Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

“ I t is such a lovely day, is it not?” Edwin said as they walked across the field on the outer edge of their estate. He smiled and looked up at the sky, the sunlight warming his face.

“It is,” Hanna agreed.

Up ahead, Ruby was barking at a passing squirrel—at least Hanna hoped it was a squirrel and not another rat. This was the third morning in a row she and Edwin had gone on a walk. She had been surprised when he suggested it. As nice as the walks were, she had to admit that her anxiety was rising.

For Edwin seemed different. His mood had improved since meeting with the two investigators. It had to be his determination to clear Benjamin’s name, she thought to herself.

“You seem in a much better mood,” she remarked.

“I am. Indeed, I am. I suppose I have some clarity now.”

“Clarity?” she asked, not sure what to make of it.

She had attempted to talk to him about Benjamin a few times, but he had been evasive. His words to the investigator still rang in her ears. She was to be left out of all of this. She wasn’t quite sure why.

Was it because he wanted to protect her, or because he suspected her? He hadn’t acted like he suspected her of any duplicity. So that led her to think that perhaps he genuinely only wanted to keep her out of harm’s way.

If only she could tell him that he was the one in harm’s way. He, Emma, and who knows who else her father could drag down if the truth of his actions came to light. It would reflect badly on Alexander, Harry, and Arabella…

She felt her heart flutter—one of her anxiety spells was creeping up on her. She had another episode recently, but the breathing exercises helped. She took a deep breath through her nose now and held it in, exhaling slowly while Edwin was distracted by Ruby.

She had to keep herself together. He couldn’t know that something was wrong.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his eyes narrowed.

“I am. A little out of breath. We have been doing a lot of walking,” she replied, hoping that claiming exhaustion would mask her rapid breathing.

“Are you quite certain? You’re not having another of your spells, are you?” he pressed. “I am aware you have been having them again.”

“You are?” she asked and stopped, looking up at him.

“Yes. I saw you in the music room yesterday, gasping for air. I was going to enter to see if I could help you, but you had it under control rather quickly.”

“Indeed.”

“Your father… I never should’ve asked you to spy for me.”

“It is not that,” she said quickly. “I mean, it is. But I worry. About you.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie. She was worried about him, but more so about what would happen if her father knew her husband was still investigating him.

“You need not worry. Learning about my brother’s misdeeds was a shock, but I feel that now that I have those letters in hand, I know what to do. You need not worry.”

He was lying to her. He was, wasn’t he? The realization was like someone had run her through with a lance. Perhaps he was lying to protect her?

Edwin stepped closer to her, cupping her face in his hands. This was the closest they had been to intimacy since their first kiss.

“Please do not worry about me. I will be quite all right. You will see. The future is bright for both of us. You are my Duchess, and I will protect you. I will protect myself and our future. Do not fret.”

Then he kissed her gently on the lips, and for a moment, Hanna forgot everything, every concern that had weighed on her. She allowed herself to believe him.