While happiness filled her with a warm glow, she couldn’t help but fear he would always blame himself for not finding the person responsible for Mr Bellham’s death.
As they left their secret hideaway, a rush of cold air hit her cheeks awakening her to the realities facing them when they returned to the house. A lady as vindictive as Miss Harper wouldn’t simply pack her valise and leave without making a fuss. Lord knows what the night would bring.
Hugo startled her from her musings when he pinched a snowflake off her lashes and said, “Make a winter wish.”
Lara would do anything to please him, and so she closed her eyes and said, “Tonight has been wonderful. I wish every night could be the same.”
Had she known of the nightmare awaiting them, she would have made a different wish. She would have wished to banish the devil from Wollaston Hall.
Chapter Fifteen
Events at Wollaston Hall had followed the same unpredictable pattern as the winter weather. During the course of a few days, Hugo had felt every emotion known to man. Love. Sadness. Anger. Hate. So it came as no surprise that, while he basked in the afterglow of his pleasurable night with the lady set to become his wife, something unexpected occurred to sour his good mood.
Indeed, as he gripped Lara’s hand, and they made their way back to the house in the dark, a light in the old bothy brought them both to a crashing halt.
Hugo gritted his teeth. “I swear, by all that’s holy, I shall ride to Sir Ellis myself in the morning and demand he sends someone to keep guard until Bellham’s family claim his body.”
Lara hugged his arm. “If the snow continues, you may have to take care of matters on their behalf. You may have to bury Mr Bellham here.”
“Then pray for rain. Bertie deserves a place in his family’s tomb, and I intend to see that he gets one.” Hugo watched the shadows dancing on the walls of the bothy, the shadows of someone moving back and forth while carrying out their evil deeds. “While I pray a member of the jury has returned to conduct a further examination, something tells me our murderer has come to inspect her work.”
Lara sucked in a breath. “Then let us storm into the cottage and confront the devil. I doubt Miss Pardue would test your patience a second time. The other women are no real threat, and you’re strong enough to fight any gentleman should we have missed a vital clue.”
Her compliment infused a sense of pride. He could conquer the world with her at his side. “Then let’s catch ourselves a killer.”
He dropped the picnic basket in the snow near an apple tree.
Together, they crept forward.
A raised feminine voice from within made them pause at the door. “Oh, you fool! Where in heaven’s name is it!”
Fearing there were two people in the bothy, two living beings at any rate, Hugo listened for an answer, but none came.
“It must be here somewhere,” the mystery woman continued. From the pitch and cadence of her voice, she sounded much like Miss Venables. “You couldn’t have hidden it in the snow.”
“I think she’s talking to Bertie,” Hugo whispered, confident Miss Venables wasn’t talking to her accomplice. “I’m going inside. Are you ready?”
Lara nodded. “I’ll be right behind you.”
He couldn’t help but steal a kiss. The touch of her sweet lips had the power to calm his mind, to soothe his soul.
They found Miss Venables with her hand thrust inside Bertie’s boot, unperturbed by the smell of death tainting the air. To say she was stunned to see them was an understatement. The red-haired vixen stumbled back. The blood drained from her face, and she clutched the boot to her chest as if it were her newborn babe.
“Lord D-Denham?” Miss Venables gulped for breath. Indeed, he feared she might expire on the spot. “Miss … Miss Bennett?” The woman’s gaze remained fixed on the door and not on the dishevelled figure stretched out on the table.
“I suppose you will tell me that you have an interest in medical matters.” Hugo was tired of hearing lies and excuses. “Or you have your hand in Bellham’s boot because you’re admiring the quality of the leather.”
Miss Venables’ ragged breathing made it hard for her to answer.
Lara stepped closer to the paid companion, and Hugo’s heart nearly gave out. “Take a deep breath, Miss Venables.” She held up her hands in mock surrender. “Whatever the problem, we can help you find a resolution. People often act in the heat of the moment.”
Respect and love and pride for the woman who spoke with such heartfelt compassion flooded his chest. “Tell us why you’re here stripping Bellham’s body,” he said, struggling to keep his tone even. “Tell us why you look so terrified.”
Miss Venables tugged her hand from the boot and dropped it onto the stone floor. She clutched her throat and took three deep breaths. “Forgive me,” she eventually said. “I saw a man and woman in the doorway and thought Lord Northcott and Miss Harper had followed me here.”
Curiosity flared. “And why would they do that when few would venture from their warm beds at this ungodly hour?” He realised there was a certain hypocrisy in his statement.
“Because I fear Miss Harper knows my secret.” The lady put her hand to her eyes, and her heavy breathing cracked into a sob.