Chapter 4
Four
T he dying embers of the fire reflected a flickering glow across the study, casting shadows that danced upon the walls as the first rays of sunlight breached the widows. James paced restlessly, contemplating the news he’d received from his contact the prior evening. There was not a trace of evidence to be found among London’s underbelly. It could only mean one thing—whoever wanted Hollyfield dead was a peer, and he, or she, did the job themself.
A sharp knock at the study door drew his attention. “Enter,” he said, expecting a footman.
Selina entered the study. Her wavy blonde hair framed a face that mirrored her resolve, while her gaze fixed on James. Her fingers curled tightly around a letter, the knuckles turning white from the pressure.
He stopped pacing, his eyes narrowing as he took in her expression—barley contained anger. He braced himself for what was to come, the muscles in his jaw tightening. What was she doing here? What was so important that it could not wait until this afternoon? And why the devil did she look so beautiful when her eyes were burning with fury?
"Lord Blackwood," she said, her voice steady but laced with accusation. "I demand an explanation for this." She thrust the letter at him, the parchment crackling with the force of her grip.
He took it, his eyes scanning the contents as an icy knot of anger formed in his stomach. The letter suggested a connection between himself and Selina’s late husband, the Earl of Hollyfield’s death. It was penned by Lord Gregory Berner, the very man who had raced Lord Hollyfield that fateful day.
"Selina, I—" he began, his voice faltering slightly under the weight of her gaze.
"I will ask you once more. Did you have a hand in my husband's death?" she demanded, her voice unwavering. "Tell me the truth."
"Of course not!" James protested, his eyes soft with sincerity. "You must believe me, Selina. I would never be involved in such a thing."
"Then explain this!" she insisted, jabbing a finger at the damning letter. "It links you to Nile and the circumstances surrounding his race. Lord Berner wrote you were near the phaetons before the race began and that you and Nile had an argument just before the race. He claims that you told Nile he would be sorry."
"Selina," James implored, desperation creeping into his voice, "I had no hand in your husband’s accident. I would never betray you or your family in such a manner. The argument was no argument at all. Nile had been bragging about his new horse and saying it could not be beat. I told him he would be sorry because I knew his opponent’s horse well and the speed it brought." He paused, his gaze searching hers for understanding. "It was innocent banter. The sort we often exchanged. Please, trust me."
She hesitated, her expression wavering as she studied him intently. The taut lines of her brow easing as her lips slightly parted.
"I wish trust came so easy," she said, her voice softening. "I shall endeavor to trust you, for now. But know this, Lord Blackwood: Should I find even the slightest hint of deception, I will not hesitate to expose you for what you truly are. I will avenge my husband’s death if it is the last thing I do."
James's fingers tightened around the parchment, crumpling it slightly as he fought to control the rising anger within him. He raised his gaze to meet hers, the hazel depths of her irises shimmering with a mixture of anger and resolve.
"Selina, whoever was responsible for Nile's death," he said earnestly, his words laden with sincerity. "They are messing with my life as well. I vow that I too shall have revenge."
"Do you?" she said, her gaze narrowing. “Or is it simply that you, Lord Blackwood, do not wish to have the truth uncovered? You are a man known for his vices? A man of leisure who would have a great deal to lose if he were found guilty of such a crime."
As she spoke, her voice grew more forceful, each syllable like a hammer blow against his defenses. James took a deep breath, his mind racing to find the right words—something, anything—to convince her of his innocence.
"Selina, please," he pleaded, his voice thick with emotion. "You know me, or at least you once did. Can you not see the truth in my eyes? I would do nothing to harm you or your family. You must believe me if we are to discover the true villain. "
Her resolve wavered, and she hesitated, her gaze searching his face. What she found was a flicker of vulnerability and uncertainty, a glimpse into the heart of a man who had always seemed so impenetrable.
"James," she said, doubt creeping into her voice like the tendrils of fog that clung to the windows of the study. "If you did not have any involvement in Nile's death, then help me find out who did. Prove to me that your words are true. I vow I wish to believe you, but it is hard with so many clues leading right back to you."
"That is the very thing I am trying to do," he said without irritation, relief surging through him as the weight of her suspicions lifted ever so slightly from his shoulders. "We will uncover the truth together and bring whoever is responsible for this heinous act to justice. You have my word as a gentleman."
"Very well," she said, her eyes never leaving his. “I just want this to be over. I need peace. For myself and Nile.”
As she spoke, the morning light shone across her face, casting her features into sharp relief and revealing the turmoil within her. In that moment, James knew he could not—would not—betray her.
He swiftly closed the distance between them, a mixture of desperation to comfort her and the desire to hold her in his arms overwhelming him.
"Selina," he breathed, pulling her into his arms. “I will help you find peace. I vow it.”
She looked up at him, her gaze warm and lips parted ever so slightly.
Unable to stop himself, he pressed his lips against hers.
Her breath hitched in her throat, and for a heartbeat, she hesitated, caught in the whirlwind of passion that threatened to consume them both.
