She rolled her eyes and sighed but said nothing more as she gathered the files in her arms. “Just so you know, I’m bringing these home with me tonight. That way, I can take my time with them after supper.”
He wanted to suggest she not overtax herself, but the truth was he needed her to find him a lead as quickly as possible. If there was indeed one to find. So he merely nodded and thanked her, then watched her take her leave.
The black glossy knot of hair at the nape of her neck seemed to toy with him as much as the gentle sway of her hips. His fingers gripped the armrests of his chair, digging in as desire rushed through him.
If only she were his. To pull into his arms and to kiss. To undress and lay upon his bed. To worship and adore.
She could be.
A reminder that whispered through his bleary mind.
He pushed aside a few more papers that covered his desk until he found the agreement she’d given him. If only he had the wherewithal to review the last part of it now. He made an attempt, but found himself reading the same sentence several more times.
She was right. He needed rest. And until he got it, he’d not have the frame of mind to catch a ruthless killer, to help Croft in his search for his wife, or to move things along with Gabriella.
Resolved to improve his abilities in all three areas, Peter collected his hat and gloves and went to find his bed.
Dissatisfied with the way in which he’d parted from Miss Roberts, yet unable to chase after her as he wished, Edward went to call on his friend. As much as he loathed waiting, there would be time for him to talk things through with Miss Roberts later. Samantha’s abduction, however, was an urgent matter in need of immediate attention.
Despite all this — the grave situation Adrian faced, the troubled look in Miss Robert’s eyes, her comment before she’d run from him – Edward felt lighter. The kiss they’d shared had exceeded his expectations, assuring him that he was right to pursue her. All he had to do now was alleviate her concern. He would never ask her to be his mistress, but this was apparently all she believed she could be to him.
The thought saddened him even as he smiled. He hated that circumstance forced her to feel so inferior. It made him look forward to their next encounter and the possibility of explaining his intentions to her properly.
Having reached Number 5, he gave the door a couple of solid raps with the knocker, then stepped back and waited. It didn’t take long before Elks came to greet him. The butler pulled the door open, relief showing in his otherwise inscrutable expression when he spotted Edward.
“Welcome, my lord.” The man looked like he needed to sit for a minute and gather his energy.
“Is Croft home?” Edward asked.
“Yes. Um… Do come in.”
Elks opened the door wider and Edward entered the foyer, which had always struck him as both elegant and soothing in its simplicity. Yet somehow it seemed morose today, though nothing appeared to be different than usual. The air, however, was heavy with the awareness that Samantha was no longer here. That she had been taken and might have been made to suffer at the hands of her captors.
Edward shook aside that unpleasant thought and removed his gloves. He dropped them into his hat and handed the items to Elks.
“You ought to prepare yourself,” the butler informed him. “This business has taken its toll on him.”
Edward could well imagine. It would be strange if it hadn’t.
He followed Elks to Adrian’s study and waited to be announced. Adrian could be heard muttering something and then Elks returned.
“Would you like some tea or coffee?” Elks asked. “Perhaps something to eat?”
“A cup of coffee would be appreciated,” Edward said.
Elks hesitated briefly, as though on the cusp of saying something more, only to nod before striding off.
Edward took a breath and stepped into the room where Adrian waited. His first observation was the darkness. While it was already late afternoon and overcast with rain, the closed curtains blocked out all possible light. Only a dimly lit oil lamp placed on the sideboard allowed Edward to get his bearings.
He paused immediately inside the doorway and swept his gaze toward the shadowy figure who sat behind the desk. Well, this was cheerful. Unsure of what the right words were in this kind of situation, Edward decided to focus on his reason for coming. “What can I do to help?”
“Hmm?” It sounded like Adrian hadn’t yet realized that Edward had entered the room.
“I stopped by yesterday to offer whatever support you need, but you were out. Searching, I suppose, or possibly forging a plan?” If only this were the case. “Have you learned anything? A possible clue as to who would have done this and where she might be? If the motive is clear, then—”
“What?” A grunt of displeasure sounded as Adrian pushed himself into an upright position. He slammed an object against the desk — a glass, perhaps — then braced his hands on the surface, his posture hunched. “Ya think a clea’ motive ’ll solve this?”
Edward stared at the man he’d known most of his life and realized he’d never before seen him like this. Three sheets to the wind and his speech so slurred he could barely make himself understood.
