Ophelia’s stomach twisted in dread. They had to go to Didimus and Serena’s townhouse for dinner? They couldn’t stay home or, better yet, go visit Lewis and Marcy? She had sent them a calling card, so they knew she and Julian were in town. She had hoped they would have responded by now. It would have been nice if she could have at least told Julian they had an offer to go to Lewis and Marcy’s instead.
But since no invitation came, she was stuck spending another evening with Serena. It was a shame there would be no other couples there. If there was another lady or two, she could sit back and listen to Serena talk with them instead of trying to come up with something to say.
“Do we have to go?” she asked Julian as he buttoned his frock coat.
He glanced over at her. “It’s important we don’t have dinner here.”
“Why?”
He paused, and she thought he might finally tell her what was going on. He’d told her some things that were going on with the detective, but he was holding something back. She had no way of knowing if it was one thing or more. She debated if she should keep pressing him about it when she, herself, hadn’t told him about Lord Wolfe for the longest time.
He looked back down at his frock coat and finished the last button. “I have a good reason, but I don’t want to put you under any more strain than you’re already dealing with. You’ve been through so much already.”
Maybe she should come out and tell him she didn’t like Serena and that having to spend an entire evening with her was going to cause her the strain he worried about. But she hated to do that when Serena was married to his cousin. If she had a cousin she’d been friends with since childhood, she would want to go to the dinner party.
She slowly exhaled and committed herself to the evening. She picked up her gloves and put them on. This wasn’t going to be as easy as the evening at the theatre had been, but she’d get through it. All she had to do was remember this was better than being married to Lord Wolfe. No matter what she faced, it couldn’t be worse than being with him.
She turned to Julian, and he gave her an uncertain smile. “You’re not upset with me, are you?”
“No, I’m not upset.” On impulse, she hugged him. “I love you more than I thought it was possible to love someone. I’d do anything for you.”
He clasped her tightly to him. “I feel the same way about you.”
After a moment of bliss passed between them, there was a knock at the door.
“The carriage is ready, Your Grace,” the footman called out.
Julian let go of her and led her out of the townhouse. They spent the ride to his cousin’s in silence. He held her hand, and the way he stroked the palm of her hand with his thumb helped to soothe her unease. It was a shame he wouldn’t be able to stay with her all evening. If he did, she might not feel so nervous.
The carriage came to a stop, and she readied herself for the evening ahead. As she stepped out of it, she scanned the people who were out. Was Lord Wolfe hiding somewhere among them? He’d found out she was with Julian. He’d been watching her since then. He’d almost succeeded in abducting her. She had no reason to think he’d given up on his plan to make her his wife. And all because she looked like the lady who’d once rejected him.
“Ophelia?”
She turned away from the others and faced Julian. She accepted his arm and proceeded up the townhouse steps.
“I know it may not seem like it,” Julian whispered, “but this is the best way to stay safe.”
He was right. It didn’t seem like it. But then, she didn’t know everything he did. She would just have to trust that he was right.
The door opened, and the footman guided him to the drawing room. Ophelia had held out for the faint hope other people might be at this dinner party tonight, but as she feared, Didimus and Serena were the only people in the room.
“How are you this evening?” Didimus asked as they rose to their feet to welcome them.
“We’re doing as well as can be,” Julian answered. “My brothers were so young. They should have had the rest of their lives ahead of them.”
“As a vicar, I’m sure you’ve seen your share of death for people of all ages,” Serena said.
Julian nodded. “I’ve had the misfortune of presiding over the death of an infant once. That was more tragic than this.”
Ophelia hadn’t known this, but then, she hadn’t thought to ask how many people he’d buried in his time as a vicar. Having lost her parents at an early age, she never thought they had died sooner than they should have. She’d accepted it because she was five when it happened. Now, however, she was starting to question the fairness of it all. They should have lived much longer, just as Julian’s brothers should have.
“I know it sounds trite, but try not to let it trouble you,” Didimus said. “There was nothing you could have done to stop it.”
“You’re right. There was nothing I could have done,” Julian replied.
For a few awkward seconds, no one spoke. Then Didimus said, “I got a new map of the world today. Would you like to see it?”
At first, she thought Didimus was making the offer to her and Julian, but then she realized he was only looking at Julian. She glanced at Julian, hoping he might say no. Unfortunately, he agreed to check it out, which left her alone with Serena.
