“Perhaps. But it is still not as beautiful as you.”
The words left his mouth before he could stop them. He did not regret them. Though, he did inwardly curse his lack of control when it seemed to break the spell, causing Belle to look away.
“Why are you here, Westfield? You must be aware how improper it is.”
His mouth settled into a grim line, but he attempted to keep his tone light. “I have decided to take up residence.”
Her head snapped back to him in surprise before anger flashed in her stormy blue eyes. “No.”
“It’s already done.”
“And what does my aunt have to say about that?”
“I did not think to ask her.” He held up his hand when she would have protested. “Your brothers aren’t here to offer their protection and your aunt can hardly stand upright. Until this madman is found, I will arrive in the evenings and leave before the crack of dawn.”
Belle huffed. “That cursed skunk-breathed man will only be found if he wishes to be discovered. We must lure him out.”
“Skunk-breathed?” he chuckled. He was pleased to see he’d tempted a responding smile from her lips.
“I enjoy insulting him in creative ways whenever possible.”
“I approve. But we will find him, Belle. He will not get a chance to come near you again.”
“I am to be the bait. It is not as simple as continuing with my daily routine.”
His heart lurched in his chest. Her life would be in danger every day until this lunatic was caught.
“You will not be bait. No, that is an awful plan. Why not remain in your room until the scoundrel is found, instead?”
Yes, that sounded like the best plan to him.
She shook her head, a blond curl falling over her eyes.
His hand twitched, aching to smooth it back.
“You can forget about controlling me. I’m not some delicate miss you can lock away in her room at any sign of danger.”
“If only you were,” he muttered, before more loudly asking, “Did you love him?”
The question had been burning inside him since she confessed her part. Her soft sigh was like a vise grip on his heart.
“At the time, I thought I did, but I was still mourning the death of my parents and eager for an adventure to distract me…I think I would have loved a toothless pirate back then.”
Simon snorted. “Your brothers should not have abandoned you for their own adventures.”
“Bradford and Quinn had tomanagetheir grief in their own way. I do not blame them as much as I blame myself.”
Simon did not agree, but he did not continue to argue the point. So much about Belle made sense to him now. “That bastard is the reason you remain unmarried, isn’t he?”
Silence met his statement. He plunged forward into the rest of his suspicions. “It was your blood the authorities found, your scream they heard.”
He caught the slight flinch of her face before she stiffened.
“My apologies, I did not mean to make you uncomfortable. It’s just that you clutched your middle when you said he stabbed you. It looked as though you’d seen a ghost or were reliving a horror. You truly almost died, did you not?” the last said in a low whisper.
“When you state it like that it sounds just horrible.”
“But it is true, is it not?” he pressed.
