With Cassandra’s help, Seth settled into a chair. She poured him a cup of coffee; he held it in one hand and held her hand with the other.
“What’s all of that, Caroline?”
“Aunt Valentine is running a campaign for you,” Caroline spread the cards across the table. “You have letters, well wishes, gifts. Everyone wants to be your friend.” She lifted an ivory card. “This one is from Colonel Bishop, thanking you for saving Cassandra’s life.”
He scowled. “Burn it.”
Davis rapped a knuckle against the doorway to signal his presence. “Lord Blackmoor has arrived.”
“Show him in,” Cooper spoke through his paper.
“To the breakfast room, my lord?”
“ItisSaturday, Davis,” Cooper reminded him. “This is a family breakfast. Show him in.”
Dressed in a black morning coat, Adrian entered the room. He surveyed the table’s occupants one at a time before his gaze settled onCooper. “Perhaps we could speak privately?”
Cooper folded the paper, placed it on the table, then gestured to the empty chair next to Caroline. “Have a seat.”
Adrian stood unmoving.
Pouring himself another cup of tea, Cooper explained, “Here’s what will happen if we have a ‘private’ conversation, Blackmoor. Reeves will tell Cassandra whatever you say tonight while they’repreoccupiedwith each other.” His lips curled in distaste and Cassandra blushed the prettiest shade of red. “Caroline will have a glass to one of these walls.” Caroline’s blush matched her sister’s. Cooper gestured to Mr. Sanderson, who shrugged. “Zeke somehow knows everything before we do. Shall we conduct this conversation in the most efficient manner?”
Adrian’s gaze shifted to Trevor.
“Trevor can keep quiet,” Seth said. “Can’t you, Trevor?”
Trevor nodded, then returned to writing his letter.
“Very well.” Adrian sat in the empty seat next to Caroline, who placed a scone on a plate, pushed it in front of him, and poured him a cup of tea.
She smiled. “Two sugars, no cream.”
The porcelain teacup disappeared in his hand as he lifted it to his lips. He thanked her before turning to Seth.
“Tracking down a custom made pistol after an arms competition has proven to be…”—he paused as he searched for the word—“unfruitful.”
“One day, I would like it if you gave us somegoodnews, Blackmoor.” Cooper looked at Seth. “You still don’t remember anything, Reeves?”
Details were coming back to him, but the memory of the faceless man was not there, only a vivid image of the pistol pointed at them, and that was the same as having nothing.
“Not since yesterday.” Seth turned to Adrian. “You said you’d have a strategy?”
Adrian took a sip of tea before responding. “With your reintroduction to society, we wait and see if the culprit comes out on his own.”
Seth blinked. The table went silent.
“Am I hearing this correctly?” Cooper bit out. “The strategy is ‘wait and see’?”
“I’ll provide security, you won’t even know that they’re there.” Adrian took a bite of the scone. “I also recommend arming yourselves.”
“Arming ourselves?” Cooper’s voice rose. “If your security is as good as you say, there’s no reason for that.”
Seth squeezed Cassandra’s hand, meeting her eyes before he turned back to Cooper. “I agree with Adrian.”
Incredulous, Cooper’s gaze narrowed in on Seth’s. “You wereshot,Reeves, and now you’re going to carry agunaround London? Do you know how preposterous that sounds?”
“If I had been armed, I wouldn’t have been shot!” Seth set his jaw. “I won’t be caught off guard again. I’m not taking any chances with Cassandra’s life.”