Ophelia hid the urge to panic. She hadn’t thought they’d separate until after dinner.
“You might as well have a seat,” Serena said.
Ophelia forced her gaze off of the empty doorway and toward Serena, who was pouring tea into two cups. Since there was no getting out of this, she sat in the chair next to her.
“I suppose we might as well get used to being friends,” Serena continued. “It appears that our husbands will be spending a lot of time together.”
There was no sense in denying that, so Ophelia nodded and accepted the cup of tea Serena offered her.
“How do you like being a duchess?” Serena asked.
Ophelia finished taking a sip of the tea then shrugged. “It doesn’t feel any different than how things were before my husband inherited the title.”
“You only say that because you don’t get around London much. Being a duchess is much better than being a lady who’s married to an untitled gentleman.” She settled back in her chair and stared thoughtfully at the wall across from them. “If it was me, I’d be elated. People treat you with respect when they address you as ‘Your Grace’. You should go to a ball. Let your husband introduce you around. Pay attention to the way people talk to you. I guarantee you it’ll be a wonderful experience.”
Ophelia hadn’t been to a ball before she became a duchess, so she didn’t think going to one now would reveal anything. But she had no desire to go to a ball. It’d be too public. Lord Wolfe would find her much too easily. It was best to keep to private gatherings like this dinner party, even if she didn’t enjoy being here.
Serena drank some of her tea then gave her a wink. “Don’t be shy about insisting your husband buy you better clothes. I heard his brothers did very well for themselves.”
Ophelia bit her tongue. Did Serena know about Julian and Didimus running off with Julian’s family’s money in the past? Or had Didimus refrained from telling her that? Julian had told her that his brothers had acquired substantial wealth since then. Did Didimus know? Probably not. Julian was the only one who’d looked in the financial ledger. He hadn’t told her how much money there was, but even if he had, she’d never had to calculate up the cost of things, so she had no frame of reference to tell her if someone had a lot of money or not.
Besides, it didn’t matter. Julian had asked her if she was content with the life they already had, and she was. There was nothing she lacked. She just hoped she could always be with Julian. Her biggest fear was that Lord Wolfe might somehow get his way.
“If I were you, I’d enjoy the money,” Serena said. “Pamper yourself. You’re a duchess. You deserve it.”
Ophelia wasn’t sure how to respond, so she opted to take another sip of her tea.
“I wish Didimus had more money,” Serena muttered in a voice so low that Ophelia almost missed it.
Ophelia was sure Serena hadn’t intended for her to hear her. Serena wasn’t even glancing her way. She was, once more, staring at the wall, her mind probably on all the things she wished she could afford.
A few seconds of awkward silence passed before Julian and Didimus returned.
Serena snapped her attention to them and offered a pleasant smile as she set her cup down. “Did you like the map?” she asked Julian.
“Yes,” Julian replied. “The illustrator did a fine job.”
“It’s the most current one, too,” Didimus said. “It was worth every farthing I spent on it.”
Ophelia thought she saw Serena roll her eyes, but she couldn’t be sure. Whatever was going on between Serena and Didimus, it involved the state of their financial condition. Didimus might feel they had enough, but she obviously didn’t.
“The butler informed us that dinner is ready,” Didimus told Serena and Ophelia.
Good. They were one step closer to getting out of here. Ophelia set her cup next to Serena’s and took Julian’s arm so he could escort her out of the room. With any luck, the rest of the evening would go as quickly as this part of it had gone.
***
“I know you feel guilty for what you did to your brothers in the past, but do you really think giving away all of their money is a good idea?” Didimus asked after dinner.
Julian was sitting in a chair in front of a nice, warm fire that helped to take the edge off the cool autumn air. He took a sip of the water Didimus had given him and stared at the flames for a few seconds. “I can’t take the money. It would be wrong.”
“How could it be wrong?” Didimus, who was sitting next to him, leaned toward him. “You’re not stealing it. Your brothers died. The title and everything that goes with it are rightfully yours.”
“Yes, I understand that, but I didn’t earn the money. If anything, that money is what I owed the estate.” He took another sip of the water and shrugged. “I’ll set aside enough to give to the staff who’ll be at the country estate. But I’ll sell the townhouse and give the money I make from that, along with the rest that’s left over, to the church.”
