information—perhaps because she had been dismissed.’
‘Yes, you are right. I should have forced her to leave the house instantly.’
‘It would not have changed anything. If she already had the information…’
Gerard swore angrily and then apologised. ‘Forgive me. I should not use such language in your presence, Amelia. I have been careless. I did not imagine that my servants would gossip to strangers.’
‘It makes little difference. Our enemy would have heard as soon as our engagement was announced.’
Gerard looked concerned. ‘I have wondered if I was wrong to ask you. If I have put your life at risk…’
‘If my marriage to you renders me liable to be murdered, then it is best that I am aware of it. This threat will not go away if we deny it, Gerard. We must discover who wishes me ill. There is some mystery here and it needs to be solved.’
‘You do not accept that it is your brother?’
‘I am loathe to do so. I know that Michael resents the fact that Great-Aunt Agatha did not leave him anything. He has tried to bully me into giving him at least half of my fortune. We have quarrelled because I refuse to do as he wishes. Had my aunt wished him to share in her fortune, she would have left him money. I might have done something for him before this had he behaved in a civilised manner. Perhaps—if you believe it is Michael…’ She shook her head. ‘No! I shall not be blackmailed into giving him myaunt’s money. She would not have wished me to do so.’
‘I do not think he would be content with a part of it. If he is willing to murder you, then he wants it all.’
‘Well, he shall not have it.’ Amelia lifted her head proudly. ‘I have my own plans for part of the money—though some must be put in trust for our children.’
‘You are thinking of your charity?’
‘That and other things. I have helped two young ladies find happiness. I know of at least two more deserving cases…’ She halted as Gerard raised his brows. ‘You do not approve?’
‘I am happy with whatever you choose to do, Amelia. I told you that I did not wish to control your fortune and I meant it.’
‘It will be our money. I should not dream of giving large sums away without first consulting you.’
‘I am not your brother, Amelia. Your fortune is not my first concern.’
‘Have I made you angry, Gerard? I beg your pardon. I did not mean to.’ She looked at him uncertainly.
‘I am not angry, but I would not have you think I asked you to marry me for your fortune.’
‘I did not.’ She hesitated, then, wishing to change the subject, ‘Shall we travel to Coleridge together?’
‘Yes, certainly.’ He was silent for a moment. ‘I have made arrangements for you to be protected—Lisa too. If you feel that my theory is wrong I must think carefully. Sir Michael seemed the most obvious since he would inherit.’
‘Have you considered that this person may havesomething other than money on his mind—or her mind? I suppose it could be a woman…’
‘A scorned mistress?’ Gerard looked amused. ‘I have none to my credit, Amelia. When I first returned from the wars there was a lady in France, but we parted as friends when I returned to England the first time. There has been no one since.’
‘Oh…’ Amelia digested his statement in silence. Most gentlemen had mistresses before they married. She found no cause for distress in an old affair. ‘Then we are at least certain it is a man. My sister-in-law has no love for me, but she would think murder most vulgar.’
‘Vulgar?’ Laughter gleamed in his eyes.
‘You do not know Louisa. She is very strict—rude when she chooses, but never vulgar.’
Gerard laughed. ‘She sounds formidable?’
‘She would consider murder beneath her—and she would not approve of her husband being involved with anything of the kind. Indeed, if she suspected something untoward she would have a deal to say on the subject.’
‘Then perhaps I should look elsewhere
‘Yes, you are right. I should have forced her to leave the house instantly.’
‘It would not have changed anything. If she already had the information…’
Gerard swore angrily and then apologised. ‘Forgive me. I should not use such language in your presence, Amelia. I have been careless. I did not imagine that my servants would gossip to strangers.’
‘It makes little difference. Our enemy would have heard as soon as our engagement was announced.’
Gerard looked concerned. ‘I have wondered if I was wrong to ask you. If I have put your life at risk…’
‘If my marriage to you renders me liable to be murdered, then it is best that I am aware of it. This threat will not go away if we deny it, Gerard. We must discover who wishes me ill. There is some mystery here and it needs to be solved.’
‘You do not accept that it is your brother?’
‘I am loathe to do so. I know that Michael resents the fact that Great-Aunt Agatha did not leave him anything. He has tried to bully me into giving him at least half of my fortune. We have quarrelled because I refuse to do as he wishes. Had my aunt wished him to share in her fortune, she would have left him money. I might have done something for him before this had he behaved in a civilised manner. Perhaps—if you believe it is Michael…’ She shook her head. ‘No! I shall not be blackmailed into giving him myaunt’s money. She would not have wished me to do so.’
‘I do not think he would be content with a part of it. If he is willing to murder you, then he wants it all.’
‘Well, he shall not have it.’ Amelia lifted her head proudly. ‘I have my own plans for part of the money—though some must be put in trust for our children.’
‘You are thinking of your charity?’
‘That and other things. I have helped two young ladies find happiness. I know of at least two more deserving cases…’ She halted as Gerard raised his brows. ‘You do not approve?’
‘I am happy with whatever you choose to do, Amelia. I told you that I did not wish to control your fortune and I meant it.’
‘It will be our money. I should not dream of giving large sums away without first consulting you.’
‘I am not your brother, Amelia. Your fortune is not my first concern.’
‘Have I made you angry, Gerard? I beg your pardon. I did not mean to.’ She looked at him uncertainly.
‘I am not angry, but I would not have you think I asked you to marry me for your fortune.’
‘I did not.’ She hesitated, then, wishing to change the subject, ‘Shall we travel to Coleridge together?’
‘Yes, certainly.’ He was silent for a moment. ‘I have made arrangements for you to be protected—Lisa too. If you feel that my theory is wrong I must think carefully. Sir Michael seemed the most obvious since he would inherit.’
‘Have you considered that this person may havesomething other than money on his mind—or her mind? I suppose it could be a woman…’
‘A scorned mistress?’ Gerard looked amused. ‘I have none to my credit, Amelia. When I first returned from the wars there was a lady in France, but we parted as friends when I returned to England the first time. There has been no one since.’
‘Oh…’ Amelia digested his statement in silence. Most gentlemen had mistresses before they married. She found no cause for distress in an old affair. ‘Then we are at least certain it is a man. My sister-in-law has no love for me, but she would think murder most vulgar.’
‘Vulgar?’ Laughter gleamed in his eyes.
‘You do not know Louisa. She is very strict—rude when she chooses, but never vulgar.’
Gerard laughed. ‘She sounds formidable?’
‘She would consider murder beneath her—and she would not approve of her husband being involved with anything of the kind. Indeed, if she suspected something untoward she would have a deal to say on the subject.’
‘Then perhaps I should look elsewhere
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