Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

A s it turned out, devising their trap took much longer than anticipated.

The detective Levi had hired, Matthew Archibald, wanted to be sure that all was in order before they put a plan in place that could cause Fitz to be put in harm's way once more.

Fitz couldn't say that he overly minded, for he spent all of his time with Eliza.

Time which was often spent in bed, after the week it took him to recover.

Eliza refused to leave his side. As much as he wanted her to remain somewhere that he could be sure that she was safe, he supposed if she had to be in London, it was best to keep her close. He loved that she thought she was protecting him, but he supposed, in a way, she was, for her presence encouraged his improvement.

When Archibald came to see him, ready to put their plan into place, Eliza asked to be present in the meeting.

"She insists," Fitz said helplessly as he led the man into his study, where Eliza waited.

Archibald only laughed. "I understand. My wife would do the same. I am glad to see you on your feet, Fitzroy. When I first met you, you were in a particularly bad way."

"So, I am told," Fitz said, rocking back and forth on his heels. If Eliza's concern hadn't been enough, Levi had come to visit and had told him that he'd had fairly grave concerns that Fitz wasn't going to make it through. Fitz had made a jest of it, telling Levi that he had to change his surly attitude but, deep within, Fitz would admit that he had a similar concern.

If it hadn't been for Eliza, he wasn't sure that he would have been able to have the strength to fight hard enough to return.

But here he was. And he had enough of this.

"I was fortunate that your brother-in-law was summoned," Fitz said. "I hear he is quite an extraordinary physician."

Archibald nodded. "Hudson is certainly sought after, for his patients seem to fare better than most. I agree that you are most fortunate that one of your colleagues knew of his skills."

Fitz paused before they entered the study, a thought striking him.

"Who called him? Which gentleman?"

"Mandrake, I believe his name is."

"Mandrake?" he repeated, furrowing his brow. "Are you certain?"

"Fairly certain, yes," Archibald said as Fitz waved him through the door. "Why does that not seem accurate?"

"Mandrake was who I guessed poisoned me," he said, noting Eliza's look of surprise at his words. "He and I do not agree on anything political, and he was upset with me for my objection to him courting my sister."

"It thought you told him you would allow it," Eliza interjected.

"I said that if Dot agreed, he could call upon her," Fitz said. "That is a far cry from allowing marriage."

"Hmmm," was all Eliza said, as Archibald considered the situation.

"Mandrake was on my list of gentlemen to investigate, but I must tell you that I didn't find anything suspicious about him," he said. "There are two other gentlemen, however, whose actions could be perfectly innocent or could be telling of a crime."

"Who would they be?" Fitz asked, sitting back in his chair, crossing one leg over his other knee. He would have liked to have pulled Eliza into his lap – he had a hard time preventing himself from touching her or drawing her near – but he barely knew Archibald.

"Well, there is Lord Baxter Munroe."

"Lord Baxter?" Eliza exclaimed. "He is my brother!"

"Yes, I know," Archibald said, apology in his tone. "But he has motive, means, and opportunity. I have heard that he was not particularly pleased with the way your marriage came about. Apologies for the directness, but I believe it is suspected that you married in haste due to your… condition, my lady. Munroe was upset about this. Secondly, the apothecary confirmed that he has been a frequent visitor, although he was rather hazy in his memory of what your brother purchased. And finally, he was there at the time of the poisoning and is also a frequent visitor to The Scarlet Rose."

"Madeline's club," Fitz told Eliza, who bristled slightly, but otherwise simply nodded.

"I am well aware," she said dryly.

"Who is your second suspect?"

"Lord Brighton," Archibald said, surprising Fitz.

"Brighton is one of my closest colleagues and an ally in Parliament."

"Perhaps. But I don't believe he is as good of a friend as you might think. He has been speaking with some of the other gentlemen about this bill that you would like to put forward."

"He agrees with me. He is one of my staunchest supporters. Mandrake was one who was opposed ."

"Yes, but Brighton would prefer to take the glory for it rather than you. If you were no longer around, then he would have the opportunity to present it and take the credit. Added to that, he was not particularly pleased that you stole Lady Eliza out from under his nose. He has not visited the apothecary, but he does have a small one in his home. It wouldn't take much to achieve what he needed to create a poison."

