Prince of Ravenscar (Sherbrooke Brides 11)

Vicky took his hand in hers. “I do not know if Papa still believes you killed Lily. Richard does, of course. He loved Lily very much, and he did find you leaning over poor Lily, lying there as dead as one can be. I believe Father wants you to convince him you didn’t kill her. As for the Dower House, I do not know if Richard had the fire set. He has become secretive, so I cannot be certain.”

“All I can do is tell him the truth, which I have innumerable times, and ask him to his face if he is responsible for the fire.”

“It is such a pity,” Vicky said.

“What exactly is a pity, Vicky?”

“That you spent only one day at Hardcross Manor.”

It seemed more like a year. He said, “Why do you think Lily spent so much time at Hardcross Manor after we married?”

Her eyes darted away. “Why ever do you think I would know that?”

But she knew something, Julian knew it. Baffled, he nodded to the coachman, and he and Sophie stood side by side, watching the carriage roll down the wide drive.

Corinne came up behind them. “I believe Leah is pleased we are not returning. Now she will have Richard’s complete attention.”

“Did she have a London Season, Roxanne?”

“No, she did not. She was being courted by Lord Merrick at the time.”

Sophie said to Roxanne, who was now looking after Devlin, “Julian is going to take me sailing on his yacht. I believe you and Devlin should join us.”

Roxanne gave Sophie a big smile. “I should love to. When do we leave? Now? Oh, dear, I suppose I shouldn’t have said that. I know, I must mend my gown.”

“Paltry, Miss Radcliffe,” Julian said.

Roxanne tapped her toe on the graveled drive. “I see my precious niece has confessed the dreadful truth to you.”

Sophie said, “I daresay Devlin already knows about that gentleman in Brighton. I quite liked Lord Ponsonby. He was charming, don’t you agree, Roxanne? And ever so accomplished at flirtation and waltzing.”

Devlin snorted.

Roxanne stared him down. “I spent many a lovely moonlight evening with him, strolling on the Steyne. I suppose all of your mistresses join you on your sailboat, my lord.”

“Roxanne, what a thing to say.” Corinne looked torn between embarrassment and amusement. “I know you consider yourself past your last prayers, but really.”

Devlin studied her face for a moment, the white flesh, not as white as his but very nearly. “Do you know, dear one, I have never felt the need to invite my score of mistresses to sail? I believe we are always fully occupied in other activities.”

Corinne smacked his shoulder. “Devlin!”

Roxanne gave him a look, slammed her fist into his belly, and stalked back into Ravenscar without a backward look.

Sophie said, “Is your liver still intact, Devlin?”

“My liver will survive; as for my guts, they are in upheaval.” And he grinned as he rubbed his belly.

“The two of you,” Corinne said, “such ill-advised speech. I daresay that you both find each other vastly amusing.”

Now, t

here was an interesting thought.

Two hours later, no one was grinning when Leah’s carriage pulled in front of Ravenscar to disgorge not only Leah and her maid but also Richard Langworth.

“It is a case of the mountain and Mohammed,” Richard said to Julian, who stood silent and stiff.

“I don’t believe I wish to be either a prophet or a mound of land,” Leah said, and hugged his arm to her. “What I wish is a lovely cup of tea.”