit (Book 4) (32 page)

As
soon as the company had arrived, his wife had dried her tears and
climbed off the mattress, donning her wrapper and slippers behind a
dressing screen. He had lost sight of her after that as she moved out
of the way of the guests. She was the one person he wanted to see,
however, thus he was relieved when Nurse Bitters sent them all away.

He
reiterated his need for water, and the nurse obliged him. It was
quite a process as the woman placed a hand under his shoulders,
lifting his head enough to drink without spilling all the contents of
the glass on his nightshirt. He slurped noisily like a one-year-old
child learning how to sip from a glass. It was a painful procedure,
one where he began to weigh his need for fluid against the need not
to hurt anymore.

“What
is that horrific pain in my side?” he gasped.

“Two
of your ribs were broken when you were attacked, my lord.”

He
swore. “Amanda,” he rasped out. “Where…are
you?”

His
wife stepped into his line of sight. Her expression was drawn, the
bruises on her face standing out in sharp relief against her pale
complexion. She gave him a tremulous smile.

“Welcome
back my lord.”

***

James
had been back among the living for five days now. Those had been
tough days as he endured the occasional setback. But for the most
part, slowly he was making progress.

Amanda
stayed with him during the day but had decided to return to her own
room at night, until she felt certain that her presence did not
disturb him while he mended. He needed his sleep. Although still sore
herself, she was significantly improved. When each morning came she
was up, dressed and headed for her husband’s chamber. This
morning was no different.

She
intercepted the servant bringing James his breakfast. “Is there
enough for me?”

“Yes,
ma’am,” the girl said.

“Thank
you.” Amanda confiscated the tray and bustled into her
husband’s room. She addressed the nurse. “Did we have a
good night?”

Nurse
Bitters nodded. “His lordship slept very well. First night he
didn’t need laudanum to get comfortable.”

“Good.
You can rest now. I’ll call if we should need you.”

As
the door closed behind the nurse, Amanda turned toward the bed to
find her husband watching her.

James
smiled. “Morning, love.

Oh
my, he sounded much more like his normal self. His voice was
gratifyingly stronger than it had been only days before. She felt a
spring in her step as she crossed the room and placed the tray on the
coverlet. Amanda leaned over and gave him a light kiss, allowing her
lips to linger for just a moment. When she pulled back, he wore a
wolfish grin, which was a disconcerting contrast to the discoloration
that still decorated his face.

“My
lord!” She returned his grin with a coquettish one of her own.
“Methinks thou dost feel greatly improved.”

“I
have one burning goal,” he said. “To get well enough to
make love to my wife.”

Amanda
felt a blush rise into her cheeks as she sat in the chair the nurse
had vacated. “Well…you
are
feeling better.”

“Bah!
This healing process is taking forever. Dr.Chilcott said it will take
many weeks before my ribs can be considered mended. Until then the
discomfort puts quite a damper on most activities.” The gaze he
shared with her was intense and meaningful. “This dastardly
episode interrupted my plans the other night. I’m feeling very
frustrated today.”

She
reached over and took his hand, glad she could do so now without fear
of hurting him. She lifted one eyebrow. “As I recall, some
situations can be worked around. I suggest you and I make that effort
when you feel able.”

The
hand she held grasped hers tightly. “Do not toy with me, love.
I’m a weak man, and the disappointment could do me in.”

“I’m
not toying with, James. Please, just repair a little more, and I
promise to participate in whatever won’t hurt you.”

“Some
things are worth a little pain,” he stated.

She
laughed softly. “A theory, I suspect, we will be testing soon.
But I won’t put you in danger. You must agree to that.”

He
blew out a disgusted breath. “If you insist.”

“And
we had best make certain the nurse has other things to do.”
Again, she couldn’t refrain from smiling, despite what she knew
was a serious discussion to him.

“You
can release her as far as I’m concerned. I don’t need her
anymore.”

“I’m
not so certain of that.”

“Amanda—”

“All
right, we’ll check with Dr. Chilcott.”

