Phoebe inhaled sharply and Will placed a steadying palm at the small of her back.
Maude’s gaze then caught on someone behind them. “Oh, thank God.”
Will glanced back and found Inspector Holland heading for them.
“Detective Inspector!” Phoebe greeted him with a cheery smile that couldn’t quite hide the tension around her eyes. “How nice of you to come.”
He gave a short bow. “My pleasure. Congratulations on the opening of the new school, and your engagement.”
Phoebe’s smile grew as she looked up at Will and leaned closer to him. “Thank you so much.”
“Miss Clarke,” the inspector said with a nod.
“Come with me,” Maude replied without preamble. “I need to tell you something.” She then hooked her arm through his and steered him toward Alex.
Phoebe watched them with a furrowed brow. “Do you think Alex is really in danger from this man?”
Will shrugged. “I’ll look into it. But what I want to know is why a fearsome London criminal is called the Nun.”
“It does sound odd. Perhaps he’s very religious?”
“Or very chaste.”
They exchanged a look and began to laugh. Phoebe thenbrought a hand to her mouth and the tension returned to her face. “Oh, but there isn’t anything funny about this.”
“Don’t worry, my dear. Alex is quite fearsome herself. And she has good people around her, including a very powerful and important duke,” he said with a wink.
Phoebe smiled at that and leaned against him again, but just as he pulled her a little closer someone interrupted: “Goodness, you twodorealize we’re in public.”
Will and Phoebe both turned to find Freddie beside them, but her gaze was fixed firmly to Holland’s retreating back. “Oh, is that that handsome inspector?” Will didn’t much like the look of interest in her eyes. “How nice of him to come. I think I’ll just say hello.”
“Freddie,” Phoebe cautioned, but her sister was already striding toward the unsuspecting chap.
“What does she mean to do with him? Ericson’s ring shopping as we speak.”
“I’m not sure Freddie even knows,” Phoebe said on a sigh. “She’s just muddling through, like the rest of us.”
“Butyouaren’t muddling anymore, are you?”
She looked up at him with that fetching smile that never failed to make his heart soar. “Not in the least. There is nowhere I’d wish to be than right here with you.”
“Not even the carriage?” he murmured suggestively.
“Well, perhaps the place could be alittlemore private,” she allowed.
He held out his arm. “That is easily arranged.”
“All right,” Phoebe said as she took it. “Lead the way, Your Grace.”
Will let out a harumph. “You’ll pay for that, Atkinson.”
She then flashed him a cheeky grin. “Promise?”
“Only for you, my love.” Will chuckled as he led her toward the exit. “Only for you.”
Epilogue
January 1897
