All he had to do to ensure it continued for the rest of his life—that, if anything, the peace and joy and happiness only deepened—was to find some way to convince his lovely wife that love developing within their marriage wasn’t a reason for ending it.
Chapter 15
Frederick had still not broached the issue of love within their marriage with his wife—indeed, he had absolutely no idea how to safely do so and, until he found some solution, was relying on his ability to pass off any too-revealing reactions as simply the way a nobleman such as he would react in the circumstances—when, six days later, Camber arrived at the Hall.
On being summoned from the music room where he’d been putting the hour Stacie passed with Mrs. Hughes to good use, Frederick saw the inquiry agent waiting in the front hall with a large, brown-paper-wrapped package under his arm. Frederick couldn’t hold back his smile. “You got it!”
Camber grinned. “More accurately, I used your funds to outbid everyone else, my lord.”
Frederick approached and held out his hands, and Camber relinquished the package.
Frederick saw the agent’s gaze deflect and go past him; he glanced around and found Stacie coming down the stairs. He had no doubt that Camber had heard of his marriage and knew who his wife was, yet discretion on all fronts was Camber’s motto. “My dear, this is Mr. Camber—he’s the agent I mentioned through whom I acquire rare books.”
Stacie smiled and nodded to Camber. “Sir.”
“Ma’am.” Camber bowed deeply.
Frederick noted that not by so much as a flicker of an eyelash did Camber betray that he knew rather a lot about Stacie. “Come into the study and tell me about the auction.”
With an inclusive smile, Frederick waved Stacie ahead of him, and together, they led Camber into the study.
Over the past weeks, Stacie had often joined Frederick there, discussing the estate and issues pertaining to it. He’d repositioned one of the armchairs to the side of his desk, and she’d made it her own.
As Stacie sank into the chair, she studied the package Frederick had set on his desk and was eagerly unwrapping. “Is that your latest find?”
“Yes. I’d heard it was listed in the library of a deceased gentleman in Glasgow and the heirs were auctioning the library off.” Frederick glanced at Camber as the agent settled in the chair facing the desk. “How did it go?”
“The bidding was fast and furious at first. I hadn’t expected quite so much interest, so I let the eager ones make the running. I only came in when there was just one gentleman left bidding.”
“Oh?” With the book unwrapped and the paper tossed aside, Frederick dropped into his desk chair the better to examine the tome. “Who was that?”
“Your nemesis,” Camber replied. “Lord Brougham.”
Frederick had opened the book, but looked up at that, a faint frown on his face. “I had hoped he wouldn’t get wind of it.”
“Well, he had, and he was mightily put out when he realized you were my client.”
Frederick blinked. “You told him?”
Camber looked offended. “Of course not—but he went from brow-beating me to brow-beating the auctioneer’s clerk, and he wasn’t up to holding Brougham at bay.” Camber paused, then added, “Daresay the staff of a small auction house in Glasgow aren’t used to the high dramas generated by rare book auctions in the capital.”
“Hmm.” Frederick had already gone back to the book. “I daresay you’re right, and I suppose it doesn’t really matter that Brougham knows I have it.”
Camber made no reply.
Stacie watched as Frederick pored over the tome, carefully turning pages using only the very tips of his fingers. After several moments of utter silence, she asked, “Is it really such a find?”
Frederick had, apparently, fallen into the book; it took several seconds for him to look up, replay her words, and comprehend her question. Then he glanced at the book. “Yes, it is.” Evidently returned to the land of the living, he reached for a side drawer of the desk, opened it, and extracted a slip of paper. He held it out to Camber. “Your fee and a bonus. Thank you—as always, you’ve delivered to my satisfaction.”
Camber rose and took the bank draft. He glanced at the figure and smiled. “And as always, it’s a pleasure doing business with you, my lord.”
Stacie rose and went to the bellpull. “Can we offer you some refreshments, Mr. Camber?”
“Thank you, my lady, but I need to be on my way back to town.”
She smiled. “Perhaps just a mug of cider while your horse is being watered?”
Camber arched his brows, then nodded. “I wouldn’t say no to that, my lady—I’m rather partial to cider.”