Morgan crested the hill beside Edward, mounted atop Elkinema. They had made tremendous progress that morning regarding the new architecture designs. Edward apparently was enjoying the same realization.
His lips curled up into a smile as he looked out over the land. “Ah, Morgan, it is coming along nicely, is it not?”
Morgan’s heart swelled at his boyish excitement. The previous night had only made them stronger. She still wanted, and needed, to know what had upset him to the point of self-injury yesterday morning. Nevertheless, the ending result, a deeper bond, had cast aside any lingering doubts she had about her husband’s investment in their marriage. He cared as deeply for her as she did him.
Morgan had fallen asleep and woken, curled in his arms. Only in the early morning light had he made love to her. And what a teacher he was at that. She felt a blush creeping up her neck as she remembered. The slightest touch from his skilled hands unraveled her.
“Remembering something enjoyable?” Her husband smirked, devilishly.
“Perhaps.” She grinned back, coyly.
“Good, I wish you daily enjoyment.”
She giggled. “Daily? I do say, sir.”
Edward laughed as he drew his hand to his brow, shielding his eyes from the beating sun. “Is that a new carriage?”
Morgan turned her head back to the manor. “Yes.” She tensed; could they withstand any more bad news right now? She squinted to make out the crest on the door. “It appears to bear a crest…a dragon and a rose?”
A smile broke across Edward’s face. “It is Greyland and Alex.” Giving no further elaboration, he kicked Elkinema into a canter.
Morgan pressed her heels gently against Serenade’s sides and followed suit.
Edward leapt off the stallion and jogged up to the pair that were staring at his battered estate. Alex turned as Edward drew near, making Grey’s petite form visible from where she was standing in front of her much-taller husband. As soon as his sister’s gaze landed on Edward’s she broke into a full run and jumped right into his arms.
Edward spun her around, before setting her back on her feet and kissing her forehead. “Grey, it is so good to see you. How is my niece and nephew?”
“Magnificent!” she exclaimed, beaming up at him before turning back to the house. “Oh, Edward.” Her smile vanished. “It is awful, how could someone do such a thing?”
His sister’s voice wavered and she pinched her bottom lip between her teeth—another of his sister’s signature traits when she was worried. “To you, and to father!”
About that time, having not catapulted off her horse as he had, Morgan approached. Greyland did a complete emotional about-face when she saw his new bride and rushed to her, dragging her forcefully into a tight hug. Edward heard Alex chuckle over his shoulder. No one could ever be fully prepared for his sister.
Edward saw the momentary surprise in Morgan’s eyes at the over-familiarity but she doffed it quickly, embracing Greyland back. As if it were a completely normal greeting. He wondered how long it would take his lovely wife to get used to his sister’s unbound affections. By the recovery time just witnessed, she would fit right in with his unusual family.
“It is so wonderful to see you, Morgan,” Grey gushed. “I am thrilled you are a part of our family. It was about time my notorious brother settled down. I cannot wait to introduce you to your new niece and nephew. They are back at home today, but the next time we visit, we will bring them.”
She paused for quick breath. “Have you met my husband?”
Alexander bowed. “Allow me to echo my wife’s sentiments. Welcome.” He smiled. “I see you are adapting gracefully into the indoctrination that is our peculiar family.”
Greyland swatted his shoulder playfully. “We are not peculiar; we are fun!”
“That is one way of putting it.” Edward could not help but laugh.
Alex glanced over Greyland’s head, catching Edward’s eyes. “May we talk brother?”
“Yes.” He addressed his sister and Morgan. “Morgan, would you care to show my sister the drawing for the new design?”
“Of course.” His new bride smiled, and was immediately tucked into the fold of Greyland’s arm and marched toward the house.
Edward turned his attentions back to his brother-in-law just as his sister begin to interrogate Morgan on the subject of children. He shook his head. “Lord, help her.”
Alexander shrugged. “What else would you expect?”
