“I am not his competitor, Inspector,” Alex said. “I simply bought up the debts of a man threatening my sister. That is good business. Perhaps thisnunperson should have found a more solvent aristocrat to partner with.”
The inspector blinked. Then his expression darkened. “Is that the defense you plan to use when you are accosted in a dark alley? Or kidnapped and held for ransom? He knows you are a wealthy woman. I’ve made it clear to Margrave that Phoebe is in danger. Winifred as well,” he added with uncharacteristic urgency.
Winifred, is it?
But Alex did not needle him about when exactly he had seen her sister, as the man was obviously in distress. “I am not trying to be flippant,” she began, gentling her tone as much as she could. “And I promise to take your concerns to heart. But unless you can providesome kind of evidence that I am a target, I can’t very well upend my entire life simply because a criminal whomightbe in Londonmightdecide to confront me. Besides, this isn’t the first time I’ve angered a man over a business decision.”
“The Nun doesn’t do your kind of business, Miss Atkinson. He doesn’t follow the rule of law and isn’t interested in maintaining relationships. He casts people aside once they have served their purpose. And if someone gets in his way, he takes care of them. Permanently.” The inspector shoved his chair back. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” he growled.
She narrowed her eyes. This sounded personal for him. “And yet, you do.”
He avoided her gaze as he stood. “I came to you first as a courtesy,” he said, ignoring her comment. “But your father needs to hear this too.”
Alex sighed. “Fine. Do as you must.” Though she didn’t expect his reaction to be much different from her own. “But even if he is in London now, will he be caught? As I understand it, he avoided the police quite successfully for many years.”
Inspector Holland paused in the doorway and looked back at her. “Yes, because I intend to do it myself.” Then he left the room, but the cold certainty of his words hung in the air and Alex swore she felt a chill.
The Lyceum Theatre was full that evening for the production ofCymbelineand it seemed that nearly everyone wanted to stop by their box to say hello to her parents. Or Freddie. Or congratulate Phoebe and Will, who hadn’t arrived yet.
Alex toyed with the emerald bracelet on her wrist as she watched the entrance. Normally she eschewed jewelry, but Mother had insisted it went perfectly with her gown. For once, Alex was grateful for her mother’s jewelry box. This blasted bracelet was the only thing stopping her from pacing the room.
“Alex,” her mother suddenly hissed by her ear. “You’ll damage the clasp if you keep that up.”
“Sorry,” she murmured and forced her hands by her sides.
Mother’s eyes softened. “He’ll come, darling. Don’t worry.”
As she patted her arm, Alex bit her lip. Mother thought she was simply nervous to see her new beau, not because she might have ruined their little sham.
If he had already come to an agreement with Benjamin, he wouldn’t need her anymore anyway. Unless she was willing to sue him for breach of contract, there wasn’t much she could do to hold him to their arrangement. And she wasn’t nearly desperate enough to do that. But the mere thought of finding another man to take his place was exhausting. And unappealing. She wasn’tgoodat this courting nonsense. And it irked her to no end. Perhaps Benjamin had been right all those years ago.
I am youronlyoption, darling. No other man will put up with you.
Her fingers clenched and she was seconds away from breaking the clasp altogether when a shadow appeared in the doorway.
Alex’s chest tightened, but it was only Will with Phoebe on his arm. Her sister was distracted, but Alex’s eyes locked with Will’s and he must have seen the flash of disappointment on her face. While Phoebe broke off to greet some dowager friend of their mother’s, Will ambled over to her.
“A pleasure to see you too,” he quipped.
Alex leaned over to give him her cheek. “I’m sorry. I thought you were Lucien.”
After giving her a friendly peck, Will pulled back. “He isn’t here?”
“Not yet,” Alex rasped.
His eyes searched her face. “Is everything all right?”
The soft note of concern in his voice struck a place deep within her belly and Alex had to swallow before she answered. “Yes. Well, no. I don’t know,” she added miserably.
He began to respond but she shook her head. They couldn’t talk about this. Not now. Her sisters were approaching.
“Let me fetch you all some champagne,” Will said as Phoebe and Freddie joined them.
“Thank you, my love,” Phoebe said with a smile sweet enough to hurt Alex’s teeth.
“And do be quick about it, Will.” Freddie gestured to her half-full glass. “I’ll soon be in need of another.”
Alex resisted the urge to frown in disapproval as Will gave a mocking bow. “I am ever at your disposal, Freddie.”
