Page 86 of A Misguided Devotion

Afraid he might do or say something he would later regret, he cried out to God in prayer. As he opened his mouth to speak again, his conscience prompted him to leave. There was no point in staying. The man was twisting all his words to serve his own purposes.

William stepped back, dislodging Mr Barrington’s grip on his shoulder. With a stiff bow, he strode across the grass. He didn’t know where he was going. He just knew he needed to get away before he did something he would regret.

Halfway down the garden, he recalled the ruined church where he had once found Kitty praying and veered off to the right, thinking that the place well suited his mood. A place where God had once been regularly worshipped, but now stood in ruins. Like his life.

Chapter 25

Kitty doubted whether anyone in the household had passed a restful night. It had taken her hours to fall asleep as the events of the day swirled around in her mind. How had Mr Jenkin fallen over the edge of the cliff? What part had William played? How could Laura have deceived them so cruelly?

At last, peace had settled over her heart like a blanket, allowing her to rest, as she reached the conclusion that William was innocent. Though the circumstantial evidence was strong, what motivation did he have for killing the riding officer? At worst, it was a terrible accident.

After a solitary breakfast, she went in search of her absent friends. Not Hugh, of course. She didn’t count him in their number. In truth, she wished she never had to see him again.

Kitty’s first port of call was Laura’s room. Her gentle knock was answered by Sutton, who ushered her inside.

“She won’t leave him, miss. Nor eat nor drink. I don’t believe she’s slept a wink, poor dear.” The maid wrung her hands together. “Her heart is breaking, and there’s nothing I can do. To think she might be widowed—”

“I know you share your mistress’s distress, but it will not help her to hear your fears, Sutton. Why don’t you fetch some of the chamomile tea she finds so soothing?”

“Oh yes. That would be just the thing.” She bobbed a curtsey and hurried out the door.

Kitty drew up a chair and sat beside her friend. “How is he?”

“He hasn’t woken up yet. I don’t know if he ever will…”

“How long have you been married?”

“Since the day after my birthday,” Laura said, wiping away a tear. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I couldn’t risk my father finding out. I knew Papa would be furious when he learned of our marriage, and I was right. You heard him last night, ranting at me even while my husband lay dying. That’s why we wed in secret.”

“But why did you say you were in love with Lord Droxford?”

Laura screwed up her nose. “I never said anything of the sort.”

“Yes, you did. Yesterday.”

“Oh no. You misunderstood. I was talking about David, not the Viscount.”

Kitty reviewed the conversation in her mind. No names had been spoken, but she’d been so sure they’d been speaking of William. “You said you feared the man didn’t love you, whereas anyone could see that Mr Jenkin was head over heels in love with you.”

“Everyone except me. After we wed, David begged me to stay here because he was closing in on the person who was helping the prisoners of war escape, but I didn’t want to. We had a terrible argument. I thought he didn’t care, but then you encouraged me to tell him how I felt. Sutton let him know where to find me—”

“And I told Lord Droxford.” Oh heavens. What had she done?

“If my father hadn’t been so desperate for me to marry his lordship, he would never have kissed me, and David wouldn’t have lost his temper and ended up like this.”

Kitty’s breath hiccupped. William had kissed Laura? Before he had proposed. Not the action of an indifferent man. Had he been lying to her, claiming he didn’t care about her friend?

Laura blinked back the tears. “It was my fault he tried to kiss me. The look I sent him invited it. I wanted to make David jealous, so he would take me away from all this. I didn’t expect them to fight over me.”

Kitty’s breathing returned to normal. No, he hadn’t deceived her. Poor William. He had been sucked into Laura’s plan and received the full measure of Mr Jenkin’s wrath. “That was badly done. It was not fair to your husband or the Viscount.”

“I know—and now Lord Droxford has hurt him and—”

“Do you believe his lordship is capable of that?”

“Maybe. If David told him I was his wife and Lord Droxford was desperate to marry me.”

It was past the time for secrets. Her friend needed to learn the truth about William’s feelings. “I can assure you he was not.”