"I'd bet on it," Bradford stated. "He has a powerful motive, Caroline. Greed. The marquis is going to settle quite a bit of money on you. He changed his will and only then told his brother what he had done. Thank God for that," he muttered. "Your uncle Franklin would have killed him otherwise."
"What about Loretta?" Caroline asked. "Do you think she's in on it?" She was horrified just thinking about the vile twosome, remembering how Loretta had flirted with Bradford the night of her father's dinner party.
"She has accumulated vast gambling debts and is desperate for money. The lenders have her vouchers and are waiting for the marquis to die."
"You mean she promised them my uncle Milo's money?" Caroline was outraged. "Well, you've answered my question! Of course she's in on it. The woman has absolutely no morals!"
"Franklin must have overheard your father telling the marquis what happened, and he's using that information to escape suspicion."
Caroline shook her head. "I don't understand."
"You've showed the letter to Milford and me, and your father is still alive to tell what happened back then. Franklin has set it up to look like a case of revenge. That's why the date is important. If something happened to you on the twentieth, it ties up in a nice little package for Franklin."
Bradford's tone of voice was mild but his eyes showed his anger. Caroline trembled and felt goosebumps cover her arms. He saw her reaction and drew her down on top of him. "God, I hope I'm right and it is Franklin. Never did like the bastard!"
"We'll find out soon enough," Caroline whispered.
"Don't be frightened, love. I've waited all my life for you. I'll not let anyone harm you."
"I know you'll protect me," Caroline answered. She kissed him on the chin. "I always feel safe with you, except when you're yelling at me, of course."
"I never yell at you," Bradford replied, smiling, knowing full well he lied.
Caroline returned his smile. Her stomach grumbled. "I'm hungry," she told her husband.
Bradford deliberately chose to misunderstand her meaning. He told her he was hungry, too, and kissed her quite thoroughly. And then he rolled her onto her back and began to make love to her. Caroline thought to explain that she was hungry for dinner, but the explanation got lost somewhere in the back of her mind. Dinner could wait a while longer. Besides, Caroline told herself, she was always an obedient wife.
Chapter Fourteen
Bradford's disposition changed overnight. His voice was curt, his manner brisk. Caroline understood that he was concentrating on his plan to trap Franklin and wasn't at all concerned.
Neither Bradford nor Milford excluded her from their discussions. Milford was certainly astonished when Caroline told him what had happened to her almost fifteen years ago, but he wasn't fully convinced that Franklin was using the information to get to Caroline. He cautioned his friend, stating that there could well be a relative out for revenge.
The three were seated in the drawing room, discussing the issue. Bradford patiently waited for Milford to finish with his theories, and then countered with his own arguments.
"I don't think that Franklin knew about Caroline's past when he pushed her down the stairs. I also think he arranged the carriage accident before his twisted mind formed the plan of revenge."
"But if that's true, then Uncle Milo would have had to tell Franklin," Caroline argued, shaking her head.
"Caroline, your Uncle Franklin wouldn't let up on trying to discredit you in his older brother's eyes. I believe that the marquis tried to defend you and told his brother what happened."
Bradford shrugged, concentrating on his theories, and continued, "Franklin didn't think you'd be killed falling down the steps, love, but he wanted to frighten you. He assumed that you'd tell your father. Most daughters would," he added. "When you didn't, he arranged the carriage mishap. He knew you were riding with Milford and me, remember?"
Caroline nodded. "Yes! I do remember. Uncle Milo told us that my father had decided who was to ride with… and that Franklin had disappeared," she added. "I was so angry with you, Bradford, that I didn't think anything of his sudden disappearance."
"Why were you angry with Brad?" Milford asked, trying to follow the conversation.
"Nigel Crestwall was all over her and I got a little carried away," Bradford admitted.
"A little carried away?" Caroline asked her husband.
Bradford shrugged, dismissing the subject. "I think that Franklin was certain one of us would report the mishap to your father. All he wanted then was for you to go back to Boston. His brother would be furious all over again, and write you out of the will. See how simple it all is?"
Milford nodded, seeing the logic of his friend's thinking. "You must have been another frustration for Franklin," he commented. "Everyone knew that you meant to have Caroline."
Bradford was about to answer his friend's remark when Caroline interrupted. "This is all speculation, but if it is true, then isn't Uncle Milo in jeopardy too?"
Bradford nodded. He had wondered how long it would take his wife to reach that conclusion and knew full well what her next thought would be.
"We must return to London," Caroline stated.
"It isn't safe," Milford countered, frowning. "Besides, if Brad is right, the marquis has to be kept alive until you're-" he broke off, realizing he wasn't being very delicate.
Caroline nodded. "Until I've been murdered?" She turned to her husband then and said, "You can think of a way for me to be safe in London."
She was surprised when her husband nodded agreement; "You'll be very safe," he announced. "We'll leave at dawn."
"Brad, use your head! There's just four days left now, and regardless of how you argue that Franklin is the guilty one, you're not absolutely sure."
"How do you know he isn't sure?" Caroline asked Milford.
"It's simple," Milford returned. "If he was certain, Franklin would be dead now."
Caroline looked shocked, following Milford's line of reasoning.
"Do you honestly believe that your husband would allow him to live?" Now Milford looked shocked.
"Don't worry her," Bradford interrupted. He took his wife into his arms and kissed the top of her head. "We have to go to London to set our trap."
As soon as Caroline was safely tucked inside their London townhouse, Bradford sent a note to her father, requesting an immediate interview.
Caroline was so exhausted from the long journey that she fell asleep on the settee, and Bradford carried her upstairs and put her to bed. She didn't learn what her father had told her husband until the following morning. Then he confirmed that her father had told the marquis the true reason for sending her to Boston.
"Can we go to see Uncle Milo?" Caroline asked.
"I insist on it," Bradford returned. He saw his wife's surprised look and smiled. "Franklin is cooped up with his mistress but Loretta's there. I'm going to mention that we're returning to Bradford Hills on the morning of the twentieth."
"How do you know that Franklin's with a mistress and Loretta-"
"Caroline, credit me with a little common sense," he returned. "I've had men trailing the two of them for a long time now."
"Are you certain that Loretta's in on it?" Caroline asked, getting decidedly nervous.
Bradford sighed and slowly nodded his head. "Go and get ready," he suggested.
Caroline rushed up the steps but Bradford halted her with his comment. "Sweetheart? Try not to look too surprised when you see your uncle's newest employee."
"And who might that be?" Caroline asked, puzzled by his statement.
"Your father's former cook."
"Marie? Are you serious?" Caroline grabbed hold of the banister rail, her eyes wide with the ramifications of what Bradford was suggesting. "Good Lord! She could have poisoned us all… why didn't she?"