Rising, she examined it more closely. It was no wonder there was no smoke—the chimney pot was sealed tight. She knocked her fist against it, but the satisfying thud told her it was far from hollow, and she knew without question, she’d found the missing money.
The last thing she wanted was for someone else to find it. Wrapping her shawl around her, she climbed back through the window and pulled it tight behind her. As long as Rafferty didn’t know where the money was, there was a chance he would stay and search for it. Once he found it, he would be gone, if he hadn’t gone already.
She went back to her room, closing the door behind her. She had to think, undisturbed. He’d searched for days, he’d even been out on the roof with her and hadn’t noticed the defunct chimney. There was no reason she should tell him—she could just pretend she’d never made that astonishing discovery, and maybe he would stay. Maybe he would learn to love her.
But that was a child’s reckoning and she was no longer a child. Sooner or later she would have to let him go.
It was close to midnight when Rafferty returned to the house on Corinth Place. He’d had a busy day seeing to the aftermath of Stiles’s death. All he needed was his men coming after him, intent on retribution, but it turned out Stiles’s hold on Belding’s old gang had been peripheral at best. Especially once they learned he hadn’t planned on sharing his windfall. He had to reject their very flattering offer to join them, all without offending, and it had required several hours of careful negotiations.
And then there was his grandmother to deal with. She was a stubborn old woman, determined to have him rejoin the family, but he wasn’t joining anything. He was leaving London and all the responsibilities behind, going back to his sprawling farmhouse in Hampshire where he only had to worry about the livestock. He was leaving Georgie to find a husband and have a real life.
He didn’t want to think about Georgie. He hadn’t seen her since he’d carried her home after she’d fainted, and he knew he’d see horror in her eyes when he did. She’d seen him kill a man in cold blood, a man who was threatening to cut her throat. It had been a close thing, but he was an excellent shot, and he’d never had any doubt he could make it. She might not have faith that she’d been in no danger from his gun.
He’d given up on finding Belding’s long-lost money. He didn’t need it, and Stiles’s men accepted the fact that it was gone—there’d be no trouble from that direction. There was nothing holding him back from leaving.
Except for Georgie. He was a fool about her, he knew that. In the end, he’d become as besotted as she was, and the sooner he left, the safer he’d be. Every time he touched her he got in deeper, and he might start thinking foolish things if he didn’t escape. He had complete faith that she could have a happy life with some kind young man. She wasn’t for the likes of him.
The kitchen was dark and deserted as he made his way to his rooms. He didn’t have much to pack—he’d leave his butler’s uniform behind—and he’d leave it up to Martina to say his goodbyes. He couldn’t stand to see the look in Georgie’s eyes when he left her.
He knew the moment he entered his room that she was there, and he walked through to his bedroom to find her perched on his bed. She was fully dressed, and he knew a moment of regret.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded roughly.
She didn’t appear discomfited by his greeting. She swung around and put her feet on the floor. Stockinged feet, and he remembered the feel of them in his hands, so delicate, so strong.
“I’ve come to give you what you want,” she said with a misplaced dignity.
“I don’t want you,” he lied, gritting his teeth.
She flushed. “Not that,” she said. “I’ve found the money.”
He just stared at her for a long moment. “No, you haven’t,” he said in flat disbelief.
“It’s on the roof. You never thought to check up there, and I found it. At least I think I did,” she added in an unemotional voice. “One of the chimneys doesn’t lead to any fireplace, and the chimney pot is new and sealed. I can’t imagine anything else that would be hidden up there.”
He stared at her in disbelief. “When did you figure this out?”
“This morning. You’ve been gone all day so I couldn’t tell you, but I thought you’d want to know. Now you can have it all for yourself and not have to share with Stiles.”
He said nothing, watching her. “Why are you telling me this?” he finally asked her. “Looking for the money is the only thing keeping me here.”
She held very still, as if she were about to make a great leap. “Because I love you. And love means wanting the best for someone, and letting them go when they want to leave.”
“Georgie, you don’t love me,” he said wearily.
She rose from the narrow bed and came toward him, and he knew if he put his hands on her he wouldn’t let her go. She came up to him, standing on her toes to place a soft kiss on his unresponsive mouth. “Goodbye, Rafferty.”
And she was gone.
He knew what he was going to do—there was never any question in his mind. He’d already stripped off his coat, and he didn’t bother putting it on again as he bounded up the stairs two at a time, pushing through the baize door to the bedrooms. He moved past Georgie’s room with only a moment’s regret and then headed for Neddy’s. He knocked softly on the door, then pushed the door open and stopped.
Neddy was lying in bed with Martina, both of them fully clothed, both of them sound asleep. Rafferty only hesitated a minute. “Wake up,” he said with a fair amount of force.
Neddy sat up in bed, blinking in the dim light. “What the hell do you want?” he demanded. Martina sat up beside him and then swiftly climbed off the bed.
“I must have fallen asleep,” she said with a fair attempt at innocence. “I’m so sorry. Did you want something, Rafferty?”
She was going to get her heart broken, and he resisted the temptation to lecture her. She knew what she was doing, she knew the dangers, and there was nothing he could do to help her now. “I’ve got something for Neddy,” he said, eschewing the proper “Master Edward” that he usually used. “Come with me.”
