Love Is Blind Part 21

"Do you feel up to answering the question?" her husband asked with concern.

'Yes, of course. I am fine, really," she a.s.sured him, giving his arm a squeeze.

"Then can you tell us exacdy what happened?" Hadley repeated.

Clarissa wondered why he was asking tbe question. Why he was even there, really. But with all three men waiting in what felt like an impatient manner, she decided to answer first and then ask her own questions.

Clarissa quickly repeated what she'd told Kibble, about coming to the room for a bit of privacy and then eating some of the pie, her stomach bothering her, and then sleeping. The room was silent for a moment as she finished; then Adrian murmured, "Kibble said that your not eating much of the pie may have saved you from being more ill."

"Then 'tis good I was not hungry," she said wryly.

"Indeed," Hadley agreed.

"You could have been killed," her father said harshly, apparently upset that Clarissa seemed to be taking things so lightly.

"That was undoubtedly the plan," Hadley murmured.

"Kibble does not think there was truly enough poison in the pie to kill her," Adrian said soothingly. "Even if Clarissa had eaten the whole piece, he does not think she would have died. He suspects she just would have been sicker."

"Poison?" Clarissa said with alarm. "In the pie?"

She saw their heads turn as the three men glanced at one another, but no one seemed eager to respond. 'You are suggesting that I was poisoned?"

When they were all silent again, she asked, "What is happening? Why would someone wish to poison me?"

Adrian blew a little sigh out between his lips, then said, "Clarissa, I have asked you this before, but are you sure there is no one who would wish you harm?"

Clarissa stared at him. She did recall his asking if she had any enemies, anyone who would wish to do her harm. It had come up so naturally in that conversation after making love that she hadn't thought anything of it. He'd told her a tale about a friend who had found out someone was trying to kill him, and then he'd murmured that he didn't think he had any enemies who would wish him dead, and did she? Clarissa had thought they were just talking. Now she realized he'd been worrying that someone was out to harm her. But why?

"No, of course not," she decided. "Why would anyone wish me harm? I have never hurt anyone in my life. Perhaps they were trying to poison you and I ate it by mistake."

"Me?" Adrian said with surprise. "Why would you think someone was trying to kill me?"

"Well, my lord, why would you think they are trying to kill me?" Clarissa replied, growing a bit testy. "After all, you are the one who does not listen to your mother when she tells you things. Perhaps there are others you do not listen to and who are trying to get your attention."

Adrian's mouth twitched with amus.e.m.e.nt; then he said solemnly, "No one is trying to kill me, Clarissa. The pie was meant for you."

"How do you know?" she asked.

"Well, for one thing, I was not even in the house. And I am not the one who rests in the afternoons; you are. Besides," Adrian pointed out, "it was in your room."

Clarissa grimaced unhappily at that logic; then her eyes narrowed. "But you asked me about someone trying to harm me days ago. Did you think then that someone was trying to hurt me? And if so, why?"

Adrian hesitated and sighed. "Clarissa, you have suffered innumerable accidents since your arrival in London for the season."

"Because I have not had my gla.s.ses," she pointed out.

Clarissa didn't think he agreed that this was the reason behind her accidents, but he didn't argue. In fact, he didn't say anything. His head was turned, and he seemed to be looking at Hadley.

Before Clarissa could say anything else, Adrian kissed her forehead and stood. "I need to have a word with my man. I will return shortly."

The two men left the room, and her father took Adrian's place on the side of the bed, but his attention was on the door through which the men had just left. Both Clarissa and Lord Crambray could hear the murmur of voices as the men conversed.

Knowing her father wished to join in whatever conversation was taking place but was reluctant to abandon her, Clarissa sighed and waved him off. "Go on.

Join them. I wish to get up anyway. Perhaps you could send my maid to me and order a bath sent up?"

"Yes, yes." Lord Crambray patted her hand with relief and escaped. Clarissa heard the murmur of voices pause as he joined the other two; then it began again and moved off up the hall.

Shaking her head, Clarissa sat up and slid her feet off the bed. She had stripped off her soiled gown and drawn on a robe before it occurred to her that she didn't have anything to read in the bath. She was in the mood for a good long soak after the trials of what had happened and all she'd learned, and she liked to read in the tub.

After a hesitation, Clarissa headed for the door. She would just slip down to the library and find something to read. She'd be quick about it and-if she was very lucky-would not run into anyone. Clarissa had a lot to think about, but was not in the mood for thinking just now. After she'd relaxed a bit in the tub with a book, she would consider what her husband feared was going on, as well as what she'd learned from Lady Mowbray and Kibble.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

"I do not understand," Lord Crambray said, following Adrian into his office. "Are you telling me that you have known for some time that someone was trying to kill Clarissa and you did not say a word to me? Or to her?"

Adrian frowned as he walked around his desk and dropped into his chair. Put into those words, it did not sound very good.

"His lordship did not wish to worry or upset your daughter, Lord Crambray," Hadley said when Adrian remained silent. "He felt she was under enough stress with the wedding preparations and such. He did see to it that she was well looked after."

