Dangerous in Diamonds - Madeline Hunter [40]
Now he walked beside Albrighton, much as they had walked on either side of Marie as they handed her over to the French and her fate. He’d had to know, of course, if his last suspicion about the intrigue surrounding her was true.
You were Latham’s lover too, weren’t you? Did he point you at me, so I would be complicit even as I was unaware ?
He had seen her face in the twilight as she gazed at the last of the setting sun, looking so young and frightened that his heart broke for her.
He discovered early where the money that I accumulated was going. He explained that the price of my freedom was my body and half of all I raised.
I do not hate you for this, Castleford—I know you only do your duty, and even if you had loved me it would be the same. But him—unlike you, he has no honor and no loyalty to anything. Kill him, if you ever get the chance, Tristan.
“You are lost in your thoughts, Castleford. If I have called forth unpleasant ones, I apologize,” Albrighton said as their steps took them out of the park and toward the house.
“Unpleasant enough, and sobriety has made them too vivid. Thank you for ruining my day. I will return the favor sometime.” It had been inevitable, however, sober or not. Sooner or later, he would be dealing with Latham’s reemergence in his life. He had known that since he received word of the old duke’s death.
Albrighton actually made an attempt at small talk then, to distract him. The effort was valiant but the results awkward. All the same, the last of the memories had faded by the time they approached the house.
“The wagon is here. You should make your escape while you can,” Albrighton said.
Another set of wheels rested behind the wagon’s. Castleford recognized the carriage as one of Summerhays’s.
A few queries by his steward to households that contracted with The Rarest Blooms had told him the wagon would probably come today. He was delighted that his guess regarding Mrs. Joyes coming as well had been correct.
“I would not think of leaving without paying my respects to your wife, no matter how she is dressed. That would be rude.”
Chapter Nine
“You could just enjoy town while you are visiting,” Celia said. “You do not have to spend the days on trade.”
Daphne did not think Celia’s dismissal of her plan a good sign. They were partners in The Rarest Blooms now. Celia should be more interested in seeing it prosper.
Of course Celia no longer needed the partnership to put food on the table, now that she was married to Jonathan. Her condition, now apparent in the gentle bulge below her garment’s high waist, no doubt accounted for her lack of enthusiasm too.
“I have been enjoying myself. I have already been to Bullock’s Museum and done some shopping on Ludgate Hill. However, I am unable to fill my days with outings completely, Celia. Calling on the steward or butler of one house each day is concluding discussions more quickly than writing back and forth.”
Celia shrugged. “If it gives you pleasure to do so, then I am not going to object. However, it will be some months before they want those flowers or plants, so writing back and forth is hardly a significant delay.”
They sat in her back sitting room, the one where Celia had built shelves near the big window to hold the plants that arrived from Cumberworth. Even as they spoke, the last of them were carried in and handed to Daphne, who placed them where they would not get too much summer sun.
Daphne noticed that a good deal of dirt had found its way onto Celia’s floor. “Where is Miriam? We need a broom.”
“She went above. I do not think she will be down for a while.” Celia smiled impishly. “She is hiding.”
“Not from me, I hope.”
“Of course not. She is hiding from the owner of that horse tied up outside. She recognized him from her past.”
“I expect that was startling. Although she is safe enough if she remains indoors.”
“Not really, since he came indoors too, and