“Nothing less.” He chuckled and wandered a few paces next to Alex, assuring they were well out of earshot before continuing. “I assume you have been informed of the attempts on mine and father’s life? Not just the fires?”
“Yes, word reached us this very morning, hence”—he waved a hand toward his retreating wife—“our being here before I could even have my morning coffee.”
“I am sorry to bother you,” Edward sighed, hating how many lives were being affected. “You should not have to raise two children under this sort of family stress.”
“Stop that,” Alex chided. “I joined this family, for all of its many blessings and strife’s, of my own free will.”
“You know what I mean. You two have been through enough. I only wish this family of ours could cease to be so…” He searched for an appropriate word that did not rhyme with hated. “Interesting.”
Alexander placed both hands behind his back as they walked. “We cannot change the minds of other men, hell-bent on doing us harm.”
He stopped and faced Edward, an old familiar glint in his eyes. “But we can quell the heartbeat.”
Edward felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Simply relaying to his brother-in-law all the bizarre occurrences that had transpired over the past few weeks put his mind more at ease. Stringing it all together and sifting through various scenarios cast a bigger net over the events leading up to the fire at his estate and at the docks.
Edward told Alex everything he knew and everything that had happened, including Morgan’s stepbrother and the strange obsession the blackguard had with her. The two talked at length for the better part of an hour while the ladies worked alongside the staff, setting right the untouched sections of the house. They would be able to move in by tomorrow.
“I have an Idea,” Alex, reclined against the hillside in seeming contemplation of the sky, finally spoke.
“Please, explain?” Edward looked over at him.
“A ball.”
“I am not sure how dancing the night away will fix anything, Alex.”
Alexander arched a brow and propped himself up on his elbow. “A means to draw them out.” He flicked a blade of grass. “We have a better chance of getting one of them to talk if we can get them all under the same roof.”
His brother-in-law looked down at Edward’s estate. “We will hold the affair at Greenshire castle. In one week.”
“I will not bring the people who may want us dead to your house,” Edward said, shocked at the normally intelligent man’s suggestion.
“Greenshire is perfect. So far, all threats have been made on you, Morgan and Father. Plus, due to my standing in Parliament, I would have no reason not to invite them all. For political reasons, of course.”
Alex continued to watch Greyland and Morgan below, inside the hallowed-out window of the previous study. They were perched over the architectural drawings and talking with their hands as they laughed.
“The children will be safe in the nursery for the event, with armed guards surrounding their wing.” Alex proceeded. “Lord Vistmont has need of my vote to pass a bill he wishes to see through. De Montrey is new to his title and eager to show it off. Davenport will come simply for the opportunity to piss you off.”
“It is the Earl of Vistmont’s son who made the threats against Morgan,” Edward said, his own gaze fixed on the two women inside the burnt-out space. Morgan had just tucked a stay strand of hair behind her ear and was motioning for a tray of scones to be placed on the table. His sister pushed the papers aside to make room. Edward’s heart squeezed. “I will not willingly put her in the same room with him.”
“You will have to.” Alex faced him. “If the man is as obsessed as you say, and as volatile, then we need to find out how unhinged he can become. Lure him into his own trappings.”
Edward felt ill at just the suggestion. There was no way he could occupy the same space with that man, and not kill him. Likewise, Edward would have to be dead himself to allow Morgan anywhere near the weasel.
“Alex, I cannot do this, this that you put forth.”
“Would you rather risk both your lives by waiting for the man to strike next?” Alex’s gaze swung back to the estate, making a point of the obvious. “Because it does not appear that whoever did this has any plans of heaving off.”
As much as Edward did not want to admit it, his brother-in-law was right. Whoever was behind these attacks was just getting started. He inhaled deeply, then exhaled. “She will have to give her blessing first, and I will not leave her side.”
“You will not be there, Edward.” Alex gave him a steady look. “You will have to trust me to protect her.”