Aurora couldn’t disagree with that assessment. Despite how calm his voice was, Fitzhugh’s eyes were lit with emotion. This man was a caldron, ready to overflow. And judging from Imogen’s concerned expression, she knew it too. But she didn’t seem to fear him. Just fear for him.
Aurora glanced at Nicholas. She knew the feeling.
“Mr. Fitzhugh, obviously this event has been upsetting,” Diana began.
“Upsetting, Your Grace?” Fitzhugh grunted. “You think this isupsetting?”
“Oscar.” Imogen took his hand. He turned his head, and Imogen looked at the duchess. “Your Grace, he has protected me well in the last few weeks. Perhaps it would be better for me to go with him. I’ve endangered enough people as it is.”
“Imogen,” Aurora whispered.
Her friend turned toward her. “You could have died because of me. Please, just let me protect you.”
Aurora flinched. Imogen was repeating words she’d said to Nicholas today, though certainly under much less dire circumstances. But hearing them, she revolted against them. The idea that she would turn her back on someone she loved like a sister was abhorrent.
“We are all under a great deal of strain,” Diana said softly, looking between them all with a gentle expression that couldn’t do anything but calm and soothe. “But the duke and I are part of the War Department, Mr. Fitzhugh.”
“Yes, I know. I’ve heard of you before, though not by name. I heard a rumor the government was involved in investigating in some way. We clearly have a great deal to discuss.”
Diana nodded. “We do. Another reason not to hide yourselves where we cannot find you. We have the weight of the entire government to bring to bear onto this case. I do think Imogen needs to be hidden, I agree with you. The fact that someone shot at all of us the moment she was brought out of hiding meanssomeoneis desperate to silence her.”
“We know who. At least some of who,” Imogen said, her voice breaking. “Oscar, please, they can help us. Stop fighting it.”
“Letusprovide the safe hiding place,” Diana said. “Protected by armed guards, hidden from plain sight. Someplace where no one will find her, but where we will have access to what she knows about the people trying to hurt her.”
Fitzhugh shook away from Imogen and paced off, lifting a hand to the place where Huntington had bandaged his wound. “Bloody fucking hell,” he snapped. “Fine. But I’m going with her.”
Imogen rushed forward. “Oscar, no! You protected me so well, but I can’t ask you to—”
“I’m going with you,” he said. “That’s final. Let me just make some arrangements.”
He said nothing else but stomped from the room. Diana smiled at Imogen and then stepped away as Aurora moved toward her. Nicholas stepped aside to speak to the duchess, and so the two friends were alone for a moment.
“Imogen,” Aurora whispered, wrapping her arms around her. “How could this happen?”
“I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Imogen said and then glanced past her to the others. “Can I trust your friends?”
“Yes,” Aurora said, and didn’t hesitate.
Imogen lifted her head and looked over her shoulder toward Nicholas. “That’s the one you were in love with as a child, isn’t it? The one who left you for the army?”
“Turns out it’s more complicated than that, but yes,” Aurora said with a sigh.
Imogen stared at him. “He seems to love you.”
Aurora sucked in her breath. She knew it was true, after all. She knew he loved her without him ever saying it. And she loved him so desperately in return. Enough to sacrifice everything if it meant protecting him, helping him, giving him what he wanted.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Then hold on to that,” Imogen said, grasping her hands, suddenly desperate. “Hold onto it and to each other. Because others are not so lucky.”
“Imogen,” she whispered. “Are you talking about Mr. Fitzhugh? Because there is no denying your connection.”
Her friend shrugged a shoulder. “Connection is one thing. Protection is another. But he has made it clear that hecannotlove me. So…I just would like one of us to be happy. When this is all over, I just want you to be happy.”
Fitzhugh re-entered the room, his stern face more serious than ever. “Arrangements have been made. An unmarked carriage is around the back, ready to ferry us away to whatever location you see fit, Your Grace.”
“Good,” Diana said. “Then I’ll accompany you. Mr. Gillingham, will you tell the duke of my plans? I’ll meet with him back at home. And I would suggest you and Lady Lovell also take your leave. There is nothing else you can do here. The professionals will handle this and keep your friend safe.”
