Amos took both lists and after tearing them up, he tossed them in the fire. “I suppose we know who the guilty parties are. I can’t say I’m surprised. They have been giving you the most trouble of late.”
“Indeed,” Drake murmured. “It would seem that way, unless there is someone else that we haven’t yet considered.” He steepled his hands before him. He had one more name but he wasn’t giving it up just yet. But then, it might behoove him to tell Amos so the individual could be watched carefully. “There is young Flavian.”
Amos’s brows winged upward. “I was wondering when you were going to count him. Of the three, he has the most reason to do you harm. You absconded with his sister and he is, no doubt, wishing to enact revenge.”
“If he might be sober long enough to do the job,” Drake added. “I do think his movements should be monitored closely.”
Amos inclined his head. “Consider it done.”
* * *
As purposeful stepsbegan to approach the door, Fleur quickly fled back down the hallway, ducking into the closest room and securing herself behind the door.
Once Amos strode past, she put a hand to her pounding heart. Unfortunately, it wasn’t racing due to her rapid flight, but rather the conversation that she had overheard.
She had intended to approach Drake and let him know that their nightly worries had been unfounded, as she had gotten her courses that morning. Relief had flowed through her and she had eagerly gone down the stairs. Her hand was poised to knock when she paused just in time. Drake’s outburst had startled her, so instantly she feared something must be wrong. Desperate to know if it had anything to do with Flavian, she’d pressed her ear to the wood and strained to listen, half scared to actually enter and discover her brother was dead—or worse.
What she’d learned next caused ice to freeze in her veins. Following everything that had transpired between her and Drake, he still didn’t want to trust her. It caused her heart to break, but then, she couldn’t really fault Drake because if the decision arose where she had to choose between her lover and her brother, she would be honor bound, if nothing else, to save Flavian. That had hurt nearly as much as thinking Drake believed her brother was responsible for the heinous crime of arson.
She shut her eyes tightly and tried to ignore the desire to hear Drake’s voice, to be held in the warmth of his arms. She was starting to find it entirely too comforting to rely on him when she had known all along it was nothing but an illusion. She had known from the beginning that he had a cold heart, that he was incapable of love, although she thought she might be the one to change him. For someone as tender and caring, to ensure her needs were met before his, she imagined that her patience and understanding might have started thawing his icy demeanor. Instead, she was the fool who had allowed herself to believe there could ever be more between them, that a criminal like Drake Porter could be persuaded to accept someone—anyone—into his life forever.
What disturbed her the most was that she had started to picture a life with him. As absurd as that sounded, for it wasn’t as though they were completely infatuated with one another, nor was there any true hope of a blissful future together, Fleur had started to imagine what it might be like to have his child. She pictured a raven-haired daughter with piercing silver eyes, or perhaps a boy that had his father’s smooth personality and his mother’s green gaze that saw the world through a different perspective.
It was the furthest thing from a poet’s romance or a childish fairy tale, and yet, Fleur was starting to think it was perfect. For them. Not everyone’s love story was the same, and while she told herself she wasn’t in love with Drake, neither could she deny she could easily fall to his charms, because he had them in abundance. He just chose not to share them with the rest of the world. She thrilled at the idea he saved those coveted moments when they were alone. Then, and only then, could she catch a glimpse of the man that Drake had once been, before society had jaded his positivity.
Taking a few deep restorative breaths, she had to come up with a way to get out of this house. She needed some space from him, some time to sort out her thoughts, and she decided that a brisk walk through the park would do much to help restore her broken spirits.
Walking back out into the hallway, Fleur hadn’t taken more than a handful of steps before Drake called her name. She reluctantly turned to face him.
“I was just coming to see you.”
He offered her a slight upturn of his lips, as if smiling was still something he found difficult to do. At the moment, Fleur felt much the same.
“I had considered doing the same, but I didn’t think you would grant my request.”
His gaze turned wary. “Which would be?”
“To take a walk in the park. I’m finding the walls a bit too close for comfort today.”
“I see.” He studied her expression, as if trying to ferret out the true reason for her escape. She did her best to adopt a perfectly neutral repose. Finally, he gave a curt nod. “Very well, I shall escort you?—”
“No, please.” She shook her head. “That’s not necessary. I think that would only be courting danger should we be seen together. Two birds with one stone, if someone is truly out to do you harm.” She prayed that her explanation was enough to throw him off of the scent that something was amiss.
Thankfully, although he frowned darkly, he exhaled sharply. “Very well. I shall have Amos escort you.”
Fleur wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of his henchman following her about, knowing that he also thought the worst of Flavian but since she knew she wasn’t going to get out of there without an escort, she nodded her head. “Of course.”
As he strode off, presumably to collect Amos, Fleur released a slow breath. She walked to the foyer, and after donning her pelisse, she waited patiently.
A short time later, Amos appeared, his single blue eye regarding her steadily. She said nothing but walked for the door where the housekeeper opened it from the other side. Sometimes she forgot that there were other people about in the house. They seldom made an appearance unless they were needed. She was sure that Drake had ensured it remained that way. He enjoyed his privacy, and if she was honest with herself, Fleur did too. She wished she was alone at the moment, as she didn’t feel any sort of threat, but she knew that nothing short of a miracle would have convinced Drake to let her leave on her own. She should have been grateful that he was concerned for her safety.
Instead, it made her feel like she was some sort of prisoner that had to be watched constantly. That sensation had faded after she had been with Drake for a while but after today, she was starting to experience the same uncomfortable feeling.
Rather than hailing down a hackney, Fleur opted to walk the short distance to the park. The air had finally turned brisk with the approaching autumn, and as her cheeks and nose became cold, it helped to numb the rest of her body as well. It had been the right idea to head out for this little excursion.
“Is there something you wanted to say to me?”
Fleur glanced quizzically at her companion. He faced her with his eyepatch on the opposite side. While there was only one eye peering at her, it seemed more intimidating than if he’d had full sight. “What happened to your eye?”
