“I cannot blame you for not liking me. I have led you on and then left you alone for two weeks. Two weeks without a word or a note. And then when I finally show my face to you, I start saying the most foolish of things. I am sorry. I apologize for my behavior, and more than that I’m sorry that you had to marry me. But one day – someday – I will make it up to you.”
Claire swallowed hard, unsure how to respond to such a heartfelt apology. She actually wondered for a moment or two if she could perhaps believe him this time. When she had finally found her words Nicholas started to sit up, alarming her. “You can’t- that’s not good for you,” she protests, but quieted as soon as his fingers brushed against her skin. Even Claire could appreciate how much effort he was putting toward a single kiss, the first since they became husband and wife. Shivers ran down her back as his fingers tangled in her hair, the smallest noise of surprise and longing coming from her as he pulled away.
“And now I can die happy.”
“No!” Claire replied, sitting up straight with tears welling up. “That’s the most awful thing to say in this situation! You can’t say all that then speak of dying, you must get better! You’re the only one in the world that would ever say such sweet things, lies or not. Tomorrow-“ Her crying, on the verge of being hysterical, must have been loud enough for those outside the bedroom to hear because within moments the Duke and the doctor were both back inside.
“And you thought you could be in here during the physicians work,” her father grumbled, gently putting a on her waist and the other on her shoulder, guiding her away from the bed.
“But he said the most horrible thing!” she sniffed, looking at the men as if they were the ones overreacting.
“He’s exhausted, Claire, he won’t even remember it in the morning. Come get some lunch, leave him be dear.”
Lunch? Was it really only midday? Claire walked with Lucas out the door and down the hallway. “Please just go home, father. Nick is fine, I am fine. If you stay much longer it will become painfully obvious to the staff back home that something is wrong, and we know how much they gossip,” she said, giving a smile that her heart definitely wasn’t in. “Mr. Rochford will be here and if anything happens you will be the first I contact. I promise.” Claire raised up to kiss his cheek as he sighed with a small nod.
“All right, I should make sure everyone has left the reception. Take care of him, and no more tears,” he replied, giving his final goodbyes before leaving. Claire took in a deep, calming breath, her gaze finally turning to her new “father in law”. “For some reason I still feel like a guest in your house, even though this isn’t your home at all,” she told him quietly, looking back toward the master bedroom with her hands on her stomach. She was afraid if she held them anywhere else she would fidget. Her eyes seemed glazed over, like she was looking through him, not at him. She was sick, sick over a silly man that said silly things. Claire grew angry at herself, knowing tonight should be what she was truly worried about. “You may stay as long as you wish, of course, as can his…cousin, was it? You two can pick any bedroom you want…I honestly don’t remember where they are. I will make sure staff checks on Nick regularly. As for lunch, I’m not hungry.” Claire gave a polite curtsey and nod before leaving, looking for the closest bedroom to take a nap. She would need it before tonight.
*****
Claire stared out the window as she lay on her bed, fully clothed with a cloak bundled in her arms. She’d spent a good portion of the evening observing the grounds outside that window, the room overlooking a few other houses and room for a garden just outside. Now it was covered in darkness, only the moonlight there to put chilling shadows over the length of their property. With one final thought about Nick, one that she couldn’t act on by visiting him, Claire slid off the bed and exited the bedroom as quietly as she could. It was one she had found closest to an exit, a door that led to the back where she’d just been looking.
Claire wore a simple, dark blue dress beneath the cloak she slung on as she hurried away from the estate, careful to look behind her for anyone that might be watching, or worse following. The last thing she wanted was to drag anyone else into what could be a dangerous situation. Belgrave Square wasn’t terribly far away, which was a plus with it being the middle of the night. Nothing was more suspicious than a woman walking alone after sunset. Also, the Square was grand enough that she should be able to blend in with the scenery when she arrived.
Her stomach sank lower and lower as she stepped closer to the designated location. There he was, she would recognize his figure anywhere. He knew her by her voice, of course, it was much too distinguishable for anyone to do as Nick had the previous night and lie about her identity. “Sir? Please let’s make this quick, you know I hate meeting at night,” she said as soon as they were close enough to speak within a tight alleyway, the long shadows of the buildings around making them invisible to prying eyes.
“Do you think I would not ask you to come unless it’s important?” Silence. “I trust now that the wedding is over you will get back to your job, your duty?” Claire frowned, wishing he could see the displeased look on her face. It wasn’t her duty…was it?
“I’m doing my best. My husband was injured, but I hope he may still be up for a smaller, more private party that still consists of the persons I need to get close to,” she explained, sounding a bit exhasperated.
“Injured? On your wedding day? How?” he asked, sounding a little too curious. Claire didn’t notice it, only waved her hand in the air. “Oh, it’s not important. But I promise I will keep to what I said. May we go now?”
“No. That is not what I brought you here for, Miss Abbot. The enemy has captured one of our own- Calvin Holmes. He needs to be…let go before he gives away any information. He is a strong man, but I do not expect him to last long if and when they resort to torture. I need you to help him end it.”
“The enemy? Calling my country that is a bit of a stretch, don’t you think? We’re doing this for the good of both sides, they are not the enemy. And you want me to not rescue him, but kill him, is that what you’re saying? Why me!” Claire immediately defended, but her contact grasped for the back of her neck with one hand and put the other over her mouth, making her realize she’d gotten louder in her frustration.
“Shut up, woman!” he hissed, electing a small cry from Claire. Knowing struggling would get her nowhere she went still, waiting for him to release her. “It has to be you because you are the only one who has any chance of getting close to him. At all, especially without causing more people to get caught. Two, Claire it’s time you stepped it up, especially with Calvin gone. Get the information we need, and get our man out of their hands. My way.” With a growl in those last words he pressed a small pill into the palm of her hand, finally pulling away. “Make him take it, he knows you’re with us and he’ll know what to do. If you use a weapon they’ll know someone else was involved.”
Claire stood there for a moment, staring at the tiny white pill that barely stood out in the dark. She was dumbfounded. Killing your own…it didn’t sound right, but arguing at this point would probably only cause her to have the same fate. “Anything else?”
He stepped back, giving her a shake of his head that she couldn’t see. “Get it done quick, Claire. By any means necessary. You’re the Duke’s daughter, a woman, I’m sure you can figure it out.” With that he walked off, leaving her standing alone with a pill in her hand and tears in her eyes. All she could do was hurry back home and hide the silent killer in an envelope within a dresser inside the guest bedroom. What had she gotten herself into…