Mistaken for a Rake - Rose Pearson Page 0,57

she achieved what he could not, making her look up at him and smile.

“Might you do the same with the other, Lady Rebecca?” he asked, his fingers brushing hers as he reclaimed the box. “I would be grateful for your help.”

Heat mounted in her face at his touch, and she quickly picked up the second, smaller parcel and set to work, praying that Lady Hayward did not notice the pink in her cheeks. Lord Richmond undid the string entirely of the box and then, pulling it free, set it aside. Her work completed on the second parcel, she made to step away, but Lord Richmond stayed her hand.

“Might you open it, Lady Rebecca?” he asked quietly. She nodded, swallowing her tension. “I will see what is within this one.”

Feeling a little anxious, Rebecca carefully pulled aside the brown paper that wrapped the small parcel. It did not take long, but, once she had revealed the object, there did not come with it a burst of awareness or any sort of understanding. Instead, she studied the small vial, the colorless liquid within, and found herself entirely at a loss.

Lady Hayward was on her feet in a moment, joining Rebecca where she stood, as Lord Swinton made his way towards them also.

“What is it?” Lady Hayward asked as Rebecca shook her head. “Do you know, Lord Swinton? Lord Richmond?”

“I do not,” Lord Richmond replied quietly. “But I do know what this item is.”

Rebecca lifted her eyes from the vial and turned them to the box, a gasp ripping from her throat as she took in the sharp blade that lay there. There was silence for some moments as the four of them studied the knife, tension rising steadily.

“So,” Lord Swinton said slowly. “We have a knife and a vial. A vial that I do not know the contents of and a knife that is very clear in its purpose.”

“A knife that I have purchased,” Lord Richmond said slowly. “And a vial that I also have purchased.”

A sudden fear clutched at Rebecca’s heart. “Did you not say, Lord Richmond, that you were asked to go to various locations in town at certain times?” Seeing him nod, she closed her eyes. “And at each of those places, Lord Kensington was present?”

“He was, yes,” Lord Richmond replied slowly. “Although I never once greeted him.”

“But you did greet others who were present,” Lord Swinton remarked, quickly becoming aware of what Rebecca meant. “They would know that you had been in the same vicinity as Lord Kensington.”

“As though you were determined to remain near to him,” Lady Hayward breathed, her eyes widening as she looked at Rebecca. “There is a plan here, Lord Richmond.”

“A plan to have you embroiled in something so dreadful, I can hardly bear to speak of it,” Rebecca continued, seeing the shock ripple across Lord Richmond’s face as he came to understand what she meant. “You have followed Lord Kensington across London. You were the one who attempted to steal affections from his wife.”

“And now, you are the one who has purchased a knife and a vial of some description,” Lord Swinton finished as Lord Richmond set both hands down hard on the study table and leaned forward, his head bowed. “Quite what Lord Bellingham has to do with such things, however, I cannot say.”

Lord Richmond blew out a long breath, and when he lifted his head to look at her, Rebecca could see the agony in his eyes.

“I am to be made out as the person responsible for Lord Kensington’s demise,” he said heavily. “That vial, no doubt, will be some concoction that will bring about either a deep sleep or his death.”

“And the knife will be used and then left there, leaving Lady Kensington to cry and wail when she discovers him.”

“And then to mention that the knife, she is sure, is yours, Lord Richmond,” Lady Hayward continued, finishing off Lord Swinton’s statement. “If anyone were to make particular inquiries, they would discover that you purchased both the knife and the vial.”

Rebecca shuddered at the sheer horror of it all, seeing just how Lady Kensington had planned each and every step of her freedom. “No doubt, Lord Kensington will have made some arrangements for his wife, should he pass away before her.”

“Which, of course,” Lord Richmond muttered, “she will have made certain of.” He let out a long breath and looked up at them all again. “Can we be certain of this? And what part does Lord Bellingham have in it