“But—” she began.
Gray lifted his hands. “God’s teeth, you two are stubborn—there is no doubt you are sisters. No, Celia. That is final.”
She flopped back against the chair. Truly, he wasn’t being unreasonable. He wasn’t even being unkind. She knew that her being here would likely only be a distraction to both Gray and to Aiden. Distraction could equal danger and she didn’t want that.
“Do you think you might catch this potential murderer tomorrow?” she asked.
Gray nodded. “If the man coming here is truly the real Clairemont’s partner, I think it is very likely we could catch him.”
She caught her breath. “Then this will be…it will be over,” she whispered, each word like a stab wound deep in her chest.
There must have been a tone to her voice, for Gray’s expression softened greatly. “Yes,” he said. “I suppose it will be.”
She pushed to her feet and walked the length of the room. “He’s already pulling away from me.”
Gray stood and watched her. “But he must, Celia. You know that. It’s what he feels is best for you. I can see the struggle in him, though. It’s hurting him, too.”
She spun to face him, finding hope in his words. “Do you think so?”
“I know it,” Gray said. “It’s killing him.”
“And yet he still does it,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry,” Gray said, and nothing more.
“So am I,” Celia said with a humorless laugh.
To her surprise, Gray moved across the space between them and wordlessly drew her in for a brief hug. This man who had been her enemy little more than five months before was now offering her comfort.
She looked at him. Really looked. There was hardness to Gray, but also kindness.
“You know, I understand a great deal more today than I did when we first met,” she said. “And I thank you for loving my sister. For giving her such a wonderful life.”
“It is my greatest pleasure,” Gray said with a small smile. “I assure you.”
Celia motioned for the door. “Well, go to her, then. I’m sure she’s still awake, and if you’re going to be in danger tomorrow, you should spend these hours comforting her, not brooding in here or fussing over me.”
“What will you do?” Gray asked.
She shrugged. “Wait,” she said. “Hope.”
He nodded and squeezed her hand before he followed her direction and left the room. But alone, she knew one thing more than all others.
There was no real hope left for her. Except that Aiden would come out of tomorrow alive. Outside of that, her future and her fate were both sealed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Can you hear me?”
Standing in the hidden hallway behind Gray’s desk, Clairemont exchanged a brief look with Stalwood in the dim light. “Yes,” he replied, a bit louder than normal, since he wasn’t sure Gray would hear him. “And see you.”
“Excellent. Greene will show Turner-Camden in rather than inquire if I’m in residence, then he’ll leave the house for safety. It should only be a few moments more.”
Clairemont leaned in closer. “And Celia and Rosalinde are definitely out for the duration of the meeting?”
Behind him, he heard Stalwood clear his throat, but refused to turn. He knew his mentor didn’t approve of his preoccupation in the heat of the battle. Why would he? A distracted agent was easily a dead agent. But Clairemont couldn’t help it. Fearing for Celia’s safety was as much of a distraction as asking after her. Perhaps more.
Gray glared at the bookcase. “I have told you three times, they are out and have been for some time. Rosalinde was been given strict instructions not to return for several hours. The servants will put Turner-Camden’s horse in a specific place as well, able to be seen from the street. If my wife sees it there even after enough time has passed, they will not come back.”
