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“I am greatly indebted to you. But I’m afraid I have one more favor to ask.”
“Anything. What is it?”
“I should like to find another place to reside.”
His brows knit as the normal mask reserved for the company of others seemed to melt away, and he shifted forward. His hand went to his chin as if considering the puzzle that was Abram. “I am aware that the sisters can be a handful. But I encourage you to stay, if only for your own safety.”
“No, I have found it is difficult. Your sisters insist on aiding me in discovering who the killer might be. I’m concerned for their safety. They will not listen. I should not like to endanger any one of them.”
“I cannot argue there. I am assuming Orris is the primary concern?”
“Why would you think her and not any of the others?” Abram’s stomach clenched with the fear that the man knew of what had occurred the night before.
Samuel shrugged. “She seems the most interested in the outcome. And I’m afraid she can get carried away at times. She is the highest strung of all of them. She has a strong will and rarely takes no for an answer.”
“True, indeed,” he admitted. Shame pierced Abram, a sharp needle pricking in his heart. His mind filled with thoughts of her at the mere mention of her name. He shook his head in the hopes of ridding himself of his obsession.
“I am afraid leaving will do you no good. She will come after you. Especially if she believes she can help. I will ask Barrett if you can stay on at the Dove. There are rooms available, and he has guards there for some of the ladies.”
“It is a brothel, yes?”
“You have been there before, according to this list. There are all sorts of preoccupations on the premises, from gambling to the fair ravens of the night. But you would be safe.”
“That is all I ask. At least until I can find the scoundrel who is responsible for all of this.”
“Consider it done. We can go there after luncheon, if you like?”
“I would. Thank you, Samuel. Just one more thing.”
The viscount let out a chuckle. “You really will be indebted to me by the end. What is it?”
“Do not tell Miss Orris where I have gone. She is going to be angry, but it is far better a fate for her than to follow me to my demise.”
Viscount Fredericks nodded in agreement. “Understood. I shall carry this secret to my grave.”
Abram returned to his room, decided to skip the meals, and using one of the fair Orris’s tactics, cited his pretend illness and a need to rest. He did not want to make things harder for Orris. Perhaps he did not want to make departing hard for himself.
Instead, he slipped away from the home, one of the footmen aiding him in gathering his things, and arrived at the Dove before nightfall.
It was far better than having to say goodbye to the only woman for whom he had ever felt so strongly.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Where is he?” Orris demanded as she stormed into Samuel’s office.
Her brother-in-law did not respond to her immediately. He simply returned her glare over the edge of the newspaper he held. “I fear I shall never finish reading this today. Orris, I cannot break a promise made to another gentleman.”
Pure rage rattled through Orris as she walked over and planted her hands on his desk. “You made a promise to me, Brother. You told me we would help him. That we would keep him safe.”
“And we are. He simply suggested it was becoming too dangerous for us all for him to remain under this roof. I, for one, agree. He is safe. In fact, likely better off where he is since there are guards there.” Samuel snapped his paper back up, covering his face.
The urge to flip the entire cherrywood desk over on him came so suddenly, she clasped her hands together to prevent herself from acting on the impulse. “If you do not tell me, I will travel to every point on that makeshift map until I find him. Starting at the Dove and Hound.” The threat was not idle, and she prayed Samuel knew.
Samuel leaned forward, an ominous cloud going over his features. “You would not dare. You are allowing your foolhardy instincts to drive your decision making. We shall not place this family at risk anymore. I forbid it.” His voice was no more than a growl.
“Did you forbid Myrtle from traipsing across London to save us last year?” Granted, the blow was low, but Orris was at her wits’ end. She wanted to speak to Abram. Needed to tell him that she did not harbor any resentment over what happened the night before. She should have known his illness had just been an excuse, but she’d stayed away all day to allow him to rest, and then she’d found his room empty.
“He is not in the same position as Myrtle. Besides, I was with her most of the time. It is quite different.”