Their bodies were pressed together, the heat of the fire surrounding them as they kissed. But amidst the passion and desire, doubt crept into his mind. Could they really discover what had happened to Hollyfield? Could they clear his name? Would she ever truly trust him? “Please, trust me,” he murmured against her lips.
She pulled back, her eyes clouded with uncertainty as they searched his face. Selina swallowed hard, taking a step back. "I will trust you, James. But only so far. And there will be no more kissing, do you understand?"
"Agreed," he said, the intensity of his gaze never wavering. He released her from his embrace, and she took another step back, adding distance between them.
"Let us start by examining this letter more closely," she suggested, as she unfolded the damning parchment. James nodded, his own thoughts racing as he tried to piece together the puzzle that lay before them.
Together, they scrutinized every word, every nuance, searching for hidden meanings or clues that might lead them closer to the truth. As they worked side by side, the tentative truce they had formed solidified their shared goal of uncovering the truth, drawing them closer together.
"Could there be some hidden message within these lines?" She wondered aloud, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"Perhaps," James mused, his fingers absently tapping against the wooden desk as he mulled over their options. "Or maybe the author of this letter sought to mislead us intentionally."
"Look closer," she declared, her voice steady with determination. "See here?" she pointed to a spot where the ink was smudged, “And here?” her delicate finger moved to another section of the letter.
"There are several smudged spots," he said, raising an eyebrow as he looked more closely at the letter. Her proximity sent a jolt of longing through his veins, igniting a smoldering fire deep within him.
"It is rather curious," she said, handing him the parchment for closer inspection. "The ink appears to be smudged in certain places, as if someone has attempted to alter the words."
"Curious, indeed," James murmured, his eyes scanning the document intently. "What do you make of it?"
"I am uncertain," she admitted, her brow furrowing in consternation. "But I cannot shake the feeling that we are on the cusp of a revelation—one that could change everything."
"Perhaps," he said, his gaze never leaving the letter as he contemplated the possible reasons for the smudges.
"Could it be that someone is trying to frame you, James?” she asked. "Perhaps there is another who had a hand in my husband's demise, and they seek to divert suspicion away from themselves by implicating you?
"An intriguing notion," he mused, pondering her words. "And it certainly seems that way, but who would possess both the means and the motive to do so? And why target me, of all people?"
"I cannot say," she admitted, her frustration evident. "It is a puzzle that seems to have no solution."
"Yet," James added, his eyes meeting hers with a fierce intensity. "But I swear to you, Selina, I will not rest until I have proven my innocence and brought the true culprit to justice."
"Nor I," she vowed, her gaze unwavering.
"Indeed," he agreed, his heart swelling with a mixture of admiration and something more—something he dared not name. “I will not rest until justice is served and my name is cleared.”
"Let us hope that our dedication is enough," she murmured, her hand reaching out to briefly touch his in a fleeting moment of intimacy that sent a shiver down his spine. "For both our sakes."
"Indeed," he echoed, watching as she withdrew her hand and turned away, her every movement a symphony of grace and elegance.
He watched her pace to the hearth and back, his mind racing. "I believe our best course of action would be to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding Nile's death. There may be clues there that have yet to be discovered. We should speak with those who were present at the race. And with anyone Hollyfield had financial dealings with."
"Agreed," Selina said, her voice resolute. "We will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of the truth. And when we discover the treacherous party... well, let justice be swift and merciless."
James could not help but feel both hope and trepidation. Their alliance was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but it also provided an opportunity—a chance for redemption and perhaps, just perhaps, the possibility of something more. Something he did not know he had wanted before she blazed back into his path.
“I will call upon Lord Rockingham to help. He is a trusted friend and respected among the ton. You might send your investigator to speak with Lord Berner. See what he has to say about that letter.”
"Very well," Selina said, her voice low yet firm. "We shall part ways for now, each to pursue our own avenues of inquiry. When we meet again, we shall combine our findings and, God willing, expose the truth."
"A solid plan," James replied.
"Promise me one thing, James," she implored, the gravity of her words underscored by the intensity of her stare. "Promise me you will not withhold any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem. We are bound by trust in this venture, and should that trust be broken... "
"Selina," he interjected gently, his large hand engulfing her slender fingers as he sought to ease her fears. "I give you my word as a gentleman that I shall hold nothing back. Our alliance is built upon honesty; there can be no deception between us. I vow I will prove myself to you."
"Very well," she conceded, offering him the faintest glimmer of a smile. She turned toward the door, clutching the letter tightly in her grasp.
James watched her departure, his chest heavy. He was determined to prove his innocence and protect her from the dangers that lurked in the shadows, no matter what that entailed.
As the door clicked shut behind her, he allowed himself a brief moment of vulnerability, his eyes closing as he drew in a steadying breath. He felt the weight of their shared burden like an anchor upon his soul, but amid that darkness, there was also a glimmer of hope—a faint, flickering flame that refused to be extinguished.
"Godspeed, my pet," he said into the silence, his heart heavy with both promise and trepidation. "And may we find the truth."