“She did give me another lead, though,” Adrian said, pulling the conversation back to their investigation. “The Earl has amistress. One he cares enough about to put up in a house. She resides in Alfriston. I am going there tomorrow to question her. Or, with any luck, find the Earl there and demand answers.”
The teasing look in Damien’s eyes gave way to determination, and he set down his glass.
“I shall go with you,” he stated.
“No,” Adrian answered, perhaps a bit too quickly.
Damien’s brows furrowed.
“Why are you being like this, Adrian?” he stated, taking a step toward Adrian. “Your brother would not want you to take this on alone.”
Adrian’s tense stature relaxed a little, and he lowered his glass.
“I know that,” he said quietly. “But it is not what you think. I am not pushing you away. I am just in need of your help with something else.”
Adrian then explained what he and Elara had seen that morning with their mother and how troubled they were.
“Could you visit with her? Try to speak with her a little and see what she is thinking? She knows you, Damien. Knows that you have been a friend not just to me but to Evander. Perhaps your presence may help her somehow.”
Damien’s intense gaze softened, and he nodded his head.
“Of course, I will. Your mother was more nurturing to me than my own in my youth. I am saddened to hear that she is still struggling,” Damien replied.
Adrian let out a small breath of relief.
“Thank you, old friend,” he offered.
Damien nodded his head in understanding, then picked up his glass again and walked up to Adrian.
“I have to ask, though, is this Countess of yours joining you on your trip tomorrow?” Damien asked.
Adrian’s body stiffened all over again, wondering what his friend was getting at.
“No. I told her to stay behind. Why do you ask?”
Damien gave Adrian a long, inquisitive look.
“I want you to be careful with her,” Damien finally answered. “The way you spoke of her, you sound like a man possessed. I feel the need to remind you that she is not only married, but married to the only suspect we have in your brother’s murder. Feelings for this woman will only serve to hurt you in the end. I do not wish that for you.”
The urge to take offense sizzled up in Adrian, but even as he tried to conjure up his denial, his mind was slammed with images of him and Bridget. When he had pinned her against the brick wall outside of Henry’s. He thought of her lips. How plump and pink they were. How close he had been to them. How much he had wanted to simply lean in a scant further and taste that fury.
Would she have let me kiss her?
A thump from beyond his study door jolted Adrian from his thoughts. Forgetting to soothe Damien’s concerns, Adrian put down his drink and strode toward his study door. Elara tumbled in when he opened it, and he growled in frustration.
Damien had grown up with Evander and Adrian, so he was well aware of Elara’s usual shenanigans and mischief, too. He had watched her test limits and push boundaries often enough over the years to recognize the look on her face the moment she fell into the room.
“Elara,” Adrian barked. “Eavesdropping again?”
Damien’s mouth curved into a knowing, amused smile as he crossed the room and offered Elara a hand, hauling her back to her feet with an ease that spoke more of habit than gallantry.
“I am not—”
“Right,” Damien said lightly. “Should you not be out and about the city at this hour… with your cousin?”
Elara stiffened at once, her eyes widening before narrowing on him suspiciously at the mention of Caroline.
“How could you possibly know that?” she demanded.
