Vexing the Viscount

“Yes, I am. It is also quite interesting to learn of your family history.”

Since Braden wasn’t certain that this truly was his family history, he only shrugged. “I must speak to you in private.” He closed the door and sat across from her. “I spoke with Alistair this morning and he believes someone is trying to kill him too. I believe our only choice is for all three of us to die in an accident.”

She sat up straight. “What exactly are you talking about?”

“We need to stage our deaths. That way, whoever is trying to kill us will come forward. Until he does, we don’t know who it may be.”

“That is a mad idea! You have no way of knowing if that person is the one trying to kill you.”

Braden sighed. “Who else could it be?”

“I don’t know!”

“Don’t be angry with me, sweetheart. I just want this over.”

Tia shook her head. “I am not angry,” she admitted. “I too want this over. I only worry that you might not have the right person.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have no way of knowing if Jonathon and Alistair are telling the truth. If the three of you go together someplace, one of them might kill you.”

He hadn’t thought of that possibility. She might be right and if she was, he was only giving the killer the opportunity to kill without being caught. But if nothing else, he now understood how prepared he needed to be if they went with this plan.

“Braden?”

“I’m sorry. I was woolgathering. There is always the chance that you are right. But at this point, I believe we may not have any other options. I want this settled, Tia. Now.”

“I understand, but there is another issue.”

“What?” he asked, assuming she was only trying to stop him.

“How exactly will you make people believe all three of you died in an accident?”

Braden shrugged. “We shall stage a carriage accident. Perhaps outside of London, where there are some dreadful roads and hills. Let the word get out that the three of us are going to the hunting lodge.”

Tia rolled her eyes. “A carriage accident will never do. A coroner will need to verify the bodies.”

Braden swore softly. That had never crossed his mind. Now what would he do? “There has to be a way.”

“You will need three dead bodies,” she whispered. “And a fire.”

“You are starting to scare me,” he said with a smile. “I must remember to never get you too angry with me.”

She giggled. “The fire must be hot enough to destroy the bodies and make them unrecognizable. And they need to be very close in size to you all. It might help if it looks like you all were drinking heavily before the fire started, which would explain why you didn’t get out.”

“Thank you,” he said, before kissing her quickly.

“My lord,” Nelson said from the other side of the closed door. “Mr. Brady is here to see you.”

“Thank you, Nelson. Show him to my study.” He looked over at Tia. “That is the runner I hired. I must speak with him.”

“Of course.”

He rose and then looked down at her with a grin. “I have the special license, so you will be married in the morning and possibly a widow by afternoon.”

“Do not jest about such a thing!”

“Tia, everything will work out. I promise.”