“Well, I do not know about that...” Lady Clementine started.
His aunt waved a hand vigorously at her. “Now, are you to tell me what you have discovered or not?”
Lady Clementine motioned to the window. “Someone most certainly came through your window—”
“So you will be moving bedrooms, Aunt,” Roman said.
Lady Clementine’s russet brows arched.You believe me now then?her look said. He wasn’t going to admit to anything, and he was still uncertain about this whole matter but if—and it was a big if—someone had come through the window, he had a duty to ensure his aunt’s safety.
“And someone tried to get into your dressing table drawer,” Lady Clementine continued. “See the scratches?”
Aunt Mary bent to peer at them and nodded. “Goodness, yes.”
“I’ll be hiring some men too,” Roman put in. Some brutish types to stand outside of the house at night seemed a good idea and wouldn’t cost a fortune.
The women ignored him.
Lady Clementine rubbed the piece of fabric absently between her finger and thumb and Roman recalled what those soft fingers had felt like upon his face.
“Can you think what the intruder might have wanted?” she asked.
“Well, actually, yes, though it has not been there for some years.”
Roman frowned. “What has not been there?”
“The letter of course.”
Chapter Six
“You are aware of the history of our family, are you not?” Mary sank onto the bed as though pressed down by the weight of said history.
“Uh...” Clem glanced between Lord Rochdale and his aunt. Despite the late summer sun pouring in through the window, the room chilled while his posture stiffened and his expression grew cold. She saw his jaw work. Should she admit to being curious about the man and listening to the tale of his family, or pretend ignorance?
Mary didn’t allow her time to do either, thankfully. “My brother—Roman’s father—and our father worked hard to ensure our family name was beyond repute. It took decades—”
“Centuries,” Roman said abruptly.
Mary waved a hand. “It took a long time for our family name to be restored after our ancestors—”
“I really do not think Lady Clementine needs to be hearing this tale, Aunt Mary.” Lord Rochdale clasped his hands behind his back, and she had the distinct impression the man wished to dash off as he rocked on his heels.
If only she’d known all she needed to do was touch on the subject of his family’s history and he’d flee. It would have made investigating this matter so much easier.
And any temptation to do ridiculous things like kiss him that much harder.
“Nonsense.” Mary tutted. “Unfortunately, my brother passed on his rigid desire to protect the family name to my nephew.” She smiled softly at Roman, and Clem did not miss the affection behind the old woman’s eyes. “One day, he shall learn there is more to life than duty.”
“Try being a marquis, then see how you feel about duty,” Lord Rochdale muttered but his aunt didn’t hear. He pressed his lips together as though he regretted the utterance and swung a swift look Clem’s way. She met his gaze, letting him know she’d heard.
I know your secrets,she tried to say with a smug smile, but struggled to feel at all smug about it. His aunt slowly painted a picture of a man under intense pressure. No wonder he seemed so rigid he might snap at any moment.
Blast, was she starting to feel sorry for him?
Mary stretched a hand out toward Lord Rochdale. “But our family has thought of nothing but restoring the family name for a long time so I cannot blame him.”
He took her hand with the tiniest hint of hesitance, his expression growing briefly boyish and making Clem’s heart soften that bit more.
Blast, blast, blast and several more blasts.