The Perfect Suitor (Bewildering Love Series) (28 page)

“And what trap is that? It’s not like she is going to confess to murder.”

“Actually, she will. Beverly doesn’t really want me. She wants my money. When she finds out I’m not willingly to give up my search for you and her scheme to replenish her funds is ruined, she will be so angry that she will own up to her sins. Beverly is not known for holding back her emotions, especially if she thinks she’s been thwarted by someone she considers her rival.”

“The rival being me?”

“Precisely.”

“It sounds like a long shot to me.”

“It’s the only chance we have since we don’t have any evidence against her. Don’t worry. Cole and I have set everything in motion. All you have to do is concentrate on a full recovery.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

For the next few days, as Eve lay in bed, Paxton spent many long hours with her. She had been thrilled by the constant attention. He brought her all her favorite foods, read to her from her botany books, and showered her with so much love and devotion that she was quickly mending. Doctor Mathers came by to remove her bandage and stitches, which allowed her to fix herself in her normal fashion today. Working her hair around the white bandage had been nigh impossible. Eve was thrilled when the doctor gave her the go ahead to move around the house.

She spent time in the gardens with Cassie, played cards with Lydia, planned menus with Veronica, and conversed with her parents at length about future grandchildren. She was finally feeling like her old self.

She was going through some pattern samples to redo the bedroom when Cole came to her.

“Paxton wanted me to tell you to stay here.”

“She’s here?” Eve threw the patterns aside, ready to take action.

“Yes, she’s arrived. You must promise to stay put. I’m off to fetch the magistrate.”

Eve had no intention of staying put, but she nodded and crossed her fingers. “I hope your plan works.”

“Yes, me too.”

***

Beverly looked at the butler with cool disdain when she was shown into the parlor. “Where is his lordship?”

“He’ll be in shortly, my lady. Can I get you anything?”

“Yes, I’d like tea with extra lemon and some cakes. And bring in some of those little sandwiches that all cooks seem to enjoy making. I’m suddenly famished.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Barrows left the room, giving Paxton a who-is-that-lady look when he went by him in the hall.

Paxton was purposely making Beverly wait for two reasons. One, he knew Beverly had no patience and the waiting would irritate her, which was exactly what he wanted to do. And two, the delay would hopefully give Cole time to return with the magistrate.

As Beverly huffed about the room, moaning her complaints to the little sandwiches she was eating, Paxton sat in the next room listening to her ranting and waiting for Cole. He felt relief when Cole finally showed up with the magistrate in tow for he knew any moment Beverly was bound to go looking for him.

When the magistrate was brought into the room where Paxton had been listening to Beverly, he mumbled, “Now that you have dragged me here, she better confess. I don’t appreciate having my time wasted, Lord Geary.”

“I assure you it won’t be.” Cole introduced the magistrate to Paxton.

“From this room you will be able to hear everything next door,” Paxton told the magistrate, who grumbled and took the seat Paxton vacated.

Then Paxton put on a sad face and walked into the parlor. “Lady Beverly, thank you very much for coming.” He kissed her on both cheeks, trying his best not to cringe. “I knew I could count on you. I’m sorry I have kept you waiting, but it’s hard to even drag myself out of bed, so heavy is my heart.”

“Of course, my lord. I completely understand. I was saddened to hear of your bride’s passing.” Beverly tried to console him with a hug, purposely pressing her ample bosom against him.

Paxton was still reeling from the fact that she had said Eve was dead. “My bride is missing, Beverly, not dead.”

“I see.”

Beverly seemed to be contemplating her next words. If she was the one responsible for Eve’s brush with death, then she already knew the lack of a corpse was going to be a major obstacle she had to overcome.

“Surely you don’t think she is still alive? I mean, she has been missing for well over a week.”

Paxton cringed at the sincerity in her voice, but then she also knew she had to sound sympathetic for her performance to be sufficiently authentic. He watched in amazement as she even let a tear run down her cheek. “I’m sorry. Of course you hold out for hope. However, although I know it will be a difficult thing to do, I think it is time to consider the possibility that she may not be alive. I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news, but if she were alive, wouldn’t she return to your loving arms posthaste?”

