Chapter Seven
Not wishing to directly talk with Caroline just now, Felix headed outside to seek out his sister and her insights.
Dear God, what the hell do I do?
Before he’d left the cottage, he’d removed his tailcoat and his cravat, collar, and cuffs.
Then, as he went out to the beach to meet his sister, he rolled his shirtsleeves up to his elbows.
Hang Brighton society, this was a special circumstance, and quite frankly, he didn’t care what anyone thought of him.
He’d hated to keep Caroline at arm’s length, but what else was he supposed to do?
If she had, indeed, killed Danforth, he needed to protect himself from the inevitable gossip and rumors that would fly, especially since the body was found on his wedding day.
The fact he hadn’t kissed her before breakfast sent an ache into his heart, for he’d spied the hurt and confusion in her eyes, yet how was he supposed to act given that she had never mentioned her history with Danforth before?
Granted, there was no reason for his name to come up, but he thought she might have trusted him with things from her past that might still haunt her, as he had with his.
Surely, I couldn’t have been so wrong about her.
By the time he reached his sister’s location, his thoughts were going ‘round his head like ponies on a loop. “Enjoying your last moments here?”
Felicity peered up at him from where she sat on an old quilt.
The brim of her bonnet shaded her eyes and face, but she’d removed her shoes and stockings, and had stretched out her legs.
Tendrils of blonde hair had escaped their pins to dance whimsically as they framed her face.
“Felix! I’m surprised to see you down here.
I would have thought you’d be closeted with your new bride. ”
“Not just yet.” He refrained from explaining.
“I wanted to spend a bit more time with you and your family before you leave.” As he spoke, he raised a hand in greeting to her husband, who was a fellow soldier and one of his friends.
Currently, he was rushing into the surf with the two youngest children.
The laughter from the boys echoed on the beach.
She smiled. “It’s been a lovely distraction here, I’ll admit.”
“Where is Mother?”
Felicity blew out a breath. “She took the girls on a walk. There is a flavored ice stall not far from here, so she’s treating them.”
“That’s quite out of character for her.”
His sister shrugged. “She is only doing it because I told the girls they didn’t need such a treat today after indulging themselves at the breakfast.”
“Ah.” Of course, if their mother could antagonize someone, she would.
“What are you truly doing down here?”
He frowned. “I told you.”
“No.” She shook her head. The ribbons of her bonnet waved in the breeze. “I know you, Felix. Something is bothering you.” One of her eyebrows rose. “Trouble in the marriage already? I thought the two of you were so well-suited.”
“We are.” Renewing the grip on the head of his cane, Felix released a breath. “There is some evidence that Caroline was more to the dead man than a mere acquaintance, and the last interaction she had with him was fueled by anger.”
“You think she had something to do with Lord Danforth’s death?”
He shrugged. “I won’t know until I question her.”
“Yet you’re already pulling away from the woman you just wed because you are fearful of being hurt again.”
How well she knew him. “Yes.” It didn’t speak well of him, but he was adamant that he wouldn’t go back to the man he’d been when a woman had betrayed him in his past.
“This is the best advice I can give you.” She reached up and clutched his free hand while holding his gaze with hers.
“Trust her. Caroline is your partner now in all things. You’ve made a commitment to her, to support her no matter what.
” When she offered an encouraging smile, he relaxed by increments.
“Also, trust your instincts. You wouldn’t have married her if you didn’t trust her. ”
“That makes sense, but I can’t help but put a wall between us.” Perhaps it was a failing of his, and he didn’t know how to stop it.
“Understandable. And I feel for you.” She squeezed his hand. “All will be well, and after this murder business has concluded, I don’t expect you or Caroline back in Town for at least a month.” Then she winked. “You deserve some time alone to enjoy your honeymoon period.”
If it would come to that.
“I appreciate the talk, sis.” He bent at the waist and placed a kiss on the back of her hand. “I’ll miss you and your family when I’m away.”
“Then come to visit us in London, silly. Perhaps spending time around the boys will make you yearn to set up your own nursery,” she said with a wink.
“Ha.” Felix shook his head. “That’s not likely to happen for a long while. I wish to enjoy life as a married man.” Once he got past the wretched interview.
