“Very well then.” Her smile was tense, and her gaze was anxious, unsure. But she was too proud to insist. “Will I see you tomorrow?”
“Perhaps.” He snaked his arm around her waist and captured her mouth in a quick, hard kiss. It was over in an instant. Anything longer, and he would lose the will to leave. “I’ll let you know when I’ve made some progress.”
With that, he trotted down the steps and got into his waiting carriage. To go to his cold and empty house. Soon. He reminded himself. Soon, his home would be with Alice again.
Threedayslater,Nathanielspread the final page of his transcription across Dalton’s desk. Hours of labor, deciphering document after document, had finally borne fruit. It hadn’t been easy, but with the end in sight, and a renewed purpose borne from wanting to win Alice back, his mind had finally achieved that state of acute focus necessary for code-breaking work. He had barely slept, eaten at his desk, while still working on it. But at last, he had triumphed; the code was broken.
“Here,” he said, voice low but steady. “This is most of it.”
Dalton bent forward, brows furrowed, his gaze skimming the names and the notes written next to each. A muscle ticked in his jaw as he reached the end.
The silence stretched.
Nathaniel shifted, his own gut twisting. “It appears,” he said at last, “that they’ve marked men of consequence. Members of the Lords—yourself included—and several from the Commons. Not merely political figures, but men of influence. The pattern suggests—”
“A bid to seize control of our government.” Dalton’s voice was grim, clipped. He set the papers down as though they’d burned him.
Nathaniel inclined his head. “That was my conclusion as well. Whoever orchestrated this has a keen eye for pressure points. A scandal here, a weakness there, and suddenly Parliament bends to their will.”
“It won’t be allowed.” Dalton’s frown deepened, the weight of it settling over the room. He exhaled, sharp. “Leave me, Nathaniel. I must consider what this means.”
“I will continue to work on the cipher,” Nathaniel pressed, unwilling to let go. “There are still fragments. The identity of Lord A remains obscured. If we can—”
“No.” Dalton’s hand cut through the air, firm. “There is no need. I have a strong suspicion as to who this Lord A may be.” His eyes hardened. “If I am right, this is more sinister than I imagined.”
Nathaniel’s pulse quickened. “Then let me and Alice help—”
“You and Alice have done enough.” Dalton leaned forward, intensity darkening his gaze. “Go home to your wife. You are lucky you got a second chance with the woman you love. Don’t squander it.”
Was Dalton thinking of his own marriage? There would be no second chance for the duke, for his beloved wife had died. Lost at sea. A pang cut through Nathaniel’s chest. God, how did Dalton bear it? He would go mad if something happened to Alice… He masked his reaction with cool reserve. “Alice does not yet consider herself my wife in truth. She does not think she can be a viscountess.”
Dalton’s expression softened, the grim lines easing for a fleeting moment, and Nathaniel got a glimpse of the sadness that lurked under the ruthless spymaster’s exterior. “That is nonsense. She loves you. I have seen it. Do not let her talk herself out of happiness. Stay close to her. Protect her, if need be, even from her own demons.”
Nathaniel’s heart gave an unruly thump. Dalton’s words struck too near the bone. “That is my intention. But it may take some time. You know how stubborn she can be.”
“She will come around.” Dalton’s mouth curved into something that was not quite a smile, not quite reassurance. “But, Nathaniel?”
Dalton waited until he looked at him. “Yes?”
“Don’t let your guard down. Who is your heir?”
Nathaniel frowned at the non-sequitur. His heir? He hadn’t considered it. “Some distant cousin, I assume. My mother probably knows better than I do.”
“Find out who he is, and keep an eye on him. If my suspicions are correct, though your name is not yet on that list, you may still be a target. After all, you are a very active and vocal member of the House of Lords who has no heir apparent.”
“You think there’s danger afoot.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Isn’t there always?”
Nathaniel stared at him, unsettled. “I don’t understand.”
“You don’t need to—for now.” Dalton straightened, shoulders squared. “The investigation is finished. You and Alice gave me what I needed. Now the next move belongs to me.”
Nathaniel studied him for a long moment, searching Dalton’s eyes for the truth he withheld. He found only iron determination.
At last, Nathaniel inclined his head. “Take care, then. For both our sakes.”
With that, he inclined his head and exited the office, closing the door softly behind him. Nathaniel strode down the imposing corridor of the new Foreign Office’s headquarters, anticipation lending speed to his steps. One mission concluded. Now on to his most important endeavor; winning his wife back. If only that were as easy as breaking a code.
