Morgan sighed. “I know. But I’ve been needing something to care about. Something to take my mind off Anne.”
“I just don’t want to see Fiona hurt,” Adrian reiterated.
“I don’t either,” Morgan said forcefully. “Please believe that I’ll do everything I can to help her, to take some of the load of Brookhaven off you both.”
Adrian shook his head. “I won’t tell you about her past. To tell you the truth, I really don’t know much about what happened before we met. I didn’t ask. I just assumed if she ever wanted to talk about it, she would. However, I can tell you that Brookhaven couldn’t function without her. All I really do is write checks. She’s been in charge of budgeting, hiring, paying all the bills.” He waved a hand. “She’s done it all since she was little more than a child herself.”
“Can you at least tell me how you met her?” Morgan asked.
Adrian shook his head, a troubled look on his face. “No, I don’t think that I can. Not without giving too much away. If she’s truly your friend, then you’ll have to get her to tell you herself.”
Morgan frowned, realizing that the answer that made the most sense was that Adrian had rescued her, the way he’d rescued so many others. But he didn’t really want to believe that and decided to change tactics. “I’ve been very impressed by both her management skills and the way she interacts with the children. It’s even more impressive when you consider she was never trained in these things.”
A rare smile curved Adrian’s lips. “I’m glad you see that. And since you realize how important she is to the entire operation, I’m trusting you not to do anything to ruin it.”
“That’s the last thing I want.” He drummed his fingers on his chair arm, finally giving voice to the question that had been haunting him. “Can you at least tell me if she’s involved with anyone romantically? If so, could that be Prometheus? Is that why she’s protecting him?”
Adrian shook his head. “I can’t say for sure. I’ve never meddled in her personal life. But she spends so much time at Brookhaven, I can’t imagine that she’d have time for a romantic relationship.”
Morgan leaned back in his chair, knowing he’d gotten everything he was going to out of his brother, who was tight-lipped under the best of circumstances. The mere fact that Adrian was so protective of Fiona spoke very highly of her. He’d have to be content with that and hope that eventually, he’d get the answers he needed from Fiona herself.
A short silence fell between them, but then, Adrian stood and crossed the room, staring out the window at the street below. “I have some other news,” he said at last.
Picking up on the tension in his twin’s shoulders, Morgan found himself leaning forward again. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“I’m not sure how accurate this information is, and I haven’t had a chance to talk to Lucien yet, but I still keep some informants, and this morning, the one at the docks told me he thinks he saw Roger arriving in town a week or so ago.”
“Roger?” Rage surged within Morgan as he pushed to his feet, crossing the room to join his brother at the window. “Do you think it’s true?”
“I don’t know,” Adrian said, his voice rough with anger. “I’ve dispatched men to some of his old haunts, but none of them have returned yet.”
“I can’t believe that bastard would even think about returning after everything he did,” Morgan said, trying to control the fury that just the mention of his stepbrother’s name still caused. “What do you think he’s up to?”
“I don’t know, but I’m sure it’s nothing good.” Adrian turned away from the window with a shrug. “My man may be wrong, but I think it would be wise to keep up your guard.”
Morgan nodded, his emotions still rioting within him. “I have a few leads to follow, but please, let me know what you find out.”
“I will,” Adrian promised.
As Morgan turned to leave, Adrian caught his arm. “If he’s back, I’m going to kill him. I won’t let him get away with what he’s done to us.”
“I know,” Morgan said quietly, feeling no need to talk his brother out of such a course of action, not after all the bastard had done. “Thank you.”
* * *
AFTER A LONG MORNINGof dead ends and wrong turns, Morgan finally tracked down the driver of the hack that he believed had transported Prometheus and Ginny to Brookhaven. The driver had just finished his day and was having a pint in a small, ancient tavern, sitting all alone in the corner. As described, he was a portly man in his forties with a shock of dark hair and a bushy mustache.
“Are you Tucker?” Morgan asked, approaching him warily. He’d spent a fortune paying for the information that had brought him here, but he didn’t really trust that he’d been given the truth. Also, he knew his clothing and posh accent stuck out like a sore thumb in this establishment.
The man frowned and took a deep swig of his gin. “Who’s asking?”
“My name’s Morgan Strathmore,” Morgan said. “Do you mind if I sit and have a pint with you?”
“Only if you’re buying,” the man replied grudgingly.
Morgan sat down in the cracked leather seat and gestured for the serving girl. He waited until she’d brought him a pint of the swill they served here and had given Tucker another before he tried to talk to the man.
“Did you pick up a fare in the East End last night and take him and a child to Brookhaven orphanage?” he finally asked.