Didimus laughed. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am. I think it’s something my brothers would have wanted. This way the money they earned will be put to good use.”
“And meanwhile, you’ll do what…? Live like a pauper?”
“I deserve to live like a pauper, but the parish I’m in has given me better than that.”
“Not by much. I know that a vicar lives on very little when he works as far outside of London as you do.”
“But this is what I deserve. If I work my way to a larger parish, then I’ll work my way to one, but if God would rather have me stay where I’m at for the rest of my life, then that’s what I’ll do.”
Didimus snorted and settled back in his chair. “You have a wife. Sometime soon, you may even have children. Are you really going to subject your heir to a lack of abundance?”
“No. That’s what the money going to the estate is for. I’ll hire a steward who’ll invest the money in the same things my brothers did. That should give my heir and other children a good amount of money when they’re adults.”
“But I just showed you a map with countries we’ve never been to. Aren’t you the least bit interested in taking any of that money and traveling?”
“A vicar doesn’t go from country to country. He stays at the parish where he’s needed.”
Julian noted the mixture of frustration and annoyance on his cousin’s face and couldn’t understand it. This wasn’t Didimus’ money. It belonged to Jonah and James, and, unfortunately, neither was alive to use any of it.
Julian let out a disappointed sigh. It didn’t seem that Didimus could accept him the way he was now. He wanted Julian to be like he used to be. By the looks of it, he had expected this sudden turn of events in Julian’s life to bring him back to the kind of gentleman who ran from one social activity to another with great enthusiasm.
He rose to his feet. “I’m sorry, Didimus. I’m not the same person I used to be. I now live to serve the Lord. I’ve changed because He’s given me a second chance.”
“I wish the Lord had left you alone,” Didimus muttered.
“You don’t mean that. The Lord coming into my life was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Didimus didn’t respond for a long moment but then shrugged. “I see that I can’t change your mind. You’re determined to waste all that money, though it would have been nice if we could have traveled again.”
Being as gentle but firm as he could be, Julian replied, “Those were good times, but, yes, they’re over.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Didimus said, a tone of remorse in his voice that indicated he wanted to say more but realized it was pointless to do so.
Julian sighed and put the glass on the small table by one of the windows. He caught sight of something poking out of the long drapes that had been pulled shut. He stepped closer to it and leaned toward it. His eyes grew wide. He was looking at some leaves.
For a moment, he couldn’t move. Didimus wasn’t a plant lover. At least, he couldn’t recall a time when Didimus ever had plants nearby. What were the chances he’d suddenly develop a fondness for them?
About as good as Jonah and James dying so suddenly.
No. It couldn’t be. Not Didimus. He’d known Didimus for most of his life. They’d been friends since they could walk. Didimus wasn’t a killer.
Didimus got to his feet and went to the decanter on the other side of the room to fill his glass up with more brandy. Since he had his back turned to him, Julian lifted the edge of the drape and took a good look at the plant in the moonlight. Evergreen leaves. Four inches long. Thick and shiny. There were a couple of white flowers on it. Some branches had recently been pruned so only half the plant was still there.
He let the drape fall back into place then glanced over at Didimus to make sure his cousin hadn’t noticed that he’d been peeking behind it. Didimus was putting the cap back on the decanter.
Feeling like the world around him was slightly spinning, Julian made his way back to the chair. His gaze went to the glass of water Didimus had given him. What were the chances there was laurel water in it?
No. That was silly. It couldn’t be Didimus. Didimus wouldn’t kill him. He wouldn’t kill anyone. Sure, he was given to living an extravagant lifestyle. He loved money, but…
He loves money. And he’s upset that you plan to give away the money you just inherited. Isn’t it odd that he should care what you do with the money?
Didimus probably thought Julian was going to share half of the money with him, like he’d done in the past.
Julian forced down the bile that rose up in his throat.
Didimus turned to face him, a pleasant smile on his face. “Well, far be it from me to tell you what to do with your inheritance. I applaud your sense of duty.” He gestured to Julian’s glass. “Would you like more water?”
“No.” Realizing he’d spoken too quickly, Julian cleared his throat. “No, that’s all right. I’m not thirsty.” He wiped his sweaty palms on his breeches. “I should retire for the evening. It’s been an exhausting day, given the funeral and all.”
