Lewis shrugged.“I’m afraid I don’t know.He and Hastings were both summoned to Carlton House for a meeting with the Prince Regent.”
Adrian glanced at Samantha, who arched a brow, then he told Lewis, “It’s actually not Kendrick with whom we desire to speak but rather Wentworth and Melroy.There’s an important question I’d like to put to them.With your help, we could make significant progress in the murder investigation before Kendrick returns.”
“I’m sorry, Mr.Croft, but Kendrick’s orders prevent me from allowing such a thing.He made it clear that no one was to speak with either of those men besides him.”
“It would save Kendrick a great deal of time,” Adrian pressed.“If our suspicions are correct and either Wentworth or Melroy confirm them, Kendrick can see to arresting the killer as soon as he gets back.”
“While that may be true, it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve been forbidden from granting anyone access.”
Adrian frowned.He hated these types of obstacles where no amount of logical reasoning worked.“Can we at least wait for him in his office?”
“No, but you’re welcome to take a seat on the bench over there.”
Heat flared at the base of Adrian’s skull.Had he not been forced to live in fear of losing his freedom through one wrong move, he’d have wielded his power to get his way.Instead, he’d been reduced to a shadow of the man he’d been.All because of how close he’d come to having everything taken from him.The impact of that experience stayed him.
Despite the fury pulsing through him because of the injustice being enacted against him, he did no more than nod.Lewis was not the source of the problem.He was merely a manifestation.The real issue was the deal Eldridge had struck with Liverpool on Adrian’s behalf.And even that could not be blamed on either man.It was Adrian himself who’d provided the opportunity for it.
Hehad been the architect behind his own downfall.And nothing angered him more.
With Samantha’s hand tucked into the crook of his arm, Adrian started toward the bench.It felt as though his every step was observed by every Runner who occupied the front office.The heat at the base of his skull intensified from the shame curving over his shoulders.It sank its teeth into his flesh and clung to him as he crossed the checkered floor.
“Mr.and Mrs.Croft?”
The feminine voice made him halt and turn.Miss Hastings, whose presence he’d failed to notice before, now demanded his attention.He managed to force a smile while suppressing a sigh.All he wanted right now was some peace while he and Samantha waited for Kendrick’s return, not further engagement with the chief magistrate’s daughter.
“Good day, Miss Hastings.”Against all odds, he actually sounded happy.“What a pleasure it is to see you again.”
“When I saw you I simply had to come greet you,” she said, her attention divided equally between him and Samantha before moving more directly to him.“Thank you for reassuring me earlier.It helped a great deal.”
“What are you referring to?”Samantha asked.
“Miss Hastings was in the tunnel,” Adrian explained, his voice barely more than a whisper.“Kendrick left her there to wait for him, which is where I found her when I arrived.”
“I’m not fond of being underground.”Miss Hastings appeared to make an effort to look unaffected, but a ragged sigh gave her away.“Kendrick told me you accompanied the men he found – that they refused to speak with anyone else.I’m guessing you’ve come to share what you’ve learned?”
“Partly.”Adrian considered Miss Hastings and all he knew about her.According to Kendrick, she’d insisted on working this case with him.As the chief magistrate’s daughter, she might even have some authority.He decided to test that by saying, “I was actually hoping to speak with Wentworth and Melroy.Based on what I’ve discovered, I think they might be able to confirm the killer’s identity.”
Miss Hastings’s eyes widened.“Really?So it’s not either of them?”
“I’d rather abstain from making any absolute claims until I’ve questioned them.”
“Unfortunately Kendrick is the only person with enough authority to permit such an interview,” Samantha said with a heavy sigh.
“Which means we’ve no choice but to wait for him to return,” Adrian said.
Samantha nodded.“I only hope the delay won’t impede our chances of catching our suspect.”
Crease lines appeared on Miss Hastings’s brow.She flattened her mouth.“That would be regrettable.”
“It can’t be helped,” Samantha told her kindly.“However inconvenient it may be.”
“Please don’t let us keep you from your work, Miss Hastings,” Adrian said.“We’ll be perfectly fine on the bench.”
“You’ve not been asked if you’d like to wait for Kendrick in his office?”
“Our request to do so was also declined,” Adrian said, “even though I’ve been permitted to wait for him there in the past.”
“It’s probably due to the case,” Miss Hastings said with thoughtfulness.“I believe Kendrick is wary of visitors having access to any details he may have left on his desk.Allow me a moment to make sure there’s nothing to see and I’ll escort you there myself.”
