“An English gent. Know nofing ‘bout these foreigners. I ain’t involved in no treason,” he said, then spat on the floor.
“What’s the name of that Englishman? Where did you meet him? Was he there tonight?” Nathaniel pressed, voice implacable.
“Aye,” the man’s gaze flickered. “Only seen him twice: the day he hired us, at the pub down by the docks, and today. Always called him Lord A. That’s all I know.”
Alice leaned forward, studying him closely. “Describe him.”
“Tall, bit stout, dark hair,” he said, glancing toward Dalton, then adding with a smirk, “Looks a bit like His Highness here, only with dark eyes.”
Dalton’s eyebrow arched. “Your Grace,” he corrected dryly.
“Whatever,” the man muttered. “Can I go now? I’ve done nofing wrong, and I’ve been helpful.”
“Not quite,” Nathaniel replied, his voice hard. “You did attack two agents of the Crown.”
“Didn’t know that, did I? Me and the lads were only doing our job.”
Dalton considered him a moment, then said, “Nevertheless, you’ll stay a bit longer. You’ll be comfortable here. I’ll send blankets and food.” The finality in his voice brooked no argument. He then turned to the Russian, who had remained impassive during the entire conversation.
“What is your name?” Dalton asked the Russian.
No response.
“Did you hear what I told your cohort? We are investigating treason. I suggest you start cooperating if you don’t wish to be neck-deep in problems. Perhaps even hanging by the neck.”
Not even a glimmer of emotion from the man’s impassive face.
He might be a well-trained operative, but it was also possible he didn’t speak English, and therefore the threats meant nothing to him. Alice thought it was the latter. Even the most skilled of agents betrayed some emotion when faced with the possibility of being executed for treason.
Dalton turned to them. “No use bothering with him tonight,” he murmured. “He doesn’t seem to understand English. I’ll get a translator tomorrow, and then we will question him properly.”
They left the prisoners in the care of one of Dalton’s ‘footmen’, while the other went to fetch blankets and food. Alice figured that at least Boots might have better accommodations here in the duke’s dungeon than in his own lodgings.
On the stairs, Dalton glanced toward Alice. “Did you believe Boots?”
She nodded slowly. “From the look in his eyes, yes. He’s a ruffian, no doubt, but I don’t think he’s part of the treason.”
Dalton accepted this with a brief incline of his head and turned to face them once they reached the main floor. “I agree. Go home. Rest. We’ll reconvene tomorrow at Whitehall.”
Rest. It sounded like a capital proposition. Only now, when all their duties were discharged, did she realize how tired she was. She had barely slept in the past two nights. And before that, not very well for an entire week, missing Nathaniel. It was alarming how fast she had once again become accustomed to sleeping next to him, to having him in her life. Apparently, the feeling was not mutual. He had returned days ago and had not contacted her. Or had he? Hadn’t he said he had come to look for her, and was upset to not find her home? If she had known he would be coming back that day, she wouldn’t have left with John. Oh, what a tangle. But she was too tired right now to parse through the morass of their feelings.
The warmth of his hand enveloped her elbow.
“Come on, Alice. I’ll take you home.”
She wondered briefly which home he meant, but didn’t really care one way or the other. To go home with Nathaniel, wherever that may be, was a lovely prospect. Even if he was still mad as hell.
CHAPTER 24
Alicewastired.Itwas evident in the set of her shoulders, in the way she sank into the coach squabs, her head tilted back, her eyes half closed. A part of him wanted to gather her in his arms and bring her to rest against his chest. Cradle her while she slept like the precious being she was to him. He wouldn’t do it, though. Not in his present state.
He was still angry. Enraged. Furious.
How dare she? How dare she put herself in danger like that? How dare she act as if what she did affected her alone? How dare she ignore his feelings, abandon their marriage, associate with another man, endanger her life…
The list of grievances was extensive, but he wouldn’t act on it now. Partly because she was exhausted. And partly because he didn’t know what he would do if he touched her. He might shake her, or he might kiss her. He was as likely to berate her as he was to demand she stay with him forever.
The coach stopped in front of their townhouse, and he hopped down, reaching in to help Alice down.
