Though, was that true? He’d been wrong about Sol being at the opera, perhaps even Sol’s dalliances…
“Miss Moses, I know my brother,” Frederick said, breaking her cycling thoughts. “As he might have told you, I’ll be married shortly. The final banns are to be posted this Saturday, in fact. And that marriage will change our family for the first time since he was a young boy. Something which I’m sure is difficult for him to accept.”
The man tutted. “I’ve also expected him to take on more responsibility of late, which I’m afraid has… overwhelmed him, perhaps.”
Hannah frowned. She’d not exactly describe Sol’s behavior as “overwhelmed.” At least not at the prospect of his brother’s marriage. No, the man had seemed rather motivated tonotbe an obstacle. Yes, he was failing spectacularly, but that was as much her fault as his. Probably more hers, as she was the one always sneaking in windows at night.
“He’s been trying to get my attention for weeks.” Frederick leaned back in his seat. “First falling off his horse, then nearly walking in front of a carriage, then tripping down the stairs.” He recounted each incident on his fingers. “Not to mention the dangerous company he keeps. And now he’s slipping off rooftops? I’ve tried to be understanding, not accusatory. However, it is apparent that tactic has not worked as his behavior has escalated.”
Hannah’s mind churned. Again, a logical explanation, but all her senses were screaming the opposite at her.
“The men who attacked him, they chased him for blocks. So if there’s any possibility that someone truly wants him dead, wouldn’t it at least be prudent to take extra precautions?” she couldn’t help arguing back. After all, no matter how the incident had occurred, the consequences were still real and there was no guarantee they had dissipated.
Sol’s brother wanted to protect him, so why wasn’t he understanding the gravity of the situation? While the elder Weiss was clearly canny, he was not invincible. The information she’d brought him should at least put him on alert.
“How long did they truly chase him, Miss Moses?” Frederick asked, impatience dripping from his voice. He stood up and began to pace, like a barrister making his case. “You weren’t a witness, and tired minds produce all sorts of nonsense.”
“Be that as it may—” she started, trying to recall all Sol had said. Hadn’t Frederick warned Sol about danger in the streets? Yes, she wasn’t exactly the person the man would confide in himself, but what was the purpose of denying what he’d already told his brother?
“Yes, Miss Moses?” he asked.
She cleared her throat, searching for the correct words. “I don’t want to—Sol might have few enemies, but you…”
“I what?” His tone was colder than the snow outside.
Hannah folded her hands in her lap, forcing herself to be calm, to think, to approach this man correctly. Manipulation wasn’t her strong suit, but if ever therewas a time to put all those years of being in multiple criminal situations to good use, it was now. She took a deep breath. “As you mentioned, you’re on the verge of marrying a very prominent gentile woman. That has to have made people jealous.”
“You have a point,” he said, returning to his seat with a thoughtful half smile. The man was all too mercurial. “But targeting Sol…”
“As you know, there are worlds in which the predators reign and kill for lesser slights,” she pointed out. “Hurting Sol might have just been a convenient and effective message.”
His lip curled. “Aren’t you clever?”
Frederick leaned forward in his chair, the mirror shimmering behind him. “You’re wrong, but you’re clever,” he declared. His sharp glare told her exactly the kind of man she was dealing with, despite his fine clothes and soon-to-be-titled in-laws. They may both be scavengers, but rats still ate mice when the cats weren’t looking. “And I didn’t hire you to think.”
“You did not,” she said, keeping her voice steady. She forced herself not to swallow, to play the part he expected. After all, she hadn’t survived as long as she had without knowing how to stare down far more dangerous men who wanted to do far worse things to her.
“A pity, as you could have been such an interesting asset.” He tented his fingers and tapped them once, twice, three times. “Ah well, given your background, you were never going to be anything more than temporary help. After all, you’ve committed a great deal of easily provable crimes—including a rather recent burglary near here, I believe?”
He raised a brow as Hannah’s throat grew dry.
“Preying on innocents to feed your lust for money—you’re the worst kind of Jew. Not a person I can permit myself to be tied to,” he continued. “Imagine how that could be used against me for the purposes you outlined. And think of what you might do to my brother. You believe my actions and dealings put him in danger? What about you, Miss Moses?”
She stared at him, his words like a slap in the face, before her shoulders slumped.
Because he was not wrong. Far from it. He was completely right. She’d been selfish, so, so selfish. If she cared about Sol—cared about him, not loved him, as she’d not permitted her heart to become that involved—if she truly cared about him and his safety, there was only one thing she could do.
“This was always going to be the point where our relationship would need to be terminated,” Frederick continued. “Now you will promise never to so much again as breathe the same air as my brother.” He smiled, but it was so cold, his voice like ice. “Have I made myself clear?”
Yes, this was not a man with whom to trifle. And no matter how much she disliked him and how terrifying his threats, a part of her had to admire his drive to protect his brother—little as he seemed to know him.
Sol deserved that. And she was grateful that he had it. Grateful that, no matter what, he would be fought for and cared for, that he would have a good life with everything he wanted when she was long gone. She swallowed again.
Frederick arched a brow. “Have I?” he repeated.
“Yes. I understand,” she managed to say, making her voice as resolute as possible.
He flashed her a charming smile, which almost certainly made many women swoon. However, it only left her cold with fear.
“Thank you, Miss Moses.” He bowed his head before rising. She did the same as gracefully as she could. Forcing herself to finish this encounter without shaking. Or worse, bursting into tears.
“I’ll send Martin to you with the money after I fetch my brother,” he told her with a dismissive wave. “Good day.”
“Good day,” she murmured as she exited, her mind searching for the words that would set everything right. It wasn’t until later that she realized she’d never told him exactly how Sol had injured himself, and yet he’d known he’d fallen from a roof.
