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We walked on in silence, through streets that became more crowded as we neared the centre of the city. Cars hissed past on the wet roads, and the night grew ever colder. At length, we stood looking up at the Gothic façade of the beautiful old abbey. I’d just noticed that two of the carved angels on Jacob’s Ladder were going down headfirst and was wondering why the sculptor thought that was a good idea when Margaret spoke.

“If you can create more chances to investigate our hosts without rousing suspicion, do so.” She glanced sideways at me. “Stick close to that strange dragon who was also poking around. He could be an ally, an enemy, or entirely irrelevant, and I want to know which it is. Find out who he is, what he wants, and what he’s doing here.”

“If I must,” I said, giving a long-suffering sigh to cover my enthusiasm at the prospect of sticking close to him.

“You’re being ridiculous about the idea of an assassination attempt, Alex,” she continued. “Our family is of no importance, no significance to anyone any longer. Yet the Fortescues have invited us for a reason. Until I can persuade that tight-lipped old sod to spill it, I’m relying on you to do some digging.”

“If I find out anything, I’ll invite you to come sightseeing again,” I told her.

“In the sunshine next time, please. It would freeze the balls off a brass monkey tonight.”

Not only a brass monkey. We headed back to the Fortescues’ house and the promise of hot chocolate the way Margaret favoured it, with a healthy dollop of spiced rum. For the first time, my heart didn’t sink at the idea of returning to the palatial house that felt like a prison. That strange dragon would be there. The one who looked like a saint and kissed like a very practised and enthusiastic sinner. This visit was shaping up to be more fun than I’d thought.

NATE

Being here was intensely familiar. Charlie and I had spent most uni holidays in the Fortescue family home. But it was strange to be here and not to be part of the family, staying with Charlie in his big bedroom on the second floor. Instead, I was up in the eaves in a room that maids or footmen would have shared years ago.

Mrs Fortescue had welcomed me with a smile and air kisses, though she’d been too busy to talk. I’d been glad to see her again. For many years, she’d been the closest thing I’d had to a mother, and I was looking forward to spending time with her.

I managed, with difficulty, to persuade Ella that I didn’t need any help unpacking. She was reluctant to leave, but I finally convinced her I wanted an early night. She kissed my cheek before she left. “I’m so glad you’re here, Nate.”

Alone at last, I prepared for bed, replaying everything that had happened that evening. James was my first concern. I wondered if he suspected me of ulterior motives. Perhaps that was why he’d invited me to stay with them, so he could monitor me. If he did suspect me, that would surely mean he knew about the attacks on our banks—there was no other reason for my arrival to be suspicious. It was a feeling I’d had when talking to James rather than something I could substantiate, and Bim wasn’t interested in hearing about feelings. I’d need something concrete to give him.

I couldn’t quite credit my audacity in reading those emails. I wondered again what that bartender had been doing. Of all the rooms on that floor, he’d come into James’s study for his break. He hadn’t hesitated to look at his boss’s private emails. He’d also known he shouldn’t have been there, because when Ella hadopened the door, he’d acted decisively while my brain was still spinning in panic.

As the Christ Church clock struck the hour, I wondered what would have happened if Ella hadn’t interrupted us. Would we have ended up on James’s desk? The thought of that power and heat and strength on top of me, of him kissing me and fucking into me, sent my hand to my cock. I was just getting into the spirit of things, thinking of those darkly glinting eyes and the dark stubble that gave him a slightly dangerous appearance, when, regular as clockwork, the memory of Charlie fucking me popped up.

God damn it. Determined not to be pathetic and jerk off to the memory of my ex, I rolled over and thumped my pillow into a more comfortable shape. I hoped Charlie hadn’t fallen down the stairs and broken his neck in his drunkenness. The more probable reason for his disappearance was that he’d sat down somewhere and fallen asleep. Once he reached a certain point in his drinking, Charlie was a sleepy drunk.

To be that far gone at a family function at eight in the evening… That wasn’t the Charlie I’d known, and after years together, I’d known him well. Ever since he’d finished with me, he’d been a ghost haunting me, reminding me that I wasn’tenough. Just the way my family did. Everyone except Rufus. He looked up to me as his big brother, and I couldn’t let him see my weaknesses and doubts.

Giving up on sleep, I reached for my phone and messaged Rufus, teasing him about that human, Mark, whom I’d found in his kitchen yesterday wearing nothing but a bathrobe. Rufus was practically a hermit, so that had been a shock. I didn’t know what to make of the fact Rufus hadn’t toldme he was seeing someone, and Mark had been swift and fierce in his defence of Rufus. It was as if even Rufus didn’t need me anymore.

Lost in self-pity, I finally fell asleep.

Chapter Four

ALEX

Margaret had given us strict instructions to be on time for Sunday breakfast. She also told us not to turn up in pyjamas, glaring at me as she’d said it. I didn’t know what the problem was—that had beenonetime.

Apparently, Sunday breakfast was a big thing for the Fortescues. From everything I’d seen so far, I’d half-expected a private chef to be cooking full English breakfasts to order.Instead, the sideboard was groaning under a selection of pastries, cheeses and hams.

I helped myself and took a seat at the long dining table that dominated the room. The rest of my family was already there, along with James Fortescue and his wife, Anna. Ella was also at the table, fidgeting as if it was the last place she wanted to be.

“Nate!”

It was the sort of welcome I’d expect from a golden retriever after their owner had been at work all day, not for someone she’d seen only the night before. Ella was practically vibrating with excitementas the dragon from last night smiled slightly at her before scanning the room as if looking for someone. He looked—well, not like shit because he was too attractive for that, but his eyes looked bruised and his face held a strain I hadn’t noticed last night.

His gaze met mine, and I realised I was staring at him. I nodded slightly—not sure how else to greet a guy I’d grabbed, snogged, and then left without a word—and turned my attention back to my food.

Nate had no choice but to sit beside Ella, who was talking to him long before he reached the table with his loaded plate. “Daddy knows the Old Theatre Royal trustees, so I’ve messaged them, and we can have a look around this morning. It can’t be this afternoon as they’ve got something on, but it shouldn’t take long anyway because it’s different from how it was in Jane Austen’s time.”

“That’s terrific. Thank you, Ella.” I couldn’t be sure, but that looked like a deer-in-headlights thing he had going on.

“Mind if I tag along? I’d love to see more of Bath,” I said. Nothing to do with the slight huskiness in Nate’s voice that had my cock taking an immediate interest and everything to do with Margeret’s instruction to get to know him.

Nate looked a bit surprised at my rudeness, but inclined his head politely. “You’d be welcome, of course.”