“Then despite my disagreement with what your vengeance will likely entail, I hope you meet with success as soon as possible.For though I cannot stand by you right now, I’d be proud to associate with the man you dream of becoming.”
Edward backed away from the bed, gave a short bow, and left the room.Adrian did not see him again before he departed the Mayfair home with Samantha, Alexandra, Murry, and Emma later that day.
With Finn O’Leary taken care of, it was time for him to return his attention to finding the scoundrel responsible for his sister’s murder.
32
Relief had lifted the weight from Sebastian’s soul and made it lighter.
Edwina was finally home.Safe and sound.
Croft had kept his word and returned her to him, for which he would be eternally grateful.But the haunted look in her eyes kept nagging at him.It squeezed his heart and made him want to tear the world apart at the seams.
He’d have liked to tear Murry to pieces as well for daring to think he had any right to delay her return.She belonged with her family, not with a good for nothing servant.Unfortunately, he’d only managed to deliver a few bruising punches to the man’s face before Croft pointed out that they needed him to take them to Edwina’s location.
The anger Sebastian saw in her eyes when Murry tried to apologize to her, only cemented his own belief that Croft’s valet had held her against her will.Honestly, Sebastian ought to have murdered him on the spot, but removing his sister from the hovel in which she’d been living was more important.
He crossed to the nearest window and looked out onto the Faintree Hall garden at where she presently strolled.Two footmen walked close behind, shadowing her every step of the way.
What had occurred would never happen again.Even when they were here, she’d remain under constant guard.
This was the only way in which to ensure his own peace of mind.
* * *
James sat before the kitchen fire, his thoughts on what had transpired in recent days.After leaving Marsdale House, rooms had been rented at Mivart’s hotel for a couple of nights.After that, a house on St.James’s Square became the new Croft residence, with escape ladders installed at each window prior to moving in.
Being reunited with the rest of the servants felt good.As though everything was returning to normal.Even the wound he’d sustained when O’Leary stabbed him had mostly healed.
The only thing that bothered him was Lady Edwina.
He couldn’t stop thinking about her.The accusative look in her eyes when she’d seen him last kept returning.He dreamt about it and woke feeling like he’d betrayed her once more.
For that was what he’d done, was it not?He’d sworn to her that he’d keep her safe and that he would not hand her over to Wrengate.Yet that was exactly what he had done in the end.He’d broken his promise for Croft, and as much as he tried to justify doing so, he couldn’t convince himself that he’d done the right thing.
“Are you well?”It was Mrs.Croft who eventually posed the question while he escorted her to the seamstress.A new wardrobe had been ordered for her to replace the clothes she’d lost in the fire.The same was true for the servants and for Mr.Croft as well.
James attempted to soften his expression.“Of course.Why do you ask?”
She stopped on the pavement and turned to face him.“Because you’re obviously moping.”
The turn of phrase produced a short laugh of surprise.“I most certainly am not.If I’ve been somber, it’s because of the tragic events we’ve been through.Susie’s funeral yesterday was difficult.”
“Agreed.But you are not the sort of man who lets tragedy take control of his life.You persevere, your sights set on what comes after.So I don’t think your despondency has anything to do with what you’re claiming.”
“Mrs.Croft.I—”
“If I were to guess, I’d blame Wrengate’s sister.”
He held her gaze a second too long before looking toward the shop where they’d been headed.“We should keep walking or you’ll be late for your appointment with the dressmaker.”
Mrs.Croft sighed but resumed her progress, allowing James to fall into step beside her.However, if he’d thought his comment would make her drop the subject she’d chosen to broach, he could not have been more mistaken.
They’d barely gone two more paces before she said, “My reasoning squares with the day when you and my husband escorted Wrengate to the house in which Lady Edwina was staying.When you returned, it looked almost as though you’d died inside, and you’ve been despondent ever since.”
He attempted a smile which felt horribly strained.“I did my duty.”
“Yes, but at what cost?”
