“You swear this?”
A firm nod.“I do.Upon my honor.”
It wasn’t what Adrian wanted.In fact, it was nowhere near good enough, but he’d allow it since he did not expect Wrengate to return from Deerhaven Manor for several days either.Besides which, the loyalty Murry had provided during his years of service had been beyond reproach — until now.
A point that brought something else to mind.“You returned of your own free will when you might have remained in hiding instead.Why?”
“Because I heard of the fire and felt compelled to lend whatever assistance you may require.”
An honest response yet somewhat disappointing.“So you would have stayed away otherwise.And what?Tried to make a life for yourself with Lady Edwina?”
“No.I believe the end result would have been the same, with her returning home to her brother’s care.”He held Adrian’s gaze, the acknowledgement of his own worth like stubborn flames burning bright in his eyes.“She would have realized the sense in this eventually since she has no means by which to get by without his support.”
True.
Adrian mulled that over for a brief second before dismissing the problem pertaining to Lady Edwina.There were other, immediate concerns for him to consider.
To Edward he said, “I believe this is where I ought to excuse myself from your company.There are matters I need to discuss with Murry.You don’t want any part of that conversation, my friend.”
“You’re going to do something foolish, aren’t you?”Annoyance showed in the creases on Edward’s brow.
“No,” Adrian told him.“I’m going to do what is necessary.”
“By hunting down Finn O’Leary yourself?”Edward scoffed.“That is what you intend to do, is it not?”
“If you don’t mind, I’ll make use of your library,” Adrian said, ignoring the question and the argument it would most likely lead to.
“You have a family to consider,” Edward pressed.“Think of Samantha and Alexandra.What happens to them if this goes sideways and you get injured?Or, God forbid, worse.”
“My concern,” Adrian gritted, “is for when O’Leary strikes again.And the risk that he will meet with greater success when he does.My wife and daughter were asleep last night when he attacked.It’s a blessing they’re still alive.So if you think I’ll sit around waiting for him to make another attempt on their lives or mine, you’re gravely mistaken.”
“Adrian…”
“I realize you cannot be implicated in what happens next, which is why I intend to keep you out of it.So you can have plausible deniability, should you need it.And so your conscience remains clear.”
“Fine.”Edward crossed his arms.“But I expect you to keep my wife out of this too.”
“Absolutely,” Adrian promised.“You have my word on that.As a gentleman.”
Edward’s lips twitched with the barest hint of amusement.They both knew Adrian was anything but.
29
The sun was sinking below the London rooftops, casting them in shades of red and orange.Traffic was light at this hour while most people ate their supper.A drizzle left water droplets on the carriage window, distorting the view of gaslit streets.
Adrian’s earlier conversation with Murry had served as a reminder of how well they worked together.Were it not for the man’s recent act of insubordination…
Adrian stared across at where he sat on the bench diagonally across from him.Darkness concealed the bruising on Murry’s face, but Adrian could still see it.Worse, he felt wrong about letting his anger hurt someone he cared for.
His gut tightened with discomfort.Murry had chosen to betray him.Deliberately.He’d gotten what he deserved.Less, even, when compared with what had been done to other men who had been disloyal.If Papa were still alive, Murry would have been dead by now.
And yet, there was no dismissing the longing Adrian had to forgive and forget.To simply move on from this moment and put it behind him.
He turned his attention away from his valet, his thoughts in turmoil.What did it say about him if he could not deliver the punishment people expected?What did it mean for the continuation of the Croft name?
Yes, his ultimate goal had always been to exchange this life for a more peaceful one in the country.To be ‘normal’.But that could only happen once he unmasked the man behind his sister’s murder.Until then, he could not risk appearing weak.
But did he have to sacrifice Murry in order to save his own reputation?
