Vexing the Viscount

A horrible thought came to him. “Perhaps I shouldn’t eat food prepared here.”

“Nelson already had that same thought. Every one of the servants will have to try the broth and only then will Nelson himself pour it into a bowl for you.”

Braden smiled slightly. “He’s a good man.”

“Yes, he is. You should do something special for him.”

“Such as?”

“A bonus,” she said lightly.

He nodded slightly. “Bring me the envelope from Mr. Adams.”

“Of course.” She searched his linen press until she found the jacket he’d been wearing that night. “I have found it. Do you remember anything after we left the Red Door?”

“No. The last thing I remember is telling you that we were leaving. After that, everything is blank. Will it come back?”

“Most likely, not.” She handed him the heavy envelope.

He dumped the contents on the bed before pulling out a twenty-pound note. “Hold this for me.”

She took the note and her eyes widened. “Twenty pounds! That’s a bloody fortune. And why did Mr. Adams give you so much money?”

He tilted his head with a lopsided grin. “Not one of those gossips told you I was part owner of the Red Door? That is why Jonathon was there. He knew he wouldn’t be turned away.”

“I had no idea.”

A loud rap on the door announced his first meal in several days. Mr. Nelson approached tentatively. “Good afternoon, my lord. I do hope you are feeling better today.”

“I am at that, Nelson. Thank you. Any ideas on who might have done this to me?”

Nelson slid a glance at Tia, who nodded slowly. “We believe it might have been Mary, my lord. She has not been seen since that night.”

“And she had access to my bag,” Tia added.

“Why would a woman I barely know want to kill me?” Braden asked. “Nelson, bring Mr. Brady around tomorrow. I want to get his opinion on this matter.” Hopefully, the runner would have some insight on why a maid would want him dead.

Chapter 13

Braden awoke again the next morning, only to find Tia once more asleep in the chair next to him. He wondered if she’d had much rest at all since his poisoning. Sleeping in the chair, she hardly looked like a wise woman. Instead, she appeared almost angelic. Her red hair had come loose from its confinement and curls framed her freckled face. He’d never been partial to women with red hair and freckles before. Most of his women had been blond.

Still, there was something that drew him to her. It was madness. He couldn’t seduce his wise woman. The complications from that union could be enormous and the first would be her mother. Mrs. Featherstone was a formidable lady, indeed. There were few people—much less women—who could intimidate him, but she came close.

As if realizing she was being watched, Tia blinked her doe-like eyes open. A slow smile lifted her lips. “How are you?”

“Much better. My eyesight and hearing appear to be back to normal. And if my grumbling stomach is any indication, I would love to eat something a little more substantial.”

“Of course. You could try a sandwich.”

“Very well, but only if I can have a full breakfast tomorrow. And get out of this damned bed,” he replied with a smile.

“Breakfast, maybe. Bed, no.” She stretched her arms over her head, accentuating her full breasts. “You should spend a week in bed to get your strength back.”

Damned desire. He could spend a month in bed with her. He closed his eyes, but still couldn’t get the image of her breasts pressing against the blue muslin. “Then you’ll have to join me in bed.”

Dammit! He wasn’t supposed to say that!

She laughed almost nervously. “I doubt you’re up to that just yet.”