Chapter Twelve
The next day, Caroline woke refreshed but considerably rumpled in spirit. What she’d found in marrying Felix had been safety and protection, yet if that were truly so, why did she still withhold her secret from him? Did she not trust him?
Or worse yet, did she not trust herself? Them together? Was she afraid that he would say he’d been manipulated? Being made a father against his wishes?
I can’t lose him.
With nothing for it, she dressed with the assistance of a maid.
The coolness of the robin’s egg colored cotton dress against her skin was most enjoyable, for the weather had turned a tad hot.
A dip in the sea later might provide a lovely distraction.
Especially since the maid had commented that her dresses and gowns were snug on her frame, and had she given thought to having new clothes ordered since she was a married woman?
How long will it be before I can no longer hide the evidence of this pregnancy?
Since Felix wasn’t there when she’d woken, she made her way to the morning room only to find him there, sitting at the round table with toast in front of him and a newspaper in hand. A steaming cup of coffee sat within reach. The robust, bitter aroma filled the air.
“Good morning.” Her heart fluttered as she crossed the room to buss his cheek. “I trust you passed an uneventful night?”
“More or less.”
She frowned. “Do you hurt today?” Once she slipped into a chair beside him, she nodded her thanks when a footman brought her a cup of tea and a plate filled with golden scrambled eggs, a small hamsteak, and toast.
“There’s some discomfort but nothing I can’t push through.” When he lowered the paper and met her gaze, he offered her a tight smile. “How do you feel this morning?”
“Well enough.” Though she’d thrown up her initial cup of tea an hour past after the maid had brought it to her. “My backside is a bit bruised, as is my hand where I caught myself as I fell, but otherwise, I shall be right as rain in a few days.”
“Good.” He nodded then folded the newspaper. “You were asleep when I came home last night.”
“I told you I was exhausted.” Focusing on her plate, she picked up her fork. “What did you learn at the tavern?”
“Not much. Danforth and his friends were there for dinner, just as we already knew. By the time they left, the group had grown raucous, and he’d tried to corner one of the barmaids.”
“As per usual,” she murmured then took a bite of egg.
“After that, they went to your parents’ townhouse for billiards. To my way of thinking, something must have brought his mistress to the townhouse, but why?”
“We’ll need to find out.” That bite of egg had hot saliva rising into her mouth. Clearly, it was too early to imbibe in food right now, so she abandoned her plate for the moment in favor of indulging in tea.
“Indeed.” Felix nodded. “Following breakfast, we will walk the shore for some exercise then call on your parents.”
“I’m sure they will be pleased to see you.” Though there wasn’t much conviction in her voice.
He snorted and shot her a grin. “Such gammon.”
It hurt that her parents were so soured regarding her choice of husband, but she couldn’t give her energy to that just now. There was simply too much else to worry about. “Perhaps, but let me speak to them before you join us. I’d like to have a few words with them in any case.”
“Is that necessary?”
“Absolutely, it is.” And it was past time for her parents to treat the major with respect.
“As long as you are certain. Since we plan to interview Danforth’s mistress this afternoon, I shall come for you in the carriage, and we’ll drive over to her residence.”
Caroline nodded. “That would be best.”
No 6. Marine Parade
Brighton, England
The long-case clock in the corridor outside the drawing room chimed the third hour of the afternoon when Caroline entered the room to speak with her parents.
Thankfully, they were both at home. Her mother worked at another embroidery project while her father sat at a small secretary in one corner, organizing his correspondence.
“I’m glad you are both here. I’ve been meaning to come by for a visit,” she began as she settled on one of the low sofas.
“Where else would we be, dear,” her mother said with annoyance weaving through her tone.
“We have had to delay our plans to go back to London because the major told us we are not to leave until the case is solved.” She blew out a breath and shook her head.
“Especially since my letter opener was the murder weapon.”
They were indeed facts, and there was no getting around them. “Felix is a good investigator. He is going through everyone’s stories, studying what they’ve said and haven’t.” With a shrug, she bounced her gaze between them. “Frankly, he thinks you’ve held back something vital.”
