She tried to listen to his thoughts. She tried to feel the emotion she could hear infused within his words. Confusion was the only thing she felt. Did he really want to send her back to Cobham? Was there no part of him that wanted her to stay?
Once she had discovered the mystery surrounding Caroline's disappearance, her work would be far from over. Somehow, she had the impression that unravelling the mystery of Elliot Markham's complex emotions would be a far greater task.
Chapter 17
With his carriage still stationary, Elliot lounged back in the seat, his intense gaze focused on the lady sitting opposite him. Grace looked up from her lap, her weak smiling revealing her apprehension.
He had been ready to end Barrington's life.
In the same way Alexander had been ready to end Mr. Sutherby's at Mytton Grange.
But what did it mean?
> "You're sure you want to go tonight?" Evelyn asked, breaking the heavy silence. She sat next to Grace, leaving a space at the end for Leo — when he finally arrived. "I'm assuming Mr. Henshaw's house is somewhere in London."
"I suppose we will know more when Leo joins us." Alexander shuffled in the seat next to him, his impatience evident in his tone. "How long does it take to rid a man of his memory?"
"No doubt some woman has delayed his departure." Elliot was in need of a distraction. Prolonging the conversation forced him to abandon all memories of Grace's amorous declarations. "We'll know the answer if the air suddenly becomes choked with the smell of cheap perfume."
"It will be a wasted journey. It's unlikely we'll find anything of interest there?" Alexander threw his hands up when Evelyn flashed him an irate glare. "What? I am just being honest."
"Lord Hale is right," Grace said with a sigh. "I'm sure there'll be no one home, and it will all have been a complete waste of time."
Elliot was determined to find some useful piece of information this evening. His emotions felt like the over-tightened strings of a viola. One more, small incident and he would most likely snap. "Whether there's anyone home or not, I shall insist on searching inside the property."
Alexander snorted. "Well, if you smash the window don't think you're using my coat to muffle the sound. Not after the last time. I itch every time I wear it yet still can't find the source of my irritation."
"I have a discovered a new technique." Elliot couldn't help but grin as he imagined the scenario. "This time, I'll just need to borrow your hat."
Before Alexander could protest, the door flew open, and Leo climbed in. He settled down next to Evelyn and, despite appearing a little breathless, there were no telltale signs to suggest the reason for his delay.
"I swear, I have never met a man as stubborn as Lord Barrington." Leo exhaled loudly. "He is so obsessed with securing a mistress it took an age to persuade him otherwise. I was beginning to think I had lost my touch."
Elliot sat forward. "You are certain there will be no more trouble from him?"
"Yes. I've convinced him he needs a wife and sent him off in the direction of the wallflowers." Leo's playful expression turned to one of concern as he focused his attention on Elliot. "Are you fully recovered from your ordeal? I must say it is the first time I have ever seen you lose control like that. Normally, I'm the one raging from the rooftops."
Was he fully recovered?
Never in his life had he felt so close to murdering another. Pure, hot molten rage had coursed through his veins until all he could do was unleash the devil's own fury. It hadn't subsided completely. He still wanted to wring Barrington's neck. But he had recovered sufficiently to proceed with the night's planned event.
"I did not lose control," Elliot corrected. He had always been the one to offer advice, always the voice of reason. Though in truth, he scarce knew what to think anymore. When Grace had placed a tender kiss on his hideous features, all logical thought abandoned him. "Barrington deserved to be taught a lesson, and I was happy to oblige."
Leo cast him a smug grin. "If you say so. Although I'm relieved Mrs. Denton knew how to calm your volatile spirit."
I love you.
Grace's words invaded his thoughts — obliterating his barricade to demand his surrender.
Had she made the declaration just to calm him?
Was it simply her intention to cause a distraction?
"You said you knew where Mr. Henshaw resided," Elliot said in a bid to steer Leo away from revealing what he had heard. "Jump out and relay the instructions to Gibbs."
Leo gave a polite nod. "I've already told him. He's just waiting for your signal to depart."
Elliot thumped the carriage roof and braced himself as it lurched forward.