“Best of luck. Please write when you solve the case.”
“I will.” Then he released her hand and turned back to look at the row of cottages. “I shouldn’t waste more time, hmm?” After waving to his friend and his nephews, Felix walked back to the building and let himself into the cottage.
When Felix arrived in the drawing room, the tea service had been delivered. Caroline sat perched on one of the low sofas with a porcelain saucer balanced on her knees and a matching cup in a hand that shook.
“Hullo,” he said in a choked whisper. What a nodcock thing to say to his wife of only a few hours, but he couldn’t for the life of him think of anything else at the moment.
“Is it time, then?” When she lifted her head as he came near, tears had stained her skin, and she had a delicate lace-trimmed handkerchief tucked halfway beneath her skirting.
“Afraid so.” He dropped into a chair near her location, leaned forward, poured himself a cup of tea, then rested his gaze on her. “How are you doing?”
“Frankly? I’m frightened.” She wouldn’t look at him. Was that a damning admission or was she merely overwhelmed at the whole course of events from today?
“Understandable.” Confused, he glanced at the tea tray. Mrs. Andrews had put a rose in a bud vase on the tray, clearly as an homage to their new union. “I shall try to make this as quick as I can, but do promise to be honest in all your answers.”
“I know how these things work, Major,” she snapped back. At least there was some semblance of her old spirit.
“Very well.” He drained his teacup, and then with a nod, Felix rested it on the table. After, he took up his small, leatherbound notebook and a pencil from a nearby table at his elbow, turned to a clean page, and sighed. “You may begin when you’re ready. When did you first meet Lord Danforth?”
Caroline pressed her lips together, stared into the depths of her cup before focusing her gaze on his face. “Seven years ago, during my second Season. He was… ah… Well, he was much younger at that time, as was I, and for my part, I was quite na?ve of the world, especially in how men acted.”
Part of him wanted to hear the story, but another part of him did not, so he quietly nodded. “Go on.”
“Lord Danforth was one of those men who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Because he was a son of an earl, he thought everyone should bow down to him.”
Felix harrumphed. “It wasn’t he who would eventually hold the title.”
“That didn’t matter. He was quite arrogant, in all aspects of his life.”
“Did your paths cross naturally in society?”
“No.” She shook her head, and he couldn’t bear the wash of tears in her eyes.
“Our parents wished to push the match. As I said, I was young and na?ve back then, and I suppose I wanted to compete with Debra even in those days or I was swept away on having Seasons.” A waver set up in her voice.
“The first few times I met him, I was enamored of him, of the luxury and lifestyle his family status represented.”
Muscles in his gut contracted. Did she still have feelings for the man—good or ill? “Did you ever act on that infatuation?” he asked as he scribbled a few notes on his pad.
“Once.”
Well, damn. “How so?”
“After my fourth Season, Papa refused to go through the expense of doing another one. That meant if I didn’t bring someone up to scratch, I’d lose my chance.
” As she paused, she held her bottom lip between her teeth for a few seconds, and he wanted nothing more than to kiss her until she forgot those memories.
“For three years, I saw Lord Danforth at society functions many times. Since his parents and mine were contemporaries, we often visited their country estate, and they sometimes came to ours.”
“Did Danforth appear during those visits?”
“At times, when he wasn’t sowing his wild oats in London.
Rumors always came back to us of his scandals and escapades.
” She paused, still staring into the depths of her teacup.
“He kissed me for the first time that first year we met. It was everything I’d ever wanted, and I stupidly thought my fairytale was coming true. ”
“But you changed your mind.” It wasn’t a question.
“Yes.” She nodded and finally rested her cup and saucer on the low table in front of her.
“Our parents encouraged us to spend time together, but with him being older than me, his time in London and with his friends changed him.” Silence reigned between them, but eventually, she stirred and continued the narrative.
“When he was sober, he was charming, but he chased too many vices for me to feel comfortable in his company or even consider him for a future.”
So far, everything she told him was quite tame. Though he didn’t wish to go deeper, he had to for the investigation. Felix cleared his throat. “What happened to make you hate him?”