“Good morning.” Ash glanced up and smiled, swiveling my one-time chair in my direction. Unlike me, he seemed to have mastered the chair. Long legs spread out, brown tweed trousers pulled at the muscles of his thighs. I still could hardly credit that he had quit the force.
“Good morning.” I leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips, his beard soft on my chin. Brushing my knuckle down his cheek, I rested my forehead against his. “I’ve missed you. Have you been avoiding me?”
“Of course not.” Ash tilted his chin and kissed me again with gentle understanding before he withdrew. He motioned with his hand toward the desk, not looking at me. “I have been busy wrapping up the serials for the end of the year. My predecessor left me a lot of work to do.”
Although his comment was spoken in jest, his tone lacked humor. Something wasn’t right with him, which cemented my earlier concern. I rested my hip against my desk, inspecting his profile. “I am sorry about that.”
He continued to stare at the papers on the desk, a slight pink hue on his cheeks. “You needn’t apologize. I am a partner in this business and you have carried the burden long enough.”
“It was never a burden for me.” The final installment of the Lord Golden books was ready for publication, the last of the books I would edit. It was a bittersweet notion. Ash had taken over the job since my responsibilities with the title took all of my time. My wife had stepped in and, in typical Birdie fashion, quickly organized me, and the ducal staff.
“I, more than anyone, am aware of that. However, since things are quieting down, I have decided it is an opportune time for me to leave England.” He steepled his fingers and swiveled back and forth in the chair. Consternation marked his forehead, along with determination. “Birdie helped me realize I need to go to France and talk to Suzette.”
“I see.” Memories of the heartache and pain she had put him through made me beg him not to but I held my tongue. This wasn’t my destiny, it was his. The truth was, I really didn’t know Suzette very well. I’d met her a few times but never for a period long enough to exchange more than pleasantries. My distrust of her motives toward Ash arose from how she’d spurned him in favor of money and possessions. Regardless, I couldn’t protect him forever, nor did I really think he was content with his current existence.
Until I met Birdie, I had no desire to fall in love. Now I wanted to shout my love for her to the rooftops. Being with Ash had always been emotionally and physically satisfying. I didn’t know what I would do without him. But I wouldn’t try to keep him from finding happiness. The expression that the one constant in life is change stuck with me. “How long will you be gone for?”
He lifted a satchel from the floor and slipped a manuscript into the leather. “As long as it takes to convince her to comeback. One of the reasons she didn’t want to be with me was because of my profession. Her stepfather had been a bobby and was very abusive.”
“You are a publisher now, a much safer profession, despite Brown and his threats.” I stroked his cheek with my knuckle. “Suzette said she wanted to be a lady. I can’t make her one but you can let her know that she will always be welcome in my house.”
Ash flashed a sheepish smile, his eyes a bright blue. Love shone in their depths. “And to think, I once believed that every member of the aristocracy was bad. It might take time to get over my prejudices but I will try for your sake.”
“You said one of the reasons. What could she possibly find wrong with you?” Eyebrow lifted, I waited for his comeback.
The color on his cheeks heightened. “She didn’t think I was grown up enough. She said I had a roving eye.”
“Which is true.”
He waved a dismissive hand, shaking his head at my teasing. “One thing the last few weeks have taught me is that I don’t want to just give up on love.” Ash stood, his body mere inches from me. Regret, along with uncertainty, turned his mouth down. “You didn’t, and look how that turned out.”
“That is because you practically pushed me to propose.” I linked my fingers with his and brought him flush against me. We held each other for a long moment, each knowing that this was a turning point in our lives. “And I am grateful for it. I was a prat.”
“You still are.” Ash pulled back long enough to brush a bittersweet kiss on my lips. He stepped back, a small smile playing across his mouth. “I will be back soon, so don’t worry. I will never be far from you.”
A soft knock sounded on the reception door. Birdie had hired a new secretary to see to the everyday running of the business. The slender woman peeked her head inside the door. Frownlines appeared between her eyes. “Detective Chief Inspector Stark is here to see you, Your Grace and Mr. Ashton. May I show him in?” The last time Spark was here, it hadn’t turned out well.
“Of course, send him in, please.” I shared a look with Ash, curious and a touch alarmed until I remembered that the charges had been dropped against me.
Stark walked in, holding his hat, looking rather harried. He was clearly not his usual self, and I prayed it had nothing to do with Birdie’s outstanding arrest warrant.
“Thank you for seeing me, Moran. Or should I say Lord Moreland?” He looked a bit confused, which was very unlike Stark.
“You can call me Moran. I’m not used to the other name yet. Unless you are here to arrest me again.” I didn’t like being called Your Grace and Lord Moreland and all the other accoutrements that came with the title.
He laughed at my quip, rubbing a hand over his scruffy chin. “No, I am not here to arrest you. I am here to return something that belongs to Lady Birdie and to ask a favor of Ash.”
“Can I get you something to drink?” Ash asked.
“I would love a scotch or a whiskey or anything you have.” He plopped down in a chair and looked around. “It has been a long few days.”
Silence fell, my curiosity rising while Ash poured the scotch. He brought the glass over to Stark. The other man took it, drinking deep from the amber liquid. He shuddered at the taste before taking another sip.
“I take it things are not going well?” Ash asked.
“Actually, they are going better than well, which concerns me.” He shook his head. “I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
“I can well imagine,” Ash said. “What you uncovered is huge. My father is very impressed.”
