Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

T he next week was both one of the best and one of the hardest of Eliza's life.

After bidding farewell to Siena and Levi, she spent most of her days relaxing with Fitz's sisters and most of her nights becoming intimate with him – in more ways than just physical. She didn't see him throughout the day for he spent most of it working in his study, but she enjoyed the special winks he would send her way when it was time to meet for dinner or the stolen moments in which he would touch her body or whisper sweet nothings in her ear.

He was so attentive that she nearly forgot there had ever been a time – or two – when she had been angry with him.

All of her belongings had been moved into the lady of the manor's chamber a day after their wedding. It had been vacant, for Fitz's mother had moved to another chamber years ago once Fitz had become Earl. Even so, Eliza felt like something of an interloper, as if she hadn't yet earned her place there.

Fitz had been coming to her so regularly through the door that connected them that when he didn't appear in her bedroom one night, she wasn't certain what to think.

Had he assumed that she needed time away from him? Or had he grown tired of her?

Not one to sit idle and wait for answers, she opened the connecting door, peering around Fitz's room to find that the fire was lit in the grate, Fitz's nightclothes were laid out upon the turned-down bed, but the man himself was nowhere to be found.

Eliza yawned as she stretched her arms, ready to sleep, but first, she would find Fitz to say goodnight.

She knew exactly where he was likely to be – his study, hard at work. For a man who had been so well known for his rakish ways, his dedication was admirable. He must truly believe in his cause.

She tiptoed down the corridor and the stairs, not wanting to wake anyone as the hour was late, which was why she was surprised when she heard voices coming from within the study. Was his mother or one of his sisters not yet abed?

She paused outside the door, not wanting to interrupt their conversation, but then her brow furrowed at the unfamiliar voice.

It was female – low, sultry, and practiced.

"Why are you coming to me with this now?" Fitz asked with irritation in his voice.

"I was afraid before," came the response. "For my life, for the lives of those I work with. I felt threatened. But now… his man keeps returning. Asking where you are, if you have returned. He wouldn't believe that you hadn't been to see us again, as you had been a regular guest for so long."

Eliza's insides turned to ice as she realized just who this woman likely was and what kind of business Fitz had frequented often enough to be known.

"So, finally…"

There was a pause until Fitz spoke in practically a growl. "Finally what , Madeline?"

Her response was so low that Eliza nearly didn't hear it. "I told him that you were at your country estate."

"Did you tell him where it was?"

"No," she said quickly. "How could I? I had no idea."

"This is not the entailed estate, so it might be more difficult to find, but it can be located eventually," Fitz said. "Are you ready to tell me just who this man is?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot give you a name," she said. "He didn't come himself. He sent a man in his place to act as a messenger."

"Do you know his name?"

"No, but I can describe him."

"Very well," Fitz said with a sigh. "Tell me as best you can, and I will write to the detective."

There was silence but for footsteps that Eliza knew would be Fitz pacing back and forth as the woman was likely doing as he asked.

"You said you didn't know where I was," he said, the footsteps stopping suddenly. "How did you know to come here to Appleton then?"

"I asked one of the footmen at your London house."

"Asked?"

"I… gave him incentive to tell me."

"I see," Fitz said wryly.

"I took the stagecoach here. I will return upon the next one."

"You need to stay the night, don't you?" Fitz said with some resignation.

"I do," she said, the sultriness returning to her voice. "I could stay with you… repay you for giving away information about you."

Eliza's heart leaped from her chest up into her throat. Was he going to take this woman up on her offer? She was experienced and had previously been with Fitz. She could see the draw.

She waited for his answer with bated breath.

"No," he said rather swiftly. "I am married now."

"Are you?" the woman said, humor in her tone. "Congratulations."

"Thank you," he said gruffly.

"You know, marriage doesn't usually keep many of my customers away."

"I have decided to be faithful to my wife," he returned.

Eliza started at that as she considered what he had said and how he had said it. She appreciated that he was not going to go to another woman – but was it because he had no wish to or because he felt that it was the right thing to do? To other women, it might not make a difference, but it certainly did to her.

"Admirable," the woman said flippantly. "Perhaps I could have a bedchamber then?"

"We will find you somewhere," he said. "Perhaps in the dower house. It is not currently in use."

"You don't want to sully your house with me?"

"It's not that," Fitz said. "It's just… my wife is here and I?—"

"You do not want her to know of your relations with me."

Eliza decided that she had heard enough. She knew she shouldn't be lurking at doorways, though doing so had certainly revealed her husband's intentions. But she had no wish to listen to herself be discussed.

She took a breath and pushed open the door without knocking.

"His wife is not only in the house but in his room so she would note his absence," Eliza said, placing what she hoped was a confident smile on her face as she assessed the woman who had taken up residence in one of the chairs in front of Fitz.

The visitor was dressed for travel, her cloak of fine fabric, although there was no mistaking the fact that she wasn't a lady, with the long, red corkscrew curls that were allowed to float freely around her head, the rouge that painted her lips and face, and the carefully placed beauty mark above her lip.

"Eliza," Fitz said, the surprise that first crossed his face quickly turning to panic as his gaze flicked back and forth between Eliza and the woman. "My wife, Eliza – Lady Fitzroy. This is Madeline ah?—."

"Madeline, how lovely to meet you," Eliza said, taking the chair next to her. Eliza was wearing her nightclothes, but they were all far past that proprietary. "You have news for my husband?"

"How long were you listening?" Fitz asked, leaning back against his desk, disconcerted yet accepting of the circumstance.

"Long enough," she said before turning her attention to Madeline. "I would say that I wished you had come forward sooner, but the time alone together did allow Fitz and me to become remarkably close. However, we could have saved a great deal of tension due to the threat. Although, you know you could have written Fitz a letter. Or even have gone straight to the detective yourself."

"I didn't trust the post or who might come across the letter, and this detective does not seem to be making any progress on your case," Madeline said, her tone sickly sweet. "My only trust was to speak to you myself."

"I do thank you, Madeline. I know this wouldn't have been easy for you," Fitz interjected. "I will compensate you for your travel costs."

"Thank you," Madeline said with a quick nod. "I will return to London tomorrow."

Fitz sat behind his desk, writing something down before passing it to Madeline. "This is the name of the detective. Please reach out to him. I will write to him myself and ask him to make sure that you are protected and not in any danger."

Eliza hated the surge of jealousy that coursed through her. Fitz was only doing what he did best – looking after other people. That didn't mean he was interested in anything further with this woman.

"Thank you," Madeline said, reaching for the letter, and Eliza didn't miss how she allowed her fingers to slowly brush over Fitz's. "If you could see me to the dower house?"

Eliza waited for Fitz's response with raised eyebrows.

"I will ask one of the footmen to do so," Fitz said before grinning. "You seem to have a way with them."

Madeline let out a snort of laughter at that as Fitz called for one of the servants despite the late hour.

Realizing how this would look if the three of them were happened upon, Eliza in her nightclothes, she decided that there was only one thing she could do. Trust Fitz.

"I will wait for you upstairs," she said with a meaningful look at Fitz, to which he nodded.

"Very good. I shall be there shortly," he said, and Eliza forced herself to stand and walk out the door, leaving her husband with an experienced, sensual, beautiful woman – and her trust.