Page 86 of The Viscount of Shadows

“The news?” Oliver said, not taking his eyes off Claudia.

“Oh, right you are. Mitchell has been stabilized, but Drew worries infection will set in. The bullet damaged some tendons, which may mean a longer recovery. He also lost a lot of blood, but it did not nick a major artery. Drew will know more tomorrow.”

“Oh, poor Mitchell. He jumped in front of Oliver. He is a hero in my eyes, as are you both. Running into danger to save Bryan,” Claudia stated.

“And you, Claudia,” Rett replied. “You did not hesitate to volunteer. Anyway, Drew will be here shortly to look in on Bryan. I went to the police station, and they informed me a body was discovered in the pub’s basement, burnt beyond all recognition. There is no way to tell if it was Danaher. They are assuming it is him and closing the book on the case.”

“I do not see how he could have escaped that,” Oliver mused. “The building and the fire fell on top of him. Did the fire spread?”

Rett shook his head. “Not far. The shack next door is gone, and another condemned building on the other side of it sustained damage. But the fire brigade got the fire under control quickly. This will be the death knell for Notting Dale.”

“Perhaps sooner than the city committee planned. Did the police inspect the basement area?” Oliver asked.

Rett cocked an eyebrow. “I don’t believe so. They took out the corpse and departed. Why?”

“I do not know. A nagging feeling Danaher somehow escaped his fate? It is not possible. Danaher’s men?”

“Scattered. What the police have planned next for the area? They did not share the information with me. I spoke to Inspector Stanhope, Mitchell’s boss. He was not best pleased by the whole affair. As long as Mitchell sticks to his story of holding a training exercise nearby and acting once the gunshots rang out, he should escape unscathed. Well, except for his injury.”

Oliver clutched Claudia’s hand. “We will go see Mitchell as soon as we can, and I will put in a good word with the inspector. I imagine a viscount and heir to an earl has some sway.”

“All of a sudden, I am exhausted. It is nearly midnight. I should head to Olivia’s and Gideon’s,” Claudia yawned. Fatigue covered her like a rogue wave. All she wanted was sleep.

Oliver kissed her hand. “Come, I will escort you there.”

After saying her goodnights to Rett, they were off in the carriage. Claudia curled up in Oliver’s arms, sighing contentedly.

“I would like to pick you up at nine sharp tomorrow morning if you are available,” Oliver said softly.

“Hmm. Is it a surprise?”

“Yes, of a sort.”

Oliver kissed her tenderly when the carriage stopped before the Watford residence. “Dream of me tonight, for I will be dreaming of you.”

“Oh, yes.”

Oliver assisted her out of the carriage and walked her to the door. Then he kissed her hand. “Sweet dreams.”

“Sweet but heated,” she whispered.

Oliver laughed and blew her a kiss as he headed toward the carriage.

Never had Claudia been so happy.

As promised, Oliver arrived at nine sharp. Sitting close to Oliver, his arm about her, Claudia stared out the window as the carriage turned onto Harrow Road.

“Can you not tell me the surprise?”

“This isn’t it, but I asked Rett to locate the washerwoman while I recovered. It took some doing, but he found her. She was alone with her three children, with no money or food. Her husband, Charlie, one of Danaher’s minions, after being released from the police cells, left for points unknown.”

“Oh, no. That poor woman,” Claudia murmured.

“I agree. We had Mrs. Nettles and her children moved out of Notting Dale. She has a sister in the East End, so Rett saw that she was settled near her family with some money and a decent job while she recovered from her broken arm.”

“I am so pleased. As I said, you and your cousin are heroes.”

Oliver kissed the top of her head. “Here we are.”