Augusta’s mouth twisted into a rueful grimace. “Not half mad, I’m sure. Entirely mad.”
“You should never have entered in this room,” he said.
“Well, it was too late. I was already here when the two of you, er, made an appearance.
“You could have slipped back out the window.”
She finally dared to meet his gaze. “And leave you here at Ludlowe’s mercy?” She gently touched the streak of blood at the corner of his mouth. “You’re hurt. I’m so sorry I had to let him go on like that with you, but it was vital that he tell us everything.”
For an instant, an expression flashed in the hazel depths of her eyes that made Marcus dare to hope all was not lost between them.
“Leaving me in his clutches would have been what I deserved, considering—” he began, only to be interrupted by the muffled sound of pounding at the front door. At the same time, a head appeared at the mullioned windows and there was a tapping at the glass.
Swearing under his breath, the earl went over and flung it open.
“When ye didn’t show up guv, I took the liberty of sending fer Bow Street. Stevie stuck te the lady, like ye’s ordered and follered her here.” A scruffy-looking fellow craned his neck regarded Ludlowe’s unconscious body. “Look’s like ye got things settled without der help, but at the sound of the shots they’s gone ahead and broken in the front door.”
“You did the right thing, Jones.” Marcus turned to Augusta. “You had best be out of here before the Runners come in,” he said softly. “My man will see you safely home.”
“But we must search the desk for further proof, and question?—”
The tramp of hurried steps echoed from the hallway. “You may trust me to do all those things. Please don’t argue with me on this, Gus.” Marcus took her arm and drew her toward the window.
“Now …” He quirked a faint smile. “If you will just leave the way you came in.”
She swung one foot up over the sill. “Will you promise to send around a note and let me know what happens?”
He nodded. “I promise you will hear of everything.”
The other leg went up, and Jones reached out to help her down.
“Gus.”
She turned around.
His lips came down hard on hers for an instant, then Marcus propelled her into the other man’s waiting arms.
Augusta paced backand forth before the fire, her gaze straying to the clock on the mantel every few minutes.
“Damnation,” she muttered aloud. It was nearly midmorning and she still had not heard from Marcus. Surely he could have taken the time to pen a short note to inform her that the culprit was finally locked away and the authorities were beginning to move against the unscrupulous mines.
She sighed. No doubt it would be the last bit of correspondence she would ever receive from him. Wandering back to her desk, she picked a letter at random from the neat pile lying on the blotter and began to read. Each word on the paper seemed to burn a hole in her heart.
Oh, she would miss their intimate exchange of thoughts.
But even more, she would miss his company in the flesh. It felt as if he had become a part of her, yet she must resign herself to giving him up, no matter how much the void ached. They were too different to fit together comfortably. Hadn’t she seen the sparks fly often enough to know that? And hadn’t their hotwords left raw scars on each of them? She mustn’t fool herself into thinking his kiss of last night was fired by anything other than the relief of escaping from deadly peril.
A discreet knock on the door caused her to brush a tear from her cheek. She hastily shoved all of the letters back into her desk drawer and pushed it closed. At least, she would have the pleasure of seeing his distinctive script once more. “Come in, Jenkins,” she called. “I have been waiting for a note?—”
Her words died in her throat as Marcus entered instead of the butler.
“Oh!” Augusta turned to hide the quiver of her lips.
“I thought you would like to know what the authorities are planning.” He shifted his weight from one foot to another. “It would have entailed a rather long letter, so I thought I might as well stop by myself.”
“Of course.”
“With what Ludlowe told us last night and the number of documents found in his desk, there will be no trouble in arresting the owners of the mines. His cohorts will find their way to the gallows as well. And the children will be returned to their families.” He gave a sigh. “Though I fear not all.”