"Not well enough, obviously," Lord Crambray said grimly. He turned back to Adrian to say, "And while I understand your wishing to protect Clarissa, there is no excuse for not telling me. I should have been told."

"Yes, you should have," Adrian admitted with a sigh, and ran one hand through his hair. He had managed to mess everything up. Again. "I apologize. I ever seem to be doing things wrong where your daughter is concerned. I fear my faculties are not all there whenever she is involved."

At this admission, Lord Crambray's anger seemed to run out of him like water out of an upturned pail. Sighing, the older man ran his hands through his own hair, then fell into one of the two seats in front of Adrian's desk.

"You mentioned fires, and being pushed in front of carriages, and falls down the stairs." Clarissa's father frowned. "Lydia mentioned none of this in her letters to me. Please tell me ... what the h.e.l.l has been going on?"

Nodding, Adrian sat up and leaned his arms on his desktop, carefully explaining everything that had happened since he'd met Clarissa, including things he'd heard had happened before they met. As he spoke, Hadley moved to the table along the wall and poured three snifters of brandy. He handed one to each lord, taking the third for himself as he settled in his own chair. He remained silent as Adrian finished speaking.

"Dear G.o.d," Lord Crambray murmured once Adrian was quiet. "Who could be behind all of this?"

"I do not know," Adrian said grimly. "Clarissa seems to think they are all just accidents, but-"

"No." John Crambray shook his head firmly. "If it were not for the incident at the fountain, I might believe that, but no. The note that was not from you and her ending up unconscious in the fountain-it's all just too much to be a prank or an unhappy accident."

Adrian nodded in silent agreement.

"What are we going to do about this, son?" Lord Crambray asked.

Adrian sighed and then glanced to Hadley, who had arrived at the house just as Kibble came below with the news that Clarissa was awake. Adrian had given the man a brief explanation of what had happened as they'd rushed upstairs, but he had yet to hear why he was here.

"I hired Hadley," he said. "Mr. Hadley has handled several situations for me in the past, and I hoped he might be helpful this time." Adrian raised an eyebrow at the man. "I gather you are here because you have news?"

"Aye, I have news," the man admitted, his expression grim. "However, I fear you will not like it."

Adrian frowned. Sinking back in his seat, he gestured for Hadley to continue.

"I looked into each incident, and then I looked everywhere I could think to look, my lord. Most people have skeletons in their closets, and I thought this was where we would find the snake causing all these accidents."

"And?" Adrian prompted.

"And every lead turned into a dead end," Hadley said with a frown. "There is nothing in your wife's past that would leave someone with ill will toward her."

"What of Lydia?" Adrian asked, casting a quick apologetic glance at his father-in-law.

"Aye, well..." Hadley glanced uncomfortably toward Lord Crambray, then said, "The stepmother does appear to have it in for Lady Clarissa, but I do not think she would take it so far as attempted murder. I could keep an eye on her if you like, but..." He shrugged.

"I have already told my wife," Lord Crambray said grimly, "that if she is behind this I will wring her neck myself. I shall keep an eye on her."

Adrian grimaced sympathetically at him, then asked Hadley, "What of the business with the captain?"

"Captain Fielding, aye." Hadley sat up a bit. "Well, I did look into that too. After all, it is about the only thing in Lady Clarissa's life that might have caused anger toward her. Howbeit, the man died during his term in prison, so your culprit cannot be him. And from my investigations in that area, I've learned that he had no family but for a mother and sister. The mother died of a heart attack when he was first imprisoned, and the sister not long afterward in a fire in the row where she rented a room."

"I see," Adrian murmured. "As you say, this is hardly good news. Someone is trying to kill my wife, yet there is apparendy no one who has motive."

"Well, now. I didn't say I haven't found a likely culprit, merely that you wouldn't like what I learned."

Adrian's eyebrows beeded, a frown tugging at his mouth. "Explain."

"Well, as I said, I looked into those areas you suggested. I also looked into a couple others. In my experience, my lord, murder is most often based on greed. So I was positive that it would be the case here... and I was right."

Adrian's eyes narrowed. "Why would anyone kill Clarissa for greed? The only one who would benefit at this point is myself. I am her only heir, as far as I know." He blinked. "I hope you are not suggesting-" "No, no, of course not," Hadley said quickly. "You would hardly hire me to look into the matter if you were trying to kill her. Good lord, everyone else has accepted everything as mere accidents. You're the only one looking for a person out to harm her."

"Well, then, who, man?" Lord Crambray said impatiently. "Whom have you set your sights on?"

"Lord Greville."

Adrian blinked, sure he'd misheard or misunderstood. "What?"

"Lord Greville, your cousin," Hadley repeated firmly.

"Reginald?" Adrian said with disbelief. "What on earth would make you think that he would harm Clarissa?"

"He is presendy your heir," Hadley pointed out.

"No, he is not. Clarissa is," Adrian corrected. "She has been from the day we married."

"If she is alive," Hadley agreed. When Adrian began to shake his head, Hadley added, "He seems to me to be the one with the most likely motive."

