Yet what had the papers claimed again? She wasabducted?Pah!
“Seth?”
“What?” Seth’s attention snapped up to meet Luke's gaze.
“Have you lost sight of our goal, old boy?” Luke slowly leaned forward; his face now nearly entirely cast in shadows. “Of how you bumped into Lady Charity in the first place? It was all to get to Lord Holmwood. To expose that murderer.”
“I am aware.” Seth’s tone grew so cold that Luke recoiled slightly, the dim light catching on his cheek. “I have not forgotten what Lord Holmwood did, so do not presume I am distracted. It is just…”
“Just what?”
“Nothing.” Seth longed to point out that his vendetta against Lord Holmwood and his feelings for Charity were two entirely different matters, but he knew how it would sound and he could not afford to incite Luke’s anger if it could put Charity at risk of discovery. Nor was it an argument he could afford to have when half of his mind was still caught up in imagining when next he might make love to Charity again.
He was already picturing what they could share next. He thought of taking her on the bed again, but this time with her beautiful face turned to him, so her hands could grip his arms and shoulders. He thought of taking her in other rooms in the house, on the rococo settee of the drawing room, maybe even in the armchair where he sat now.
God’s wounds, but I do not think I will ever have enough of her to sate this hunger.
Noting Luke’s peculiar gaze, Seth coughed and spoke up again. “I am not losing sight of what is important.” With some difficulty, he moved his mind back to the present conversation. “Lady Charity may not be as important to seeking justice for Aldenbury anymore though.”
“What in the devil do you mean?”
“Imeanthat I have stumbled upon another source of interest.” Seth placed his glass down before rising from his seat and circling his desk, settling down behind it and adjusting his trousers to make sure Luke didn’t see the effect that thinking about Charity had upon his body. Taking hold of a piece of correspondence from the escritoire, he raised it aloft with a wolfish grin. “In recent weeks, I have adopted a different approach. It wasn’t possible a decade ago with how loyal some of the patrons were, but now, with Holmwood’s son running the club into the ground, I’ve been corresponding with a number of intriguing characters who formerly frequented the Bloomsbury Harris, the night of the Aldenbury fire. Aldenburyand Bloomsbury were just around the corner from one another, you see.”
“Yes, I know, I know,” Luke hastily replied, causing Seth to arch a brow. “…Hence he stood to gain the most from Aldenbury’s untimely demise. So, you have found someone?” Luke shuffled forward in his seat.
“I have.” Seth brandished the letter another time. “Someone from the Bloomsbury is willing to talk to me about what they saw that night. Soon enough, we’ll have the proof we need to connect Lord Holmwood to the fire.”
Seth wasn't certain what reaction he had expected from Luke upon delivering the news, but this certainly wasn't it. The man leaned so far forward in his seat that he nearly tumbled out of it. Fear flickered in his eyes, his lip bitten raw.
“Are you a fool, Colborne?” Luke exclaimed. “You are being played! Not one of those club patrons can be trusted. They are deceitful rogues who have no doubt delivered our entire decade-old investigation right into Holmwood's lap!”
“Possibly.” Seth gave a noncommittal shrug. “But our man no longer attends there. He claims to know much about the club, and about when Lord Holmwood’s son, Kenneth, was it?—assumed control. His lack of allegiance to the place is rather rational, given that his membership card, along with many others, was cast in the furnace during the handover from father to son. Besides, one can hardly claim fidelity when he is sowilling to expose himself just to talk to me. At the very least, we have another man to interrogate.”
“I am warning you, Colborne, this is a dangerous game you’re playing.” Luke rose abruptly and strode to the desk, planting his hands upon it in fury. “Seth, old boy, do you not see you have the perfect opportunity for revenge?” His eyes narrowed. “You have his daughter under your roof, for Christ’s sake!”
Seth stared at Luke. For one wild moment, he thought Luke looked more beast than man, his eyes bloodshot and fiery.
“There is a difference between revenge and justice,” Seth responded calmly. He suddenly felt a need to keep Luke as far away as possible from Charity. Surely, he would never think of harming her? She bore no responsibility for the Aldenbury fire! She seemed oblivious to its occurrence, in fact. “I seek justice, and as long as that prospect remains viable, I shall pursue it. The information this man imparts could be the very evidence needed to incriminate Lord Holmwood in a court of law.”
Luke didn’t appear entirely convinced, yet he released his grip on the desk and stepped back, his face no longer so contorted.
“And you are certain of this?” he murmured after a minute.
“I am. Do not look so mortified, old chap,” Seth assured him, his voice resonating with authority. He stood, determined this conversation was now at an end. “We’ll uncover the truth behind the great fire of Aldenbury. I lost just as much as you on thatunfortunate night. So put your trust in me, Luke, and stop relying on Charity so much, for heaven’s sake, man.”
Suddenly, Seth realized the slip he’d just made by saying her Christian name.
“Charity?You are not too distracted from your purpose then, eh?” Luke’s question made Seth’s expression darken. “Lady Charity, she is not—”
“Do not speak of her.” Seth’s frigid tone caused Luke’s brows to shoot up across his forehead, but he said nothing more. “Charity is my concern, not yours. Now, go. I’ll send word to you tomorrow after I have met with this man. I will relay what he tells me. So do not make a move without my blessing.”
Luke nodded, albeit reluctantly, and scurried across to the door. As he stepped out, Seth saw the corridor was not empty. He noticed the presence of Monty, who had evidently been eavesdropping near the door, unbeknownst to Seth upon his initial arrival into the study.
“Why do you take him everywhere with you?” Seth called to Luke, causing him to linger in the doorway for a brief second. “You treat the man like a faithful hound.”
Monty's expression remained unchanged, though Luke displayed a hint of amusement.
“He's a trusted confidant.” With that, the door slammed shut, and Luke was gone.
