Swinging away, he went to the door, pausing only briefly at the sound of her whispering his name — a plea for him to remain by her side.
Bad idea.
She was destined for better things than what he had to offer.
As soon as she’d recovered and the poison forced upon her by Grover was gone, he’d either return her to her brother or deliver her into a friend’s care, if that was what she preferred.
In the meantime, he’d keep his hands to himself.
He muttered a curse and descended the stairs to The Red Hen’s modest foyer.It was a small out-of-the-way inn, located near Tower Hill.James doubted Croft would think to look for him and Lady Edwina here.
Nevertheless, he meant to arrange for them to get out of Town as soon as they were able.The only real hindrance was Lady Edwina’s sickly state.Extended travel would be difficult for her to manage, which was why he intended to move her in short increments.
Their next stop would be Greenwich, at a cobbler’s shop.The owner, Mr.Nigel Fairborne, was an old acquaintance of his from before James entered into Croft’s employ.James and Lady Edwina would be safe there for a couple of nights.
Voices coming from the taproom informed him of other guests’ presences.
Cautious, he halted, and instantly realized he’d been wise to do so.The man speaking right now sounded like Pierson, one of Croft’s footmen.The words spoken next confirmed it must be he.
“I wonder if Croft has learned what caused it.”
James remained out of sight, his shoulder pressed to the wall beside the doorway.
A pause followed, and then, “I’m sure he’s looking into it.”Luthlow, the head groom.“We’ll probably hear something soon.T’would be nice to reunite with everyone under one roof, talk through the events an’ deal with our grief together.”
A frown creased James’s brow.Grief?What the hell was going on?
“Even if we’ve no new lodgings anytime soon, we’ll likely see the rest of the staff at Susie’s funeral.”
The scullery maid was dead?And what the devil did Pierson mean about new lodgings?
James was tempted to enter the room and confront the two men, but implicating them in his act of defiance would be unwise.Their loyalty would be to Croft and as such, James would be giving up precious time in which to move Lady Edwina.
So he stayed where he was and waited to see if something else would be revealed.Eventually, when neither man spoke, he started turning away.
And froze when Luthlow said, “I can’t imagine what the Crofts are going through.I mean, I’m sorry for the few personal effects I’ve lost, but they had an entire house full of things.All turned to ash.”
James’s heart sank like a block of led.
“At least they’re alive,” Pierson said.“I’m sure that’s more important to them than anything else.”
“Without doubt,” Luthlow concurred.
Footsteps sounded.Then came the voice of a serving girl.Cutlery scraping porcelain followed.
James turned from the doorway and made his way through a hallway that led to the back of the inn.Pulse racing, he pushed through the door at the end and stepped out into a stone paved courtyard.Each breath felt like a struggle, as though his lungs had forgotten how to work.
Croft House burned.Susie dead.The servants – his friends – displaced.
All while he’d been comfortably hiding out here.
Honestly, he deserved whatever came next — whatever punishment Croft intended for him.Because rather than be there to help, he’d abandoned the people who’d always looked after him.He’d turned his back on the man who’d saved him from himself.He’d chosen a virtual stranger over him and his family.Hell, he’d deliberately failed to follow through on the orders he had received.
Guilt sank its talons deep into his soul.Self-loathing caught him in its grasp.
He emptied the bucket and used the pump to rinse it, then sank to his haunches and tried to think.Lady Edwina depended upon him now.He’d made a promise to her and felt wrong about going back on his word.To abandon her would be…
A swift shake of his head shoved that thought aside.