It took all of Paxton’s will power to remain calm. He wanted to throttle Beverly. If he had any shred of doubt of her guilty in the heinous crime against Eve, it vanished at that moment.
How dare she tell me to forget about Eve after a week’s time when it would take more than a lifetime to do such a thing?
He put a safe distance between them so he wouldn’t act on his anger. Then, gritting his teeth, he turned back to her. “I’m sure she will return to me. I can’t live without her.” He hung his head low in despair.

“Don’t say such things. I know you can live without her. You’re a very strong man.” She went to him and rubbed her hand down his back. “And you won’t be alone. I’m here now.”

“You’ll stay with me until she comes back?” he asked, making sure the desperation was obvious in his voice.

“You know I will.”

“And you’ll help me find her? I search every day from morning to night.” He saw anger pass over Beverly’s face and had to bite the side of his cheek to keep from grinning.

Beverly took a deep calming breath. She was obviously bothered by the thought of helping him with his search. “I don’t think it’s healthy for you to keep up a continual search for someone who won’t return. The constant let down is bound to wreck your life.”

“How do you know she won’t return? She loves me.” He was purposely being argumentative.

Beverly turned around, putting her back to him, most likely so he couldn’t see her squirm, he thought. “I love you, Paxton,” she announced, and he fought the urge to retch at her words. She finally turned and walked toward him to guide him to the couch. “Come and sit down.”

He obeyed her wish even though his insides twisted at her mere touch. He said nothing to her false declaration of love. “Why do you say she won’t return?” Paxton continued to look at the floor. He didn’t want her to see the anger in his eyes.

He glanced up to see Beverly roll her eyes in evident frustration. “Because, my dear, don’t you think she would have done so by now if she could?” She put her hand on his knee. “You need to forget her, which is why I am here to help you.” Her hand slid a little further up his leg as she squeezed his thigh.

***

Evelyn had come downstairs as soon as she saw Cole return with the magistrate. She stood in the hall, her hands fisted at her sides as she listened to the despicable words flowing out of Beverly’s conniving mouth. Paxton and Cole might believe that Beverly would willingly confess when she was frustrated with Paxton’s declarations of love for Eve and his unwillingness to desire Beverly, but Eve thought Beverly needed to be pushed even further before such a confession would spill from her vicious mouth. So she had her own plan, one which she felt would frustrate Beverly thoroughly. She concentrated on hearing their voices.

***

“But how do you forget someone you love with all your heart?” Paxton could tell Beverly was becoming angrier by the minute. Her body stiffened and she huffed as if outraged by his words.

“For goodness sakes, Paxton! I hate to sound callous, but people die all the time. It’s a part of life. Those left behind recover and even learn to love again, to love even more deeply than before.”

Paxton couldn’t believe she could say something so ignorant and wrong. He knew many people who never recovered from losing someone they loved. “I don’t know.” He stood up and walked around the back of the couch before her hand could make its way to his groin.

“I can’t forget her. I don’t think I ever will.” With a sideways glance, he could see Beverly squeezing one of the couch cushions with all her might.
Good. I am frustrating her.

“Trust me.” She set aside the pillow she was choking the life out of and regained her composure as she circled around the couch to stand in front of him. She lifted his chin so he would look at her instead of the floor. “I will help.” She moved her lips over his. She likely hoped to rekindle their old passion or to show him what he was missing, what he could have if he let go of Evelyn.
Lord, the woman is completely daft. I was a fool to believe I could have ever of loved someone as self-serving as Beverly.

Reluctantly Paxton was about to lean toward Beverly with the hope of further frustrating her when he moved away again, but he didn’t have a chance because Evelyn walked in the room. She marched toward them, anger clear in her shimmering blue eyes, her hair falling like fire over her shoulders. She looked like a tigress ready to pounce and he couldn’t help but smile.