That
seemed to satisfy him, but his next comment surprised her even though
the subject he introduced was one she had expected.

“I
think we need to talk about the night of the assault.”

Her
stomach tensed, the memories too fresh for her to feel detached. “All
right. But as I told the authorities, I don’t remember much.”

“I
don’t remember
anything
, so whatever small pieces of the
puzzle you have are more than I can contribute. Truth is, I remember
you and me deciding to take a stroll in the garden and then
nothing—absolutely nothing—until I woke in this bed. Did
you see our attackers? I was told there were two.”

“That’s
what I reported, yes. I have a hazy recollection of a large man and a
small one. Other than that…I didn’t really see their
faces.”

“Nothing
else? Did they say anything?”

Should
she mention the two ruffians arguing over whether or not to ravish
her? Maybe now was not a good time. He was on the verge of becoming
upset. “I do remember a couple of things. The big man called
the little man Freddie. And Freddie implied that whoever hired them
would not regret our deaths and, in fact, perhaps there would be
money in it for his employer.”

An
odd silence ensued. James stared at her, his piecing gaze so
assessing, she felt the hairs on her neck lift.

“Are
you certain?” His voice was tight and edged with anger. “This
is very important, Amanda.”

“Yes,
of course. I mean, I was dazed, I admit, but that one moment is quite
clear in my mind. I don’t think I could have imagined it.”

“That
filthy little bastard!” James tried to sit up and a yelp
escaped him for his efforts. “Damn it all to hell!”

Amanda
leapt to her feet, reaching to help him. “James, what is it?”
she cried. She grabbed for the tray, as he had almost upended it on
the floor.

“He
tried to have us killed.” He ground out the words through
clenched teeth. “This is the last straw. I will have his hide
if it is the last thing I do.” He relaxed his head against the
pillow as pain forced his hand.

Her
knees felt weak as she sat back down. “You know who had us
attacked?”

He
merely looked at her.

“Oh!”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Derrick?”

“It’s
the only option that makes sense,” he agreed. “I should
have known. I should have prepared for his need for revenge. How
could I have been so stupid?”

“You
can’t blame yourself for his actions.”

“He
nearly had both of us killed, Amanda. I’m certain he wanted
neither of us to survive that attack.”

Amanda
felt fairly certain also.

“I
can accept his need to hurt me, but he will not escape punishment for
what he did to you. What sort of man has a woman beaten?”

“I
fared much better than you, James. I truly believe you’re the
one he wanted to make suffer.”

“Well
then, I have a surprise for him because I’m about to return the
favor.” He pounded the mattress then winced when the movement
clearly jarred him. “Damn! I hate being unable to move. I need
to get out of this bed.”

“James,
if you try to leave that bed, you won’t have to worry about
Derrick doing you harm. You’ll do it for him.”

“Now
see here—”

“I
swear I will have you tied down if I have to. We haven’t come
this far to watch you finish what Derrick started because you’re
too stubborn to listen.”

His
expression was mulish, but he appeared to relent. “I’ll
agree for now since I have no choice. But make no mistake, Amanda.
Derrick will pay for what he has done to us.”

Amanda
watched him for several moments, breathing slowly in and out as she
sought her equilibrium. Her own anger was boiling just below a
surface that she struggled to keep calm for her husband’s sake.
James was right—Derrick
would
pay. She would see to it.

She
reached for the teapot. “Are you hungry, sweetheart?”

***

“You’re
certain it was Derrick?”

Aunt
Henry stared at Amanda through owl eyes, her voice tremulous. The
conversation they were having had gone from absolute denial on
Henrietta’s part to fear that what was being said might have
validity.

“James
said Derrick has two cohorts, a small man named Freddie and a larger
man named George. That describes the two individuals I saw.”

“But
you only heard Freddie’s name?”

