“You are correct, sir. I do come to you in the capacity of my profession. As for my investigation, it is more about who I’m investigating rather than what,” came the unknown voice from within. “And who I am investigating are Peregrine Huxley and Zara Cooper.”
Zara’s mouth dropped open and Hux’s heart began to throb. An investigator. Looking for them. His first reaction, from his gut, was to grab Zara and run. Just run away, far away and never return to England. But when he looked at her, her eyes wide and sparkling with worry, he hated to think of taking her on a life on the run. Of seeing her worry every day, look over her shoulder at all times. Of knowing he had at last made her give up any hope of the kind of life she deserved.
Richard had been quiet after that statement but now he cleared his throat. Through the little gap between the wall and the door edge, Hux could see a glimpse of him, sitting at his desk. Richard’s face was impassive, his hands folded on the desktop. “You said you are investigating two people. Regarding what exactly?”
“Theft,” the investigator said evenly. “My employer attended a ball two weeks ago and had a valuable pocket watch stolen from his person. He suspects the two people I’m looking for and is determined to get the item back…as well as to bring the thieves to justice, as swiftly and severely as possible.”
“A serious charge. But what does that have to do with me?” he asked, voice calm. Hux almost smiled. The man could be a professional grifter with such schooled responses and easy lies.
“There is a rumor that the pair may be staying here in your home,” the investigator explained.
Richard’s brows went up. “How scandalous a thought, Mr. Wren. But I fear it is only rumor. There were…friends staying with me, but they left two days ago now. A Mr. and Mrs. Valentine. They were heading to Wales, I believe, to see family and friends there.”
There was a long silence. Hux couldn’t see the other man’s face, but he could read body language. Wren didn’t believe Richard. Which meant Richard was now caught up in suspicion as well. And all because of Hux. Wasn’t it all because of Hux? He had dragged Zara into his life, after all. He had done the same now with Richard.
His heart throbbed and he gripped his hands as fists at his sides as he waited for the investigator to respond. Wren slowly stood. “If that is the case, I must have bad information and I apologize for wasting your time.”
He extended a hand and Richard shook it. “No apology necessary, Mr. Wren. What an excitement to think for a moment that I could be involved in something so shocking. My life is rather boring otherwise.”
“Hmmm.” Wren tilted his head and now Hux caught a glimpse of a harsh jawline, tight with disbelief. “Mr. Fitzroy, I have no reason to doubt you. From all my research, you are known as an upstanding person. But if you do know these people or are harboring them in some way, please realize that those who hired me are bent on destruction. They won’t stop. You have my card. It has my direction at the inn in the village. I’ll be there for a few days at least while I investigate any other leads on the matter. If you think of anything that you left out, please do contact me.”
“Of course.”
They were wrapping up now, and Hux grabbed Zara’s arm and tugged her into a nearby parlor. They stood behind the door, listening as Richard escorted Wren to the foyer. Their voices echoed, mindless small talk about the weather and the roads and then the front door closed.
Hux released Zara at last and she crossed to the settee, sinking into the cushions and covering her face with her hands. He stared at her, her shoulders rolled forward in defeat and pain and fear. And he hated himself even more intensely.
He cleared his throat and stepped into the hallway as Richard made his way back in long, steady strides. When he saw Hux, his eyes went wide. They stared at each other a moment, Hux trying to memorize every line of his face. Then Richard shook his head. “You heard?”
Hux jerked out an unsteady nod. “Yes,” he whispered, and motioned behind him into the room. “We both did.”
Richard’s mouth tightened and he drew an unsteady breath. “Then we have a great deal to talk about.”
Hux felt his jaw tighten as together they walked into the parlor. Zara lifted her head as they did so, her expression drawn and filled with pain and fear. It hit Hux in the chest, increasing his already pulsing guilt.
Richard crossed to her and sat beside her, gathering her into his arms and offering the comfort that Hux couldn’t. He stared at them, drinking them in. If there was an investigation, it was very likely that he would be torn away from them, whether because he had to run or because he was taken.
And in that moment, he felt the absolute devastation of that idea. Of losing them. These two people he cared for…loved. Loved, could he love them? With Zara it had been constant building emotion for so long, which he tried to ignore even though it was part of him down to his very core.
Richard was more surprising. Hux didn’t let people in, not so quickly. But he felt such a connection to this man. Such a powerful drive to be near him and know him and give whatever he needed.
What if what they needed was for him to step away? To protect her? To protect him?
He cleared his throat. His voice caught as he said, “If I…if I turned myself in to this man…”
Zara shoved from Richard’s arms and was on her feet immediately. She stepped toward Hux. “No!”
He shook his head. “Zara, listen to me, we’ve talked about this many times over the years, you know what is best. If I told him I was the only one involved in any scheme—”
She moved into his space and pressed her hands against his chest, pushing him back like she could move him away from the idea. “No!” she repeated, louder and wilder.
Richard got up slowly. “He’s trying to protect you, Zara.”
“I bloody well know that,” she said, pivoting toward him, then back to Hux. “You have spent years trying to protect me. But I will not let you do this! I won’t let you sacrifice yourself for me. Not for me, Huxley. I would not survive without you.”
He glanced toward Richard. “Perhaps you wouldn’t have to be alone.”
Her eyes went wide and she stared at him, unblinking. Then she shook her head. “Fuck you, Huxley. It isn’t about needing a man at my side. It’s aboutyou, you great oaf.”
