"What have you looking like a content, overfed cat?" Mary looked at Rain with mirth glittering in her eyes as she reached over and picked up a cucumber sandwich from the plate set out on the table for their little garden gathering.

"I reckon it's related to Winterbourne living back home," Olivia said with a grin.

It was difficult not to blush, and Rain wasn't entirely sure she managed. The previous night had been glorious. More than glorious. What was better than glorious? Wonderful? It didn't matter. Whatever word she used, she knew she wanted to experience it again. Soon. Maybe tonight. She looked down at her cup as she stirred milk into the tea. Perhaps she could convince Marcus to go further, though she wasn't sure how much further they could go without risking consummating their marriage.

"I fear our friend is holding out on us," Mary said with a wink at Olivia.

"Most definitely. It is not permitted."

They both looked at Rain, staring her down. She laughed. "I will admit to enjoying having Winterbourne at home, but that is all I will say on the matter."

"Ugh! Boring!" Olivia threw herself backwards in her chair. "You really must entertain your unmarried friends with tales of the sordid deeds you get to do with your husband. Let us live vicariously through you."

"That is hardly proper." Rain continued stirring her tea, feigning disinterest.

Mary scoffed. "When have any of us ever been proper?"

"What good has proper ever done any of us?" Olivia complained. "Maybe we should be brazen like your sister. Nick doesn't let anyone keep her from doing what she wants. Or propriety keep her from telling a man how she feels."

"Nick has her own insecurities," Rain mumbled. "She's just better at hiding them. But truly, I cannot tell unmarried ladies what happens in the marital bed."

Her friends sat up more straight and shared a look. Mary cleared her throat.

"But you are saying that you are, in fact, in the same bed?"

Cheeks burning, Rain nodded and was immediately rewarded by a joyful shriek. It was gratifying having two friends so staunchly in her corner. She had never told them why she and Marcus were not talking, but they had been fully aware that the two stayed away from one another. Never sharing a home, even less so a bed.

"Silly girls," she muttered, but she couldn't hold back a smile at their delight.

"We are happy for you," Mary said, and leaning forward slightly, she took Rain's hand and met her gaze. "All we want is for you to be happy. You have put a brave face on for two years, but to us who know you well, it has been obvious that the distance between you and Winterbourne has grated on you."

"Exactly." Olivia nodded. "Whatever the reason for your estrangement, I am glad to see the two of you together now. It was always clear how much he adored you."

"Even with that expressionless face of his." Mary giggled. "Even then, the way he looked at you during your courtship was nothing short of adoration."

"And we know you love him," Olivia continued. "You were so very much in love when you wed. It was heartbreaking to see you apart so soon after the wedding."

Rain stared down into her tea. Had Marcus's feelings been so clear even to her friends? Perhaps he had been telling her the truth all along. He said he would have married her without her dowry or the bets. Even without a declaration of love, she had to admit she believed he cared for her. And maybe that was enough? Maybe it had to be enough.

Because after spending this time with him—sharing eight kisses—the future she had painted for herself without him didn't look nearly as appealing anymore. Living alone in her cottage seemed a lonely existence compared to nights potentially filled with passion.

Marcus walked through the garden, the grass crunching under his shoes. Whenever he wasn't sure where his wife was, he could almost be certain to find her outside. Either tending to the roses or having tea in what he had begun to think of as her outside parlour. The way the bushes and trees arched in over the table and chairs, it wasn't a far-fetched idea. Rain looked like a garden sprite where she sat with her friends under the greenery, her hair piled in a simple chignon at the back of her head with a few wisps hanging loosely around her face.

As he approached them, they looked up and Rain's face immediately lit up with a smile.

"Marcus!" she said and patted the chair next to her. "Why don't you join us for a cup of tea? Though I fear it may have cooled by now. Would you like me to call for another pot?"

"No, that is all right. Thank you." He bowed to her friends. Ms Olivia Newton and Lady Mary Kinson. They appeared to be her constant companions other than her sister.

"Did you want anything in particular?" Rain asked, not unpleasantly. But he would not normally disturb her when she entertained.

"With Mr Winter away, there is something I must tend to," he said, unable to say more in present company. That he and Winter owned and operated the Rose Agency was not public knowledge, and would hopefully never be so. "But I hoped that when I return, we could go for a picnic in the garden and forego dinner?"

Her eyes widened as she stared up at him. He could hear her friends whisper between them, but he only had eyes for his wife.

Finally, she nodded, her face softening in a smile. "That sounds lovely."

"Great. I will see you later." Without thinking, he leaned down and placed a kiss on the corner of her mouth. It was rather scandalous to do so with an audience, but he doubted her friends would tell anyone. And they were married. He was hardly the first husband to kiss his wife in front of others.

With a nod towards Mr Russell who hovered a little further into the garden—close enough to keep an eye on Rain, but far enough to give the women some privacy—Marcus returned inside. An agent at the agency had requested assistance with something, and with Winter out of town with Nick Howerty, it was up to Marcus to deal with it. When he returned, he planned to woo his wife with a romantic picnic. He had already spoken to his cook and housekeeper to set everything up.

His plans to woo Rain had stalled when everything happened and they had focused on her getting well, but he wanted to try now. He had to try now. Last night had been amazing and had only reinforced the growing feeling that he did not want to let her go. He needed to convince her to stay with him. Forever.

After telling a footman to have his horse readied, he walked down to the kitchens to make sure everything was ready, or getting ready, for the picnic.

"Your Grace!" Mrs Lee, the cook, bobbed a curtsy as he entered the kitchen. Her helpers all scurried out of the way as he made his way to where she was stirring a pot. "Your Grace really should not come down here. He makes the staff nervous."

