Marigold and the Marquess by Meara Platt

Author:Meara Platt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Publisher: Meara Platt
Published: 2023-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

“I DON’T KNOW,” Leo remarked, absently stirring the amber liquid in his refilled glass before taking a healthy swallow. “Perhaps Beldon and Denby might have had power to exert by working together. But it sounds sick. Two devils colluding to get me out of the way. And then what? Betraying each other because they are running scared now that I am back in England?”

“Still makes no sense,” Marigold said. “Beldon is reputedly on the Continent, so he is unlikely to have done in Denby. Although, I suppose he could have paid someone.”

Leo frowned. “If there is a connection between the Beldon and Denby, I mean to find the solid proof of it.”

Marigold nodded. “And we’ll help.”

Botheration.

He knew Marigold was eager to investigate with him, even though this was the last thing he wanted. Someone had killed Denby. Perhaps this same person wished to kill him. He did not want Marigold anywhere near him if an attempt was made on his life.

Neither Marigold or her friends seemed in the least concerned.

“Yes, Leo,” Gory said. “You must let us help. And before you utter a protest, just stop this nonsense of protecting the little ladies. You know I am not delicate in the least.”

“Nor am I,” Syd added.

Marigold, who could not look fierce even if her life depended on it, cast him a determined frown. “Nor am I. And don’t you dare snicker at me, Leo. I may be younger and have less experience than the rest of you, but I am not stupid.”

Had he made her feel inferior? It was never his intention. But he was not surprised this was her conclusion since he was refusing to consummate their union and had shut her out of many parts of his life.

Of course, his reticence had made her feel as though their marriage was a sham even though it was quite precious to him. “Am I snickering? You are right. It is time I brought you all in, but not in any dangerous capacity. I could use your research talents. Nothing else.”

Syd shot to her feet, then sighed and sat back down. “Well, it is better than nothing. Tell us more.”

As they listened, he gave them a little of his history with Denby and spoke of the ambush in the Carpathian mountains. However, he glossed over his years in captivity, merely mentioning it in passing since there was nothing much to say about it other than to list the warring factions he believed had imprisoned him.

The mention of those warring factions was only relevant because the ladies might turn up something in Denby’s past that linked him specifically to one of those factions. “I was handed off from one to another, but the prisons were pretty much the same.” So were the beatings, but he was not going to mention those either because recounting the misery he had been put through would leave softhearted Marigold in tears again.

“But they kept you alive,” Octavian said, musing aloud. “There must be some significance in that.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.