Fitz was already shaking his head.

"I am not entirely sure what to make of this."

"Which is why we are not coming forward and accusing anyone straightaway. We will have you speak openly about an evening you will partake in at The Scarlet Rose."

"What?" Eliza practically yelped.

"Not to worry. He will not be doing anything there besides waiting to see if someone makes any attempt on his life."

"That's even worse," Eliza said in a more even tone, apparently recognizing that her presence in the meeting wouldn't help matters if she was allowing her emotions to overwhelm all else.

"If we are lucky, we will not even get that far," Archibald said. "I am hoping that this man reaches out to Miss Madeline first and she will tell us of the plans before we have to put anything into place."

"Do we trust her?" Eliza said wryly. "She did try to kill you, Fitz."

"Not entirely," Fitz assured her. "But if she doesn't come forward, then we proceed with the plan as it is. Either way, we will determine who is behind this threat."

"And you will stay safe," Eliza said, staring him down.

"I will," he confirmed.

"Do you promise?"

"I do."

"As do I," Archibald added. "Now, shall we discuss the details?"

"Very well," Fitz said. "Let's finish this."

Matthew Archibald had a fairly sizable number of men working for him, which was both a blessing and a curse.

It reassured Eliza but also meant that it took another week for him to fully assemble his team and ensure all was in place. He had also told them that he wanted to provide enough time for word to spread regarding Fitz's plans to celebrate his recovery.

Eliza was not particularly pleased that Madeline was involved although Fitz seemed to understand her concern.

She sat on the edge of his bed and watched him prepare for the evening in which all was to be set in motion.

He was so handsome that it was difficult to prevent herself from becoming distracted. He had always been strong and well-built, but it seemed to her that his torso and abdomen were even more well-defined than they had been previously. Perhaps it was due to the weight he had lost because of the poisoning and subsequent illness. She would have to ensure that he returned to his full health.

The rosiness had returned to his cheeks and his grin more frequently covered his face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, catching her stare in the mirror.

"I find you are all too tempting," she said, walking over to him, catching the edges of his untied cravat and using them to turn him so that he was facing her. She had asked him if she could help him prepare instead of his valet and he had readily agreed.

"Allow me," she said, focusing as she concentrated on her knot. She hadn't known how to tie one before they had married, but she had loved learning how to do so.

Little did he know, but she was not going to allow him to do this alone.

His mother and sisters had finally returned to London. Initially, Fitz had thought it best that they remain at Appleton, but Archibald had convinced him that he and his men could keep them all safe if they were within the townhouse together, as long as none of them ventured out alone. They had been practically ecstatic, even if they were not yet participating in the events of the season. Hopefully, this would all come to an end soon.

Eliza was most pleased with their arrival, for not only did she have additional company, but she had someone she knew she could convince to aid her in her scheme.

"There," she said, patting the cravat once she had finished. She tilted her head so that it looked straight. "You might have to redo it."

Fitz looked in the mirror and laughed before shaking his head.

"No. I like it just like this."

"It's crooked!"

"You did it. It's perfect."

Eliza's heart swelled as she smiled up at him. He reached out, donning his jacket and securing it before leaning down and kissing her on the lips, bringing his hands to her upper arms.

"I love you more than anything in this world, Eliza. I promise you that we are going to put an end to this threat tonight and that I will keep myself very safe, for I know that is what means most to you."

"It most certainly does," she said. "Do not go back on your word."

"I promise," he said. "Now, allow me to properly kiss you goodbye and goodnight before we go downstairs and have an audience."

"You think I will be going to sleep in your absence?" she said with a choked laugh. "How could I?"

"You have been rather tired lately."

"Still… I cannot imagine ever sleeping not knowing that you are safe."

"I understand," he said, leaning in and placing a kiss on her forehead. "I love you. Keep that baby safe, all right?"

There was such intent in his eyes that Eliza wondered if there was a chance that he suspected she had her own plans in the works, but he simply kissed her once more before holding out his arm to escort her downstairs, where his family awaited, along with Archibald and a few of the men who would remain for the family's protection.

Eliza took a breath. Soon this would all be over, and they could welcome their child to a happy, threat-free life.

She had to hope that would be true.