“There were others before her,” he said simply. “Not many, and none that meant anything beyond what they were. Temporary pleasure. Nothing more.” He paused. “It ended badly with her because she wanted more than I was willing to give. I ended it before you and I were married, notbecauseof the marriage, but because I had already grown tired of that particular emptiness.”
Elara was quiet, still looking at the blanket.
“I am not asking you to apologize for your life before me,” she said carefully. “I just wanted to know the truth of it.”
“And now that you do?” he asked.
She looked up at him then, and whatever she found in his face seemed to satisfy her, because the small tension around her eyes eased.
“Now I think I understand you a little better,” she said simply, and held out her hands for him to help her up. He took them, and as she rose to her feet and brushed the grass from her skirts, she gave him one more look.
“For what it is worth, I am glad none of it satisfied you.”
Constantine looked at her for a moment, then let out a low laugh that surprised even him.
“So am I,” he said, and offered her his arm.
Chapter 22
“Let us make our way to the rose gardens. Most people will be leaving now that the fireworks have ended, but I am sure a few will stay to wander the gardens in more privacy. We do not know what this Mr. Merlot looks like. Nor do we want to risk missing him.”
Elara nodded as she took his arm, and they strode out of the meadow and back toward the paths that would lead them to the gardens.
“Mrs. York gave me very little information on this new lead,” Elara said as they walked. “Only that we were to meet him here. Who is he? What is he about?”
“All I know is that his name is Mr. Merlot and he has access to the passenger manifests of all the ships that come to London’s docks,” Constantine explained. “I do not know if he has any personal ties to my brother.”
Elara nodded, and they continued the rest of their walk in silence. As they reached the empty rose gardens, Constantine was not sure whether to be relieved or worried about the privacy.On one hand, he very much wished to have the conversation in private. On the other hand, he did not know if this man was of good stock, and he did not wish to put Elara in any danger.
“Are we early?” Elara asked as they stopped before a statue of Venus.
Constantine reached for his pocket watch to check, but before he could grasp it, a shadow moved from around the statue.
“No, Your Grace,” the man stated, taking off his black top hat and bowing dramatically. “You are right on time.”
Constantine’s expression was wary as he took in the man’s slightly overdramatic gesture.
“Mr. Merlot, I presume?” he asked in a bored tone.
“You presume correctly, Your Grace,” Mr. Merlot replied, and bowed his head.
Constantine took the man in. Aside from his fine top hat and cloak, he looked nothing like nobility. His face was weathered, and his dark eyes were sharp, constantly looking about, as if he were wary of being caught. Constantine also noted the slight Irish accent in the man’s deep voice, which he was trying to cover up with an English accent.
“I hear you have information for me,” Constantine stated. It had barely been a minute, but he wanted this meeting over with.
“For a price, Your Grace,” Mr. Merlot retorted, daring a smirking smile.
Constantine frowned at the audacity.
“A man who knows manifests and the whereabouts of my exiled brother,” Constantine sighed wearily as he reached into his innerjacket pocket. “I should have known you were some sort of pirate.”
“Aye,” Mr. Merlot agreed, still grinning as he took the wad of bills Constantine offered. “And like every pirate, I need my treasure. Now that I have it, you may have yours. I heard you are looking for your brother.”
“I am,” Constantine gruffly replied. “What do you know? Out with it.”
“Augustus is a friend of mine. We have hauled many a precious cargo for shared profit. I am delighted to say that such a friend is coming back to London on a ship namedHer Essence.She is scheduled to dock at midnight in ten days’ time,” Mr. Merlot replied.
Constantine’s frown deepened.Ten days.Ten mere days before he and Elara would get to the bottom of their mystery. Ten days until, if all went well, he and Elara would part ways. The reality of such caused a pit to form in the bottom of his stomach and an acrid taste to form in his mouth.