“Yes, I suppose it has.” Didimus took a sip of his brandy. “You’ve had a lot to deal with recently. I’m sure a good night’s sleep will do you good.”
Julian tried not to show his apprehension. The footman said he suspected someone had snuck into the townhouse on the nights Jonah and James died. Even as he struggled to find a logical way to explain why the footman had been wrong, he couldn’t do it. Not if he was honest with himself. He and the detective had searched the entire townhouse, and they hadn’t seen anything that resembled the plant the doctor had warned them about. But the plant in this room matched the description too closely for it to be a coincidence.
Julian forced himself to smile. “Thank you for inviting Ophelia and me over for dinner.”
“You’re welcome over any time.”
Didimus returned his smile, but there was something about it that made Julian shiver. He had to go to Detective Hall, and he had to do it tonight. He didn’t dare take the chance that Didimus would sneak into his townhouse and try to kill him. Didimus had moved swiftly with Jonah and James. At this point, Julian was the only person standing in his way of inheriting the title.
Julian headed out of the room. It took all of his willpower not to run, but somehow, he managed it. When he and Didimus arrived in the drawing room, Serena was talking to Ophelia about one of the gowns she wanted to buy but couldn’t. So maybe that was it. Maybe Didimus was running out of money and needed more. He figured if he could get some from Julian, then that problem would be resolved.
“It’s been a long day,” Julian told Ophelia and Serena. “I hate to end the evening so early, but I’m tired.”
Ophelia seemed relieved as she stood up from the chair and went over to him. He had no idea if the two ladies got along well or not. Ophelia had never uttered a word of complaint about Serena, but then she hadn’t told him about Lord Wolfe until recently.
Whether or not Ophelia liked Serena was of little consequence. Julian had more pressing things to deal with. After thanking Didimus and Serena for a lovely evening, Julian urged Ophelia out of the drawing room. He did his best not to rush through the process of putting on his coat, gloves, and hat. Ophelia was finished putting on hers before he was.
He didn’t remember getting from the townhouse to the carriage. Everything was beginning to blur together. His cousin—the friend he’d grown up with—had killed his brothers, and now it was very possible his cousin would kill him. If it’d been anyone else, he might have been able to process the realization better.
“Julian, are you all right?” Ophelia asked as the carriage proceeded forward.
Slouching forward, Julian rubbed his forehead. “No, I’m not all right.”
He didn’t know if he was going to be all right ever again. If he had known his return to London was going to prompt Didimus to kill his brothers, he never would have come back. He would have stayed away forever. Forgive me, Jonah and James. Once more, I caused you harm, even if it wasn’t what I intended.
Ophelia leaned into him and put a comforting hand on his back. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t say. Not yet.” He didn’t even know how to start explaining everything to her. Granted, she had some horrible experiences with Lord Wolfe, but this was much darker. She was still naïve in a lot of ways, and he wanted to protect that part of her. No one should ever be burdened with the heaviness of sin.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked.
He straightened up so he could bring her into his arms. “Stay safe. Don’t go anywhere alone. I don’t want Lord Wolfe to get you.”
“I won’t go anywhere alone. I learned my lesson.”
Good. He kissed the top of her head. Maybe, after he told Detective Hall about the plant in Didimus’ den, this part of things could be laid to rest. Then they could figure out what to do about Lord Wolfe. He was in no condition to tackle both issues at once. As long as Ophelia was around other people, he didn’t have to worry about her.
The carriage came to a stop, and Julian glanced out the small window to see his townhouse. “I need to see the detective, but I’ll walk you to the door.”
“I don’t want to be in there alone,” Ophelia said.
“You won’t be alone. The servants will be there. Lord Wolfe won’t be able to get to you.”
“I want to stay with you. I feel safer when you’re around.”
“But I need to talk to the detective, and I’m not ready for you to know the details about that.”
“Can’t I stay in this carriage? There’s a coachman in the front with the horses, and the footman is in the back. I have two servants to watch over me.”
He supposed that could work. She wouldn’t be alone, and he would be able to speak with the detective in private. “All right. You can come.”
The footman opened the door, and Julian instructed him to tell the coachman to take them to Detective Hall’s residence. The footman’s eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope.
Without giving anything away, Julian nodded and said, “I have some information he’ll find useful.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Your Grace.” Then the footman shut the door and went to tell the coachman about the change in plans.