Page 54 of A Momentary Marriage

“Really?” It came as no surprise that James would like the crisp mathematical precision of Mozart’s music, but she would not have guessed he was drawn to the more florid, emotional Russian compositions.

“What? You thought I wouldn’t enjoy a little bombast?” he asked, correctly interpreting where her surprise lay.

“Then you’ve heard the 1812 Overture.”

“Indeed. In London a month ago.”

“I should like to hear it. I’ve read about it.”

“I’ll take you. We’ll go to London. See everything you want to.”

“I’d like that.” She bent over him, her loose hair falling down over his chest and arm, as she pressed her palm to his face. “How are you feeling?”

“Better.”

“That’s good to hear.” She slid her fingers into his hair, fingertips rubbing his scalp. She was, she knew, giving in to her odd need to touch him, but there was no reason he had to know that. “Your head aching?”

James made a soft noise and closed his eyes, nestling his head against her hand. “Yes.”

“Did you have a good visit with Graeme and the dowager countess?”

“I came out unscathed, which with Lady Eugenia means it went well. She gave me her thoughts on who was trying to murder me.”

“I don’t suppose it occurred to her not to upset you?”

“Graeme was a little upset by it.” James shrugged and slid up to a sitting position, pulling away from her hand, and leaned back against the massive headboard.

She quirked up an eyebrow as she straightened and stepped back. “It didn’t bother you at all, I take it.”

“Sad to say, I’m apparently as insensitive as the dowager countess. I’ll admit it took me back a bit at first to think someone in my family wants me dead.” James’s tone was light, but it sent a pang through Laura’s chest. “I mean, not just in a general I-wish-you-weren’t-here way, but in a very specific, final knife-through-the-heart fashion.”

“We needn’t talk about this right now. Later, when you’re feeling better . . .”

“No, I think I must.” He gave her a faint smile. “I’d rather they not succeed. So it would seem the only recourse is to find him and stop him.”

“Very well.” She sat down on the bed beside him. “Who—do you have any idea who it is?”

“As you’re the one who stopped it, I think it’s safe to assume it’s not you.”

“James! Don’t even joke about such a thing.”

“My guess is my loving brother. It’s Claude who will inherit the title and the estate. Until I married you, he doubtless assumed I would leave him all the rest, as well—or at least the bulk of it.”

“There could be other reasons. Other people.”

“You’re saying there are a number of people who would like to see me dead?”

“No.” She grimaced. “I didn’t mean that. But it would be careless not to look at other possibilities. The apothecary could have added the mercury to your treatment.”

“True, but why? I hardly know the man. Besides, it would be rather hard for him to put the pan of mercury beneath my bed unnoticed. I think it must be someone here. Besides my family, that leaves only the servants. Any one of them could have been bribed, obviously.”

“A big risk to take for a bribe,” Laura pointed out. “They’d face the gallows if caught.”

“That’s one reason I’m inclined to put the staff at the bottom of my list. That leaves my family.”

“And Mr. Netherly.”

“The poet?” He snorted. “Yes, I suppose he could have done it, though I don’t see how it would help him in any way. That leaves us with the family. It’s the near and dear who would benefit most.”