A Perilous Perspective (Lady Darby Mystery #10)(120)
When he hesitated briefly after examining the seal before breaking it, it did not alleviate my worries. I watched as he unfolded the letter and began to read. Moments later, tension furrowed his brow and corded the muscles in his arms and neck.
“What is it?” I asked, alarmed by the changes in him.
He finished reading and then appeared to scan the lines once again as if unable to believe what he was reading. “It’s . . . from my father’s valet.” He looked up at me, shock and pain radiating from his eyes. “Father was attacked.”
“When? Where?” I gasped, sliding my feet to the side of the bed to go to him, still holding Emma.
He glanced back down at the missive. “Three days ago. In Yorkshire.” His eyes met mine, uncertain and afraid. “Apparently he was on his way to Edinburgh. To see me.” His gaze dipped to our child. “To see Emma.”
He seemed to be held immobile, stunned and unsure what to do. After all the hurt his father’s actions—past and present—had caused him, and the unpromising nature of his recent correspondence, I could understand his bewilderment and indecision. So I took command of the matter for him.
“You wish to go to him, don’t you?”
“I . . .” He blinked. “Yes.”
I nodded, crossing to the bell-pull to summon Bree and Anderley. “Then, we’ll leave at first light.” My eyes dipped to our sleeping infant. “Or as close to it as we can manage.” I rapped once on the nursery door before entering. Then I laid Emma in her cradle and briefly explained the situation to Mrs. Mackay, trusting she would begin packing what she could while her charge slept.
When I returned to our bedchamber, Gage was still standing where I’d left him, staring at the rug a few feet in front of him. I wrapped my arms around his torso and pressed my head against his chest, hoping some of my warmth and comfort would penetrate through his haze of astonishment and fear. His arms lifted to embrace me back almost perfunctorily and then in earnest as he lowered his chin to my head.
“I’m sorry, darling,” I whispered. “I know this isn’t the reunion you’d hoped for with your father. I can’t imagine how worried you must feel.”
He inhaled deeply. “There’s nothing I can do until I reach him. Until I know . . . how bad it is.”
“His valet didn’t say?”
“Not in so many words, but I know Lembus. He wouldn’t have written to me unless it was bad. Very bad.”
I tightened my arms around him, pouring my love into him.
A thought occurred to me. “Henry should be told.”
I wasn’t certain how he would react to this bit of interference, but all he did was nod, his chin scraping against my hair. “Yes.”
We stood that way several minutes longer, knowing there were dozens of things to be accomplished before we could depart in the morning, and yet needing the comfort the other provided and the solidarity of knowing that, whatever happened next, we would face it together.
We would both need the solace of that connection in the days to come. For we would soon learn that Henry’s existence as his son was not the only secret Lord Gage was keeping. And the revelation of at least one of those secrets had far deadlier consequences.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many thanks go to the following:
My husband and daughters, for all their love and support, and for providing ample inspiration for Gage and Emma.
My large family, for all their love and support, and for giving me so much material to draw on for Kiera’s extended family.
Jackie Musser and Stacie Roth Miller for their always impeccable feedback and advice.
My editor, Michelle Vega, who just “gets” me.
My agent, Kevan Lyon, for her steady hand and guidance.
The entire team at Berkley—you are all amazing!
The brilliant artists and artist historians whose masterful paintings and research aided in the conception and execution of this book. Any errors are entirely my own.
And God, for his never-ending love and faithfulness.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anna Lee Huber is the Daphne Award–winning author of the national bestselling Lady Darby Mysteries and the Verity Kent Mysteries. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she majored in music and minored in psychology. She currently resides with her family and is hard at work on her next novel.