That captured her mother’s full attention. She set her handiwork into her lap. “How dare you!” Fire snapped in her blue eyes, so like Caroline’s own. “You would believe what that man says over your parents?”
“I don’t know what to believe any longer regarding the case, and quite frankly, it’s not the most important thing in my life at this time.
” If she sounded more waspish than she’d wanted, she couldn’t help it.
Her temper was bound to get out, for she’d been holding it in tight control for far too long.
“Let him investigate, Mama. The sooner he can, the sooner you can go home.”
“If he was as good as you say, he’d be able to afford a bigger townhouse in London, to keep you in the manner that we raised you,” her mother countered. “He must be a bit shoddy, hmm?”
Hot anger welled in her chest. “Felix is as good as anyone in detecting.”
Her father cleared his throat. “Not as good as that Bright fellow in London. The inspector often makes the papers, and the cases he solves are impressive.”
“Oh, please.” Caroline pointed her gaze to the ceiling before focusing on her father while her heart squeezed with pain.
“Inspector Bright is much more experienced and has been doing this for longer than Felix, but please don’t deride my husband’s skill and talent.
Together, we make a good team, and we will solve this case. ”
“Well, it was highhanded of him to order us about, when he is naught but a retired major from the military.” Her mother clicked her tongue.
“We have lives to get on with, things to do in Town, yet we sit here and molder.” Before Caroline could get in a word, her mother continued.
“Your father and I hoped for so much more for you, Caro. You could have been a lord’s wife, could have had a townhouse and a country estate to look after.
Could have had a title and wealth at your disposal and a chance to mingle within society as your own woman. ”
“You mean as a lord’s wife? Without a viewpoint of my own?” She sniffed. “At least with the major, he values me as a person and a woman. I am considered his equal. With a titled lord, I would never be that.”
“Perhaps, but connections and wealth would have been helpful to your own family.” Her father nodded while opening envelopes. “No chance of that now, hmm?”
“Meaning?” When he didn’t answer, only went back to his letters, she huffed.
“My decision to marry Felix was based on love alone. If that is stupid in your eyes, so be it. I’m not the grasping sort like Debra is nor the desperate sort like Andrew is to marry an heiress.
This is only the first week of my marriage, and there is a bright path before us.
” Slowly, she shook her head. “I married for love, because I believe that’s the greatest thing anyone can aspire to, and apparently you and Papa have forgotten that. Nothing else matters.”
Silence reigned in the room after her announcement.
Then her mother sniffed as if her feelings had been injured. Caroline glanced at her father, who’d gone as white as a ghost as he read one of the letters.
“Papa? Are you quite well?”
“What?” He glanced at her and quickly folded the letter. “Yes, well enough.”
“What are you reading there?”
“Nothing you should concern yourself about. Business things, just my man-of-affairs giving me his monthly report of the estate.”
She nodded. That was something she wasn’t familiar with.
Did Felix take care of his own books, his own accounts, or did he hire someone to assist. In fact, there was much she didn’t know about him, even though they were married.
“Why you thought Danforth was better for me than the major is beyond me. And still do, even though I suspect you know what sort of man he was.” Shaking her head, Caroline stood.
“I have to go. There are more interviews to conduct.”
Trying to convince her parents of Felix’s goodness was an uphill battle.
“What is that?” Her mother caught her hand. A gasp soon followed. “Why do you have that bruise on your hand?”
Alert, her father came over, with his face like a thundercloud. “What?”
Oh, drat. She’d forgotten to cover the bruise from the attack yesterday with gloves. Because, of course, she was always going out of the house without them…
“Did he do that to you?” Her father was agitated and his face red as he demanded an answer while staring at her hand. “I swear, it’ll be pistols at dawn if he’s knocking you about. Isn’t that just like a military man, beating on women to compensate for not having power in their lives any longer.”
“Dear heavens, Papa, enough.” Caroline shook her head. “Please, calm down. Dueling is illegal anyway, and Felix is nothing but good to me.” Heat fired in her cheeks when she remembered their times together. “Very good indeed. He would never do such a thing or even attack me, like some men.”
“Then where did you receive the bruise?” her mother pressed with concern in her eyes.
“The major and I were attacked yesterday by an unknown assailant who tried to warn us off the case.”