A Stroke of Malice (Lady Darby Mystery #8) - Anna Lee Huber Page 0,80

but I would be a fool not to comprehend that in matters of childbirth there are some things a woman would be better able to understand and advise upon. Especially one who’s already given birth four times.”

He was right again, of course. One of the other reasons I wished to give birth in Edinburgh was so that Alana could be near. I was relying on her to help me. But what if we were still angry with each other? What if we weren’t speaking?

“Best to heal any rift before it can grow too wide,” Gage counseled, correctly interpreting my thoughts. “Or before it causes you needless worry.”

I wanted to retort that she had been the one mainly in the wrong. That it should be her responsibility to apologize first. But Alana had never been one to easily admit her mistakes. I blamed it on her being the oldest, and the fact that our mother had died when she was only twelve, forcing her to take on a more maternal role to Trevor and particularly me. So I heaved an aggrieved sigh and nodded. I wanted to ask her what she’d stopped herself from telling me in the guardroom the day before anyway. Unless it had been an earlier urge to caution me about the investigation.

He smiled and pressed a kiss to my lips. “I’ll send her to you.”

“And what are you planning to do?” I asked as he rose from the bed.

“I am going to pay a visit to Mrs. Blanchard and see if I might be able to ferret out the reason for the animosity between her and Traquair,” he replied, adjusting his cuffs. “And then I’m going to set about locating this Colum Brunton who is missing from the brewery.”

“Then perhaps you should wear your forest green frock coat instead.”

He looked at me in question, obviously trying to understand why I would suggest he switch from his sapphire tailcoat to the knee-length, double-breasted garment. Comprehension dawned in his eyes. “I see. So that Mrs. Blanchard won’t be able to ogle so many of my . . .” his eyebrows arched in amusement “. . . attributes.”

“Yes, well, there’s no need to allow her to covet any more of the artwork than is necessary.”

Gage threw his head back and gave a shout of laughter.

My lips curled at one corner. He could guffaw all he wanted. I was simply glad he was at least wearing trousers. The sight of him up close in his skintight pantaloons was more than I wanted to share with the duke’s mistress.

His gaze met mine, evidently deducing the direction of my thoughts, for a soft flush of color crested his cheekbones. “I shall take that as my cue to leave, for if I stand here with you continuing to gaze at me like that for much longer, I won’t be able to continue to restrain myself as I must.”

I grinned broadly, pleased with myself for being the one to cause him to blush for a change.

A few minutes after his departure, there was a knock on the door. Expecting it to be my sister, I called out for her to enter, and attempted to adopt a contrite expression. However, I was not greeted by Alana’s wary, affronted visage, but Charlotte’s anxious one. She gasped and fretted over the dressing wrapped around my shoulder to stabilize it, barely allowing me to get a word in edgewise.

“For goodness’ sake, Charlotte,” her great-aunt, Lady Bearsden chided as she hobbled through the door after her, leaning on the gold figurehead of her cane. “Allow her some space to breathe.” She sank into the chair Bree had positioned near the bed with a wheeze. “I told you she wasn’t in life-threatening danger.” Her gaze softened as she turned to me. “Though I am glad to hear the babe also seems to have suffered no ill effects.”

“Thank you,” I told them both as Charlotte perched on the edge of the bed. I took in the sight of her in a stunning rose pink carriage dress. “Are you two also departing before the snow sets in?”

“Yes. Unless you need us?” Charlotte leaned forward to ask.

“Thank you, but my brother is remaining, so with his and Gage’s assistance, as well as that of my maid, I believe I shall be well cared for.”

“Oh, undoubtedly. Mr. Gage appears to dote on you, my dear.” Lady Bearsden nodded her head decisively. “As he should.”

“Where will you go?” I asked, trying to sit higher on the