Amanda
controlled a moment’s exasperation but nodded in the
affirmative. “Who would benefit from James’s death, Aunt
Henry? Derrick would more than most since James has no brothers, and
your son is not just his first cousin but his
only
first
cousin. He would be designated closest male relative for the purpose
of inheriting the title and all entailed properties. Add to that
Derrick’s attitude that he has been mistreated…”

“But
it seems so farfetched. Derrick has a temper, can be spiteful, I
admit. But initiate a murder, let alone two? Could I be that blind to
whom my son really is?”

Amanda
let the question go unanswered, as she suspected it wasn’t
really directed at her anyway.

“What
is…what is James intending?” Aunt Henry asked.

Amanda
felt her heart well with pity. The older woman looked thoroughly
defeated, although her eyes remained dry, her demeanor stoical.

“James
is not prepared to take on anything stressful right now. However,
allowing Derrick to think he has escaped detection for this appalling
deed is untenable. And to be honest, I’m so furious at him for
nearly succeeding in killing my husband that I’m unwilling to
let this situation rest for even a day.”

“A-are
you going to report him to the authorities?”

“I
have an idea that I believe is equitable for all concerned.”

“You
do?”

Amanda
took her hand. “I will tell you everything, I promise. But I’m
not prepared to reveal my intentions just yet. I have some plans to
make.”

Now
the old woman did cry, pulling out a hankie from the bodice of her
gown to catch her tears. “I feel as if it’s all my fault.
Surely, there is something I could have done.”

“Never
say that. Sometimes we simply love too faithfully. Why blame the
misdeeds of another on the one with the trusting heart?”

“Thank
you for that.”

“Please
promise me that you won’t tell Derrick that we have discovered
his subterfuge. If you give me away, it will be up to James to seek
revenge. And I fear that outcome may be far more severe.”

“You
have my word.”

***

CHAPTER 21

Amanda
rode in her father’s elegant carriage on a mission that
required more than a little discretion. She had chosen this
particular conveyance, not because it was opulent but because it was
the roomiest one they owned. Of course, the carriage might be
recognized, she supposed. But Archie had been the commonest of
commoners, his wealth notwithstanding, and his fancy vehicle sported
no crest as an identifier. Most likely persons on the street would
simply “see” a rich man out for the evening.

She
was wearing mourning black, gown and a heavy veil, and for once she
was glad of the anonymity her clothing afforded her. Next to her on
the seat sat her jittery maid Betty, serving as a chaperon on
tonight’s little jaunt. And on the seat facing Betty and her
were two of the biggest and most ferocious looking men Amanda had
ever met. Hence the need for a
large
carriage.

Tonight’s
undertaking had required several intense days of preparation. Amanda
had called on James’s Great Uncle Simon for assistance because
she could think of no one else with the power and motivation to help
her succeed. As always when she saw him, she was amazed by what a
handsome man he still was, a ramrod-straight octogenarian with a full
head of white hair. He was intelligent and kind with a commanding
personality, and she was always pleased to see him. She took him
aside after one of his visits to see her husband.

“I
always knew that young man was trouble,” Uncle Simon had said,
referring to Derrick. His brow was furrowed with anger. “Couldn’t
like him no matter how hard I tried. Why don’t we simply have
him thrown in the gaol? Attempted murder is something for which he
should be held accountable.”

“I
agree, but I fear what it would do to Aunt Henry if her son were to
be taken to prison.”

He
shook his head. “What a silly goose she is. She always coddled
her son, trying to compensate for the fact that he had a terrible
father. She should have spent more time trying to make certain he
didn’t become like his father.”

“She
has the kindest heart of anyone I know. At any rate, I suspect he
inherited most of his bad qualities. How was she to fight that?”

“Yes,
yes, I know it’s not her fault. I’m simply frustrated.
What a maddening situation.”

Amanda
touched his sleeve. “Will you help me, sir? I need to make
certain Derrick never has the opportunity to hurt James again.”

Of
course, he had agreed. Bless him.

And
thus she found herself riding in her father’s carriage, staring
blindly out into the night, her mind filled with what the immediate
future might bring. She was headed for a destination that could prove
unsafe, with nothing more than her indignation to see her plan
through. Well, indignation and Alfie and Liam, the two behemoths who
sat on the seat across from her.