Richard let out a long sigh. “And just how will we explainyourpresence?”
Zara snorted and smiled up at Hux. “I’ve dressed as a man before.”
“She’s a very attractive young man, indeed,” Hux said, reaching around to caress her backside.
Zara laughed and swatted at his hand even though she loved the weight of it. “I could be a footman. We’ll make it work.”
Richard stared at them. “It seems we have decided that we are a team. All for one and one for all, isn’t that the line?”
“Oh Lord, don’t quote Shakespeare to me,” Hux grunted.
“And he thinks he’s uncultured,” Richard replied with a laugh.
“We’remorethan a team,” Zara whispered as she took each of their hands. “We are each other’s future.”
Hux’s smile fluttered, but he still looked uncertain. “First we have to resolve the past, but I promise you, when we have, I’ll discuss a future.”
She lifted up on her tiptoes and kissed him gently. “That’s fair.”
“So,” Hux said, turning his attention to Richard. “How do you suggest we do this? And how soon can it be done?”
Richard nodded. “I have thoughts about that. Let’s put our heads together and work out the details.”
CHAPTER13
Hux
Hux fought not to run a hand though his hair and cause his highly identifiable curls to come free of all the work Zara had done to smooth them earlier in the day. He was nervous as he paced Richard’s study, waiting for the arrival of the investigator, Mr. Wren.
“Huxley,” Zara said, reaching out to catch his hand as he passed by her. She looked up at him and squeezed. She was dressed in the livery of Richard’s servants, her hair twisted and tucked and mostly hidden except for a rather thick queue that did little to hide its length. She looked like a very pretty young man. Hopefully Mr. Wren would not look too closely at her.
Richard sat at his desk. “Pacing won’t help.”
Hux snorted out a humorless laugh. “It doesn’t hurt.”
“Then by all means continue,” Richard said with a chuckle. “Your backside looks quite fine from several angles when you do it, and I’m sure I can replace the carpet after you wear a path through it.”
Hux glared at him playfully and would have continued on his way, but there was a light rap at the door. Zara leapt up and moved to it, straightening her spine as she tried to get into the character of a servant, here to standby in case they needed anything in the course of your business.
Hux stepped to the desk and smoothed his jacket, testing at the pocket watch was inside for the transfer of the item. God, he hoped this went well. In the day since they’d come up with this plan, he had found himself daring to picture a life with the two remarkable people in this room.
Perhaps that was foolish since he could lose it. But it felt so damned good.
He blinked as Richard nodded to Zara and she took a place at the sideboard, pouring tea for everyone as the butler opened the door. “Mr. Wren to see you, Mr. Fitzroy.”
Richard inclined his head and Peyton stepped aside to reveal the investigator. Hux observed him in one quick sweep, taking in all the information he could. He was a handsome devil, that was undeniable. With a thick mop of dark hair, dark blue eyes and a nose that looked like it might have been broken a time or two over the course of…Hux would wager about thirty years. He appeared to be a serious person, and an observant one, for he felt himself being sized up just as he was doing the same.
Richard must have felt it too because he came around the desk, hand extended and partially blocked Hux. “Mr. Wren, thank you for returning. I hope I didn’t take you away from anything pressing.”
Wren inclined his head, his attention now focused on Richard. “My pressing matter remains the same, Mr. Fitzroy. It sounded as though you might have more information for me. Perhaps something you recalled after our discussion yesterday.”
Richard gave a flutter of a smile. Not his real one that Hux knew so well. Loved to coax. This was a game. “You are a singularly minded person, I respect that. Please, come sit. Will you have tea? My footman will oblige.”
Wren glanced toward Zara, but he didn’t take her in with the same intensity that he had Hux, to Hux’s great relief. “No, thank you. I appreciate the offer, but I’d rather get to the matter at hand.”
“Of course,” Richard said. “Stand by, would you? In case we require anything.” Zara inclined her head and stepped back, worrying her hands a moment before she remembered herself and put them behind her back. Richard returned to his place at the desk and motioned toward Hux. “This is my solicitor, Mr. Northern.”
“Mr. Wren,” Hux said softly, making eye contact. Ducking it would only draw more attention to it. He wanted Wren to think he was exactly who he claimed.
