“He is out of the country taking the waters in Greece. As I said, he isn’t an exemplary father.”
I tilted her chin up with my finger. “You need to tell Moran the truth. If you like, I will be there for moral support.”
She shook her head in vehement denial. “I can’t risk it. I am sorry. I know he is your friend, and you think I betrayed him, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
I buried my fingers into her hair, inhaling the subtle scent of cinnamon that lingered from her bath. It was on the tip of my tongue to assure her that wouldn’t be the truth, but I couldn’t utter the statement. “I can’t keep this from him. You will need to make a decision. Either you tell him, or I will.”
Birdie pushed out of my arms, wiping at the moisture on her cheeks. “That is blackmail.”
If it took blackmail to get the two of them together, then I would use it. He might react strongly to her lying, but in the end, he would understand her reasons. “Moran is a reasonable man, and I can tell you with complete confidence that he feels the same way about you that you feel about him. He’s simply too stubborn to admit it.”
“While I appreciate your assurances, I think you are wrong.”
The door opened, and Violet appeared again. “Is Inspector Ashton staying for supper?”
“I will be right in,” Birdie said, evading her question. Once the door closed again, she offered a wavering smile. “Under the circumstances, I think it best that we call it an evening. You have given me a lot to think about. Promise me you will let me tell him in my own time and in my own way?”
“I will try to be patient, but I bid you not to draw it out too long. It will only get worse over time, not better.”
With a nod, she entered the flat and closed the door behind her, leaving me alone once more. Trotting down the stairs, her words about Suzette resonated with me. For too long, I had focused on what I wanted and couldn’t truly understand why Suzette hadn’t accepted my offer for her hand. I had refused to let Suzette go despite her wishes, and she had balked. Perhaps Birdie wasn’t the only one lying to herself.
Suzette had gained her independence and hadn’t wished to give it up. Life had thrown strife in her way, and she recovered the only way she could. I exited the boarding house and strode down the street. It was time to let Suzette go. I couldn’t save the world, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t safeguard my heart. Light spilled out from one of the many pubs scattered throughout the neighborhood. I entered the warm interior and spied a familiar face from the force.
Drink rarely solved a problem, but tonight, I would let it dull mine.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lord Tobias Moran
I whistled under my breath before I caught myself and stared down at the manuscript laid out on my desk. My encounter with Birdie and Ash had been extremely satisfying, and I hadn’t wished for it to end. Except she had responsibilities she couldn’t shirk. I glanced outside, looking at the late afternoon sunshine. Ash had walked her home after she gave me a very tantalizing kiss, one I wouldn’t soon forget.
A sharp knock on the outer door in the reception area sounded. I pushed back my chair, careful to keep my balance. Ash and Birdie had only left a few minutes ago and must have forgotten to lock the front door. The knocking became more insistent. A flash of alarm rushed through me, and I took Lillian’s manuscript and dropped it into the floor safe. I wasn’t expecting anyone because of the chaos the snow had reaped, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Connie or one of Ash’s brothers had come to check on us.
More pounding ensued, along with raised voices. I halted mid-stride and grabbed my greatcoat to slip on as I walked into the reception area. The weight of the pistol in my pocket gave me a small sense of comfort. I opened the door and frowned at the sight of three men I’d never seen before. All wore blue uniforms.
“Can I help you?” I asked, my unease growing. Why, I wasn’t sure. The man could simply be looking for Ash.
“My name is Detective Chief Inspector Jonah Stark. I assume you are Mr. Moran?” The politeness in his words belayed the tension in his jaw. The weather had ruddied his lean cheeks, and his hat was askew. He removed it to expose sandy blond hair.
“I am.” I acknowledged his inquiry with a nod, my stomach twisting with unease until I reminded myself that he hadn’t stated his reason for a visit. Ash hadn’t heard anything about an investigation into me, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one. “Are you here about MH Roth’s book? Inspector Ashton told me you were interested in purchasing one.”
With a grim smile, he shook his head, glancing around the office. Ash was right, he looked to be a few years older than myself with direct brown eyes that missed nothing. “I’m afraid I’m here for a different reason. Can we talk?”
Every instinct said no; however, I sensed that wasn’t an option. By the seriousness of his expression, he was about to deliver bad news. After Brown started snooping around, I knew this day would eventually come, and I needed to face it head-on.