It wasn't the first time the cook had admonished him for this, but she was smiling as she did. He suspected that she secretly enjoyed having a master of the house who showed up in her domain. Marcus might not keep the best track of the agents at the Rose Agency, often leaving it to Winter's capable hands, but he took pride in knowing his servants and every farmer and tenant on his lands. They were as integral to the household and estate as anyone else, and he wanted to show them he knew that.

"If you did not cook such delicious food, I might be less likely to come and steal it," he said as he picked up a piece of cold roast chicken. "Is this for the picnic?"

Mrs Lee tutted as he took a bite of the succulent meat. "Yes." She raised her finger to wag it at him. "So you better not eat all of it before the picnic or your wife may go hungry."

"You would never allow that." He nearly smiled as the cook rolled her eyes, knowing she had been defeated. With her wiry, grey hair, Mrs Lee had been with his family for as long as he could remember. She ruled the kitchens with an iron fist, demanding the best from the staff but also treating them all fairly. He always thought she'd have made an excellent general, had women been allowed in the army. She could bark out orders, and woe betide anyone who did not immediately follow them.

"If you are here to check up on me," the cook said. "I can confirm everything will be ready for the picnic. We have a little of everything, so no one should go hungry. Not even a large man such as yourself."

"Appreciate that."

The shrill whistle of a teapot rang out over the kitchen, and Mrs Lee swept it off the hob. "Nora!" she called. "The water is hot. Put it in the nice pot and bring it out to Her Grace and her guests with some new teacups. Add a few biscuits as well."

The young maid hurried over and grabbed the pot, taking it over to a table where she was preparing a tray to go outside.

"Nora," Marcus said, realising he had not seen her for some time. "How is your mother? I heard she was poorly?"

Her eyes would not meet his as she poured the hot water into the porcelain teapot on the tray, the tray rattling as the pots clinked together in her shaking hands. Not wanting to see her scalding herself, Marcus stepped in and took the pot from her.

"Allow me."

"Your Grace!" Nora gasped. "Please, no."

He smiled wryly as he quickly filled the teapot. "Not to worry, Nora. I am capable of pouring some water."

She glanced between him and the cook, wringing her hands. With a sinking feeling, he hoped he had not got her in trouble by stepping in. He had only wanted to ensure no one got burnt by hot water. Trying to ease the tension, he smiled again. "I am glad to see you back. Is your mother better now?"

"Y... Yes. Thank you, Your Grace." Nora curtsied. "She was in a bad way, but she is much better now and no longer requires my constant presence."

"I am glad to hear it. Please, if there is anything we can do to help, let us know." He turned to Mrs Lee. "Could we perhaps send a basket of food home with Nora the next time she visits her mother?"

"Naturally, Your Grace." The cook nodded.

"You... You are too kind." The young woman's blue eyes watered. "Too kind, indeed."

"It's nothing." Marcus ran a hand through his hair, shifting from one foot to the other. He never did well with emotional women. Or men. Emotions, really. "I would do the same for anyone who works here. Ask Mrs Lee."

"That he would," the cook confirmed with a smile. "When my Harry was poorly, he gave me a full month off to tend to him. With full pay, no less."

The confirmation had the opposite effect to what Marcus had expected, as Nora began crying. "I am sorry!" she wailed. "So so sorry! I didn't want to do it, but they made me!"

His stomach dropped, and a chill travelled along his spine. "What's that, Nora?" he asked, his voice a little sharper than intended.

Mrs Lee had reacted as well, coming over to grab the younger woman's upper arms and staring into her face. "Nora!" she said pointedly. "Pull yourself together. What are you talking about?"

"They said they would see my mum dead if I didn't do as they said." Tears streamed down Nora's face as she turned her face to meet Marcus's eyes. "I never wanted to hurt her! I was so relieved when she was all right."

"What's that?" Mrs Lee let go of her as if she was touching something foul, and the young woman staggered backwards.

"Nora," Marcus said slowly. "Are you saying that you are the one who poisoned my wife?"

Through loud sobs, the maid nodded. Both Marcus and Mrs Lee let out a curse. The cook recovered quicker than Marcus from the shock and wagged her finger at the maid. "You had better calm down and tell us everything right now!"

Nora nodded, and after a few deep breaths, she had calmed herself enough to look at them again. She wiped the tears off her face with the sleeve of her dress. "They... They gave me a powder and told me to put it in any drinks consumed by Her Grace. I didn't know what it was, but I knew it was nothing good."

"It was opium," Marcus bit out. "Who made you do this?"

"I..." She stared down at the floor, her shoulders sloped, dejected. "I never saw them. They only met me at night, wearing a cloak with a hood, so their face remained in darkness."

That sounded a lot like the man who had attacked Rain outside the Leightons' house. "Have they been in contact with you again?"

"No. I left to help my mum shortly after." Nora drew a shuddering breath. "I will go pack my things."

"Don't be silly." His words made her head jerk up, her eyes large. "I will not fire you for being blackmailed. You were protecting your mother. Whoever is behind this obviously has no conscience, and I have no doubt he would have followed through with his threat."

Nora's face crumpled as she began crying again. This time with relief.

"However," Marcus said, making her look back at him again, her face puffy. "If he comes back to you again, I want you to tell me. I can help. We can keep your mum—and you—safe. But I need you to promise me you will instantly tell me if they contact you."

"Absolutely!" She wiped her face again, this time with a handkerchief handed to her by Mrs Lee. "I will come to you straight away, Your Grace. I... I am so sorry I did not do so the first time. They... I was so scared."

"Of course. Anyone would be. Just remember, I have ways of dealing with these things." With a final nod to the two women, Marcus left the kitchen, determination fuelling his steps as he made it to the front door to go to the agency. It was time to employ a few more agents on this case. Bloody hell.

~~~~~~