Page 93 of Atone, Adonis

“Inspector Lucas Hughes, ma’am. Formerly of the Bow Street Magistrate’s Office and lately of the Metropolitan Police Department. You might know us by the name Scotland Yard.”

“A bit out of your jurisdiction then, sir, are you not?” Lord Hawthorne interjected, but Lady Hawthorne quickly quieted her husband.

“Special assignment. Now then, where were we? Ah, right, with the Baroness and her admission of libel. I’ll just take statements then, shall I? Or would you prefer to leave quietly, Baroness, and have this conversation at the constabulary?”

“I will not be ordered about by some—some—” she sputtered, searching for an insult adequate to her rage.

“By someone who can have you arrested?” Hughes supplied. “I do believe you will.”

Every eye was on the Baroness while she finally seemed to absorb the severity of her situation. That this was a social death sentence. That no amount of hubris would get her out of it. And that no one was going to step forward to help.

She gathered herself up with what little remained of her dignity and strode toward the front door, Inspector Hughes on her heels. Fred watched them go, silently.

“Chester and my dear Countess,” Lady Hawthorne said loudly, “how dreadful this evening must have been for you. Why, I just cannot imagine—”

“Are you ready to go now?” Fred asked his wife, completely ignoring whatever mouth noises the dreadful woman was making.

“Quite,” she said and took his offered arm. “After you, my love.”

Chapter

30

Morning came early at Farrow Cottage. Especially now, deep into June. Julianna adjusted her bonnet and let the warmth heat the top of her head and her shoulders. She tipped her face to the sun and inhaled.

In front of her the garden beds flourished from seedlings new and old. The ones Fred had bought in London were of exceptional quality and had sprouted right away, a cornucopia of new fruits and vegetables waiting to be enjoyed. It was deeply, purely quiet here, unlike Sedgewick Manor. There were no footfalls of Gilbert or his retinue of footmen that seemed to grow larger every day. No cooks or ladies maids or horses whinnying in the stables. Just her and the occasional chitter chatter of her hens.

Fred was away at one of the other estates but she’d had no interest in going with him. She had her hands full here and at Sedgewick Manor. She picked up her basket of gardening supplies and slipped her gloves on her hands. She should hurry there now in fact—she’d pruned the Galician roses back hard before they had left for London and they had already budded out. She felt certain they were going to bloom today and she wanted to be there to see it.

She gave one lingering glance behind her to the tall summer squashes that had grown like weeds as soon as the weather had warmed. And at the leafy greens that would soon turn bitter in the heat. The gooseberries and strawberries that were already showing their ripe red faces.

She began to walk. The sun blazed down on her as she went, hot for the first time in as long as she could remember. Sweat beaded on her brow as she approached the Manor and she smiled in satisfaction. She’d been correct—the first of the striped Galician roses had come into bloom. She crouched by them and dug her pruning shears out of her basket. She could cut a few and set them around both the cottage and the Manor.

She was so lost in thought she startled when a shadow fell over her, blocking out the sun. “You have dirt on your face, dearheart,” Fred said, towering over her. She looked up into his too-handsome-by-half face, and couldn’t help but grin.

“I like it there,” she said.

“Mmm…as do I. But a bride must look presentable.”

“Lucky for me, I suppose, that today is not my wedding day.”

“No. But I do have a bridal surprise for you, if you’ll come with me.”

“Do you now?” She let him lift her up and she wrapped her arms around him. “What kind of surprise?”

He bent his head to kiss her, slipping his tongue into her mouth and groaning a little as he did. “Mmmm..nevermind about that. Let’s go inside instead and I’ll give it to you later.”

Julianna pulled away, her smile wide and happy. “Oh, I think not. I’ll have my surprise now, thank you.” She paused. “And then you can take me inside.”

Fred felt his insides clench at his wife’s smile, as they always seemed to do. He wondered if he’d ever get tired of it and decided that no, he wouldn’t. He would still feel the visceral pull of her every day for the rest of his life, if he was so lucky as to have her by his side that long.

And he would be, if he kept his wits about him and the armor of Chester at a distance. He knew that now. Just as he knew he would have to forgive himself for not knowing it earlier. He needed the experience of love to teach him how love ought to work.

He took Julianna’s hand and led her toward the stables, keeping hold of it while the other pushed open the door. The familiar scent of hay and leather greeted them, warm and clean in the morning light. Hunter whinnied at him and pawed at the ground.

He led Julianna further inside and whispered, “Close your eyes, Jules.”

She studied his face for a long moment and then obliged, letting her eyes fall closed.