"Motive be hanged; it cannot be him. First of all, the accidents were taking place long before I even met Clarissa-the carriage incident and the fall down the stairs, for instance. And his inheritance would hardly have been a motive for him to hurt her before she and I met. Second, Reginald is my friend as well as my cousin. He helped me in wooing Clarissa. And money would not be a motive for him; he is at least as well-off as myself."

Lord Crambray nodded solemnly after each of Adrian's points, agreeing with every one. Hadley just shook his head. "What if those first accidents were just that: accidents? The carriage incident and the fall down the stairs might have been. We really have nothing that proves otherwise. If that is the case, he might have simply taken advantage of that history of accidents."

Adrian frowned at the possibility, then said, "Why has he not attacked me?"

"If he kills you first, Clarissa inherits. If he kills her first, then kills you, he inherits," Hadley pointed out.

Adrian shook his head and repeated, "He is wealth. and hardly in need of my funds."

"Ah, well, you see, that is the news I learned. It seems Lord Greville is not as well-off as he likes to ap pear. In fact, he is nearly bankrupt. The creditors will be dragging him off to debtors' prison any day now if he does not do something about it. However, were you and your wife to die unexpectedly, all his financial problems would be solved."

Adrian frowned at this news, taken aback, but still opened his mouth to protest. He was forestalled by Hadley raising one hand.

"He also had opportunity. When the fire and the fountain incidents occurred, he was right there, not only in London, but at the Crambray house."

Adrian relaxed. "But he is not here, so could not have poisoned Clarissa." He shook his head firmly. "It cannot be Greville."

"I am afraid he is here," Hadley countered apologetically.

Adrian stiffened. "What do you mean?"

"When you returned to the country, Greville did as well. He has been staying at the neighboring Wynd-ham estate since the day after you arrived here. 'Tis only a half hour's ride away, and I have learned through inquiry that he is off 'hunting' most of the days and sometimes at night," Hadley informed him.

Adrian dropped back into his seat with something resembling a moan, his face pale as he considered the d.a.m.ning news. Hadley nodded sympathetically.

"I fear he is your culprit, my lord. I would stake my life on it."

"You are staking Clarissa's life on it," Lord Crambray said grimly.

Adrian shook his head as he tried to absorb the possibility. He and Reginald used to be as close as brothers, and while it was true that they had grown apart over the last ten years, they had seemed to pick up their friendship right where they had left off. Adrian had counted on him for help in wooing Clarissa; he'd listened to the man's advice and accepted his comfort. It couldn't be him.

"I know it is hard to believe, my lord," Hadley said sympathetically. "I know the two of you were close. But that was over ten years ago. Closer to twelve. You went off to war at twenty and returned two years later, wounded. I gather you did make one foray into London after that, but have spent most of your time here, taking care of the estates. Twelve years is a long time. People change. Affections change. Circ.u.mstances change. Priorities change." He paused and let Adrian consider that, then added, "I think your cousin changed."

Adrian frowned. He just could not believe it, and said so. "Nay, I know Reginald. He is not behind this. He would never hurt either Clarissa or myself this way. We may have grown apart, but our friendship returned once I came back to London. And he simply would not do it."

Hadley looked doubtful. 'Your cousin is a rapscallion, my lord. He has ruined more than a few virtuous girls. His feelings have never proven very deep, from what I can see."

Adrian waved that away. "That is all rumor and gossip. Reginald never ruined anyone. The only women he bedded were experienced ones. The few so-called 'good girls' who were ruined were liars trying to trap him into marriage by getting caught alone in a room with him. They thought the threat of scandal would move him to marry. Unfortunately for them, Reginald saw no reason to ruin his life for any scheming little fortune hunter."

"I am afraid I have to agree with Adrian," John Crambray said suddenly. "Murdering Clarissa seems a bit extreme. Why would he not have at least tried to break them up first? Turn Adrian against Clarissa, or her against him? It does seem ..." His words trailed off as he saw Adrian's expression change; then he asked sharply, "Did he try to turn you against each other?"

'Yes. No. I do not know." Adrian frowned. "Reginald did try to warn me off her that first night at the ball. He told me she was clumsy and had burned his piffle, and that I could be taking my life in my hands by going anywhere near her. But after that he helped me see her. He dressed as a fop to convince Lady Crambray to let her go out for a ride in the park with him, just so I could see her and read to her for a bit. And he tried to see her to get her to meet me at the fountain... ."

They were all silent for a moment, and then Hadley got to his feet. "Well, I shall continue to look into the matter, my lord. But from here now, I think, since a poisoning occurred here. There is no more I can learn in the city. However," he added quietly, "I do think it is Greville. He was there. He is here. And he knew about the two of you, so he could have written that note and signed your initials to it and would-quite rightly- expect Lady Clarissa to rush out to meet you."

"What about Prudhomme?" Adrian asked abruptly. "He knew about Clarissa and me."

Hadley shook his head. "Prudhomme is happily pursuing his affairs with married women in London. He could not have poisoned that pie. I will have to focus now on people who were both in London and are now here. That is, if you wish me to continue my investigations," he added.

"Yes, of course," Adrian said quietly. "I asked Kibble to arrange for a room for you when he came to tell me Clarissa was awake. He should be able to tell you which one is yours."