Quiet acceptance, quiet empathy.
Both flowed around him like liquid gold.
His fingers curled, gripping hers again; warmth blossomed in his chest. After a moment, he went on, “But that’s all in the past. Along with most others, I got out last year.” He glanced at her, sensed the contact when she met his gaze. “However…”
She tilted her head. “When Ruskin was stabbed, and you reported the body…?”
“Indeed. Dalziel reappeared in my life.” He grimaced.
“If I’d been in his place, I’d have done the same. Whatever the business Ruskin was involved in, it’s almost certainly treasonous.”
They’d circled the park; ahead, the flickering streetlamps played over the stately mansions of Mayfair. He reached up, and instructed the coachman to head for Waverton Street. Once they were within the fashionable, well-lighted streets, he looked at her and found her watching him, not judgmentally, not even curiously, but as if she could finally see him clearly—and what she saw was something of a relief.
Her gaze shifted past him, then her lips eased and she sat back. “So that’s why Whitehall—this Dalziel person— chose you for the investigation. Because you’ve proved beyond question to be true to the country’s cause.”
No one had ever described him like that, but…he inclined his head. “It’s important that whoever is pursuing the investigation is beyond question true, because with Ruskin being within the bureacracy, it’s likely whoever he was dealing with is in some way connected either with a relevant department, or the government.”
Waverton Street was approaching; Alicia spoke quickly. Her mind was racing, thoughts tumbling. “So is your investigation supposed to be secret?”
His reply was wry. “It was.”
She glanced at him. “But now you’ve had to step in and rescue me—I am sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“Yes, you should have.” His hand tightened about hers.
“Indeed, if you hadn’t, I’d have been… displeased.”
She frowned at him. “Are you sure?”
“Perfectly. Neither the Watch nor Bow Street will be falling over themselves to say anything about what occurred tonight. Unless whoever was behind this evening’s events was actually watching the Watch House, they won’t be any the wiser.”
“Whoever was behind…” She stared at him. “You mean the person who laid the information…that was deliberate? I assumed it was just a mistake….” Hearing the words brought home the unlikelihood of such a supposition. She faced forward. “Oh.”
“Indeed.” His tone had hardened.
She glanced at him as the carriage rocked to a stop; his face had hardened, too.
He shifted forward; reaching for the door latch, he met her gaze. “We need to consider how to react—how best to meet this new development.”
“She’s back!” Harry reached Alicia first, wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her tightly.
“I’m all right.” She hugged him back, then opened her arms to Matthew, who clutched and wriggled until, with an effort, she lifted him into her arms. David hung back, feeling his age, yet clearly wanting reassurance; she smiled, freed a hand, and drew him to her for a quick kiss. “Truly,” she whispered, then let him go.
His somber expression eased; turning, he led the way to the chaise.
Having followed Alicia into the parlor, Tony pressed a hand to her back, worried about Matthew’s weight. She flashed him a smile, then glanced down at Harry’s head.
Transferring his hand to Harry’s shoulder, he gripped lightly. “Come on—let’s get her to sit down.”
Harry glanced at him, then released Alicia; tucking his hand in Tony’s, he went with him to the armchair and perched on the arm. Still carrying Matthew, Alicia walked more slowly to the chaise. Matthew slid down and she sat, then he crawled into her lap.
Beside her, Adriana laid a hand on her arm. “It must have been awful—you must have been so afraid.”
Alicia smiled reassuringly. “I wasn’t there long enough to get into a state.” She glanced at Tony, then looked down at Matthew, snuggling close. She ruffled his hair. “Sweetheart, it’s long past your bedtime.”
He looked up at her, for a minute said nothing, then, smothering a yawn, mumbled, “Have you told Tony about the ships?”
She looked at Tony. Everyone looked at him.