***

“Remove your sinful hands and vile lips from my husband!” Evelyn advanced toward them, grabbing Paxton’s arm and possessively yanking him away.

“But…but you’re dead!” Beverly stammered as she stared at Eve in wide-eyed horror.

“Then I must be a ghost sent here to see to your demise.” Eve glared at the woman, daring her to come closer so she could tear her eyes out.

“No, no, it’s not possible.” Beverly turned away, swiping at tears. When she turned back to Eve, hatred gleamed in the depths of her hazel eyes. “Why aren’t you dead? You’re supposed to be dead. I spent a small fortune trying to rid myself of you and here you are!”

Beverly looked at Paxton. “I can see you are not surprised by your bride’s sudden appearance.” She laughed wickedly, proving she did indeed teeter on the brink of lunacy. “Did you believe I’d turn myself in? I don’t think so! Look at her, Paxton, and tell me how you could choose her over me?”

“I could make you a list, but for one thing, unlike yourself, Eve has a heart.”

“And obviously a very hard head!” Beverly threw her hands up in the air, pacing the length of the room as she continued with her ranting. “The injustice! How did you survive? I was assured you were hit hard enough to bring down an elephant. But here you are. Well, you can’t have him. He was mine long before you came along.” She turned her back to them and fished something out of the top of her bodice.

“I’ll have to kill you myself!” She lunged at Evelyn with a small knife, attempting to stab her through the heart. Beverly flailed around and screeched in outrage when she suddenly found her arms grabbed and painfully held behind her back. She tried to wiggle out of the strong grip. “You!” she spat at Cole as she twisted around to see who stopped her from attacking Eve. “I should have known you’d be in on such a tricky plot. You can all remove those smug grins from your faces! I may have confessed that I arranged for her demise.” She glared at Eve with utter hatred. “But you cannot prove I’ve done anything. It’s not as if I will ever repeat such a confession, so you may as well let me go!” She tried to yank her arms away from Cole without any luck.

“Drop the knife,” Cole instructed calmly, pulling her arms up harder until she cried out and dropped the blade to the floor.

“What are you going to do with me?” she asked as if their worst would be a slap on the hand.

“It would be fitting to smash you over the head and leave you to bleed to death,” Paxton said with venom in his voice.

“I should have done it myself. I should have known those two worthless idiots I hired wouldn’t do the job correctly.”

“And where are those worthless idiots?” Cole questioned.

“Dead, of course. I poisoned them. I couldn’t let them have a slip of the tongue, nor could I trust them not to blackmail me. I’m much too smart to allow such a thing to occur.” She yanked again and Cole released her arms, seemingly knowing Beverly couldn’t do any harm to Eve with him and Paxton in the room.

“Very clever,” Cole said mockingly.

Beverly started to leave the room.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Paxton asked as Cole moved around to block the door.

“You can’t prove anything. I am returning to London where I will wait for you to tire of her.” Beverly pointed at Eve.

“You are an evil vicious woman and I hope you receive everything you deserve,” Eve spat, her body shaking with rage.

“Come, my sweet, and sit down.” Paxton guided Eve to a chair. “You are still healing. Don’t allow her insults to bother you. She is not worth it.”

Paxton went to the connecting sitting room. “Have you heard enough?”

The magistrate stopped writing. “Yes, I’ve written it down word for word.” He left his chair and walked into the room to stand before the speechless Beverly. He secured her wrists.

Beverly screamed in outrage and tried to lunge at Eve again, but the magistrate had her well in hand. “Lady Evelyn, I am terribly sorry for the ordeal this woman put you through. I pray you will mend quickly and be able to put this nastiness behind you. Rest assured, this woman will not be able to harm you again. You have my promise on that.”

Eve nodded numbly. “Thank you, sir.”

“I can’t believe this!” Beverly hollered. “She steals Paxton from me and everyone feels sorry for her?”

“I never belonged to you,” Paxton said with obvious disgust. “You are in dire need of medical treatment. Your desperation has caused you to become deranged in your thinking. I hope you find the help you need.”

The magistrate yanked Beverly out the door.