Anette shifted in her seat to face her brother. “How long have you been a spy?” She glanced at Roswell. “Both of you?”
“We were recruited out of university,” Caleb replied.
“Why did you feel the need to lie to us?” Anette pressed.
Caleb opened his mouth to reply but Roswell spoke first. “It was to keep you safe,” he shared. “Furthermore, we didn’t want you to know what we were involved in so you would worry.”
Octavia crossed her arms over her chest. “You thought it was best to lie to us?”
“Protect you,” Roswell clarified. “There is a difference.”
“I don’t think there is,” Octavia remarked. “I just don’t think you trusted us enough with the truth.”
“Spies don’t go around revealing themselves, even to family,” Caleb said.
Some of Octavia’s anger dissipated at his words. “I can understand why that is, but I don’t have to like it.”
Roswell turned his attention towards Anette. He was very interested in what she was thinking at this precise moment. Was she angry with him? Hurt? Did she understand why he was forced to keep secrets?
Finally, when he could take the silence no longer, he asked, “What are you thinking?”
Anette bit her lower lip before replying, “I am just trying to make sense out of all of this. I killed a man tonight.”
“You did,” he replied, not knowing what else to say.
Her eyes searched his as she asked, “Have you killed before?”
“I have, but it is not something that I am proud of,” Roswell admitted.
“I know it was the right thing to do, but I wish there had been another way,” Anette remarked.
Roswell leaned forward in his seat. He wanted to reach for her, to comfort her, but he knew that it wasn’t his place. Not yet, anyways. “I would encourage you to doubt your doubts before you doubt your actions. You did nothing wrong, Anette. I want you to know that.”
Anette offered him a weak smile. “Thank you.”
It was a short time later when they arrived at Lord Oxley’s townhouse. Roswell opened the door and stepped down onto the pavement. He waited until Caleb and Anette came to stand next to him before informing Octavia, “I am going to walk Anette to the door.”
“That isn’t necessary,” Anette attempted.
“I want to,” Roswell insisted.
Anette nodded her acceptance. “Very well,” she responded as she accepted his arm.
Once they arrived at the main door, Caleb reached for the handle and said, “Goodnight, Roswell.”
Roswell wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to Anette. He turned to face her and asked, “May I call upon you tomorrow?”
“You may,” Anette said.
He reached for her hand and brought it up to his lips. “Goodnight, Anette.”
Caleb frowned. “It is late, and I do not wish to stand here all evening.”
Anette slipped her hand out of Roswell’s. “I shall be looking forward to you calling tomorrow,” she said before she stepped inside.
Roswell watched her retreating figure and couldn’t help but wonder if he had lost her. What she had been forced to do tonight was not easy. Would she blame him for what had transpired?
Caleb headed inside and closed the door behind him, leaving Roswell to stand alone on the front porch.
