“No. You. Won’t.” Adrian’s voice cut through the air.
The maid, clearly torn between heeding her master’s command and doing as a guest told her, remained utterly still. Pitying her, Edward reached for the tray. “I’ll take that so you can return to the kitchen.”
No sooner had the exchange taken place than she bolted from the room.
Edward turned his attention to Adrian’s glowering expression. “Coffee and food will do you good. It will help get the brandy out of your system.”
“Did it ever occur to you that I’ve been enjoying the brandy’s effect? That it is the only thing helping me through this living nightmare?”
“I had the impression you wanted to suffer. No better way to do so than by clearing your head.” Edward set the tray on the desk and filled both cups. He set one in front of Adrian along with a plate containing a couple of sandwiches. “Drink and eat.”
Adrian glared at him. “I hate you right now.”
“You’ll hate yourself more if you let despair cripple you.” Even though Edward felt compelled to turn on his heel and leave this awful version of his friend, he couldn’t. So he took a seat and told him plainly, “Imagine if you receive word about her whereabouts and you’re in no position to help. Consider how you will feel then.”
Only the rough sound of Adrian’s breathing filled the room in the moments that followed. He stared at the cup of coffee and the sandwiches as if both were poisoned. Until he finally blew out a breath and nodded. “Fine.”
He drank some coffee and Edward did the same. They ate in silence with Edward forced to press his lips together to keep from smiling when Adrian took additional food.
“Do you hate me a little bit less now?” he asked when they’d finished their second cups of coffee and only crumbs remained on their plates.
“I don’t…” Adrian’s eyebrows dipped, accentuating the pained look in his eyes. “Forgive me. I’ve been awful to you, but this helplessness I feel is eating away at me. It’s not an excuse, I realize, just the truth of it.”
“I understand. It’s a terrible situation to be in, but drowning yourself in drink won’t solve anything.”
“You’re right. I just… Sitting here, unable to do anything, not knowing where she is or what state she’s in… Not knowing how Murry is faring either… If he’s still alive, even. It’s killing me, Edward.”
Of course it was. They were speaking of Adrian’s wife and valet. The two people closest to him besides Edward. “Whatever you need, whatever I can do to help, please let me know.”
“Thank you, but I don’t see what you can do. Bow Street has sent out Runners. I’ve put my own associates to the task of gathering any possible information they can. I myself have walked the streets looking for clues, but there’s nothing to be found. Finn O’Leary is no simple thug. He’s clever, and sly, and I’m certain this is his way of torturing me.”
If that were the case it appeared to be working extremely well.
Edward dared not ask if Adrian thought this man might choose to avenge his father by killing Samantha. Instead he said, “I met Miss Roberts on my way here.”
Yes, he’d hang himself if need be, just to ensure his friend’s mind was distracted from all this unpleasantness. If only for a short while.
Adrian straightened in his seat. “She has returned?”
Edward inclined his head. “With Lady Heathbrooke, of course.”
“Right.” Adrian held his tongue briefly, then asked, “How was it?”
“Seeing Miss Roberts again?” When Adrian nodded, Edward informed him, “Rather delightful.”
“What does that mean?”
The frown and matching gravity in Adrian’s voice gave Edward pause. Despite everything, it might be wise not to divulge what had happened between himself and Miss Roberts, or what his intentions now were. After all, Adrian had made it clear once before that he did not support the match. Since a similar disapproval on Lady Heathbrooke’s part had already come between himself and Miss Roberts, he was loath to give anyone a similar opportunity to ruin things for him.
There would be time for transparency later. After he and Miss Roberts had come to a mutual agreement. Once things were settled between them and no one else stood a chance of interfering in matters that did not concern them.
As such, Edward said, “It means that it was better than I had expected. The awkwardness I’d feared might exist between us was absent.”
“A relief, I’m sure.” Adrian reached for the pot of coffee and divided the remaining content between both cups. “I know you were angry with me for not getting behind your decision to court her, but now that several months have elapsed, I’m sure you can see that such a path would have been untenable for you.”
Even though the remark reignited the bitterness in his gut, Edward did his best to relax. Allowing his irritation to show would serve no purpose, besides potentially undermining his own plans.
So he refrained from reminding Adrian that he’d promised to back him in his pursuit of Miss Roberts, should Edward ask him to do so. Instead, Edward picked up his cup of coffee once more and sipped the brew which had now turned lukewarm. “Your insight has been invaluable.”
