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Sebastian Ness had been less than pleased to be woken in the middle of the night, but once Drake and O’Brien had explained what was going on, the inspector had welcomed them in with open arms. His wife Jocelyn had been the wealthy widow of an earl before they’d wed, and their home was a magnificent white marble mansion in Mayfair, large enough to sleep an entire army.
After making certain that Heather was settled in one of Sebastian’s guest rooms, Drake had somehow managed to drag himself into the one they’d assigned him and fallen into a deep dreamless sleep.
By the time Drake woke up again, night had fallen, and he fumbled to find the switch for the gaslights so he could see what time it was. Luckily, it was only seven in the evening, and he hurriedly availed himself of the modern bathroom attached to his room, which boasted hot and cold running water, before dressing and heading downstairs.
He’d like to go see Heather and find out whether she was doing all right, but he knew he’d already compromised her in every possible way.
He’d have to do something about that, he realized grimly. Last night, when both of them had believed it to be their last night on earth, it had made perfect sense to make love to her. Now that they’d survived, the price for the pleasure they’d shared might very well be his freedom.
He shook away the thought of what a future with her might entail, determined to take things one at a time. First, he had to ensure she was safe. Then he would worry about the rest.
The sound of voices led him to a sitting room, where O’Brien, Allison, Ness, and his wife Jocelyn were having predinner drinks.
“Good evening,” Drake said stiffly as he entered the room, feeling very out of place. He knew that the two couples were bosom friends, and although he liked both men very much, he didn’t think they trusted him. This was certainly the first time he’d ever been a guest in Ness’s house, and he hadn’t actually been invited. He’d pretty much forced his way in.
“Good evening,” Ness said, standing and striding over to the sideboard. His host was a tall, dark-haired man with blue eyes and a rugged face. His wife was a stunning redhead, who gave him a welcoming smile. “Would you like a drink?”
“I’d love one,” Drake admitted, glad to have something to take the edge off. “Does anyone know how Miss Fields is doing?”
Allison gave him an unreadable look but then smiled. “She’ll be fine, but she’s still sleeping.”
Relief poured through him, and he gratefully accepted the drink that Ness handed him. He drank deeply, glad for the burn that traveled through his system, chasing away some of the chill he’d felt ever since those bastards had taken him. He prayed he never had to feel that helpless again.
“I’ve got men stationed all around the house, even one on the roof, but they haven’t seen anything suspicious,” Ness told him. We also still haven’t been able to locate either your coach or your driver.”
Drake sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Edgar’s fate weighed upon him heavily, but he’d had so much on his shoulders, he hadn’t had much time to devote to worrying about his long-time driver. “Thank you.”
“I sent someone to check out the address you gave me, but there was no one there,” Ness continued, his expression grave.
“They must have cleared out as soon as they realized we’d escaped,” Drake replied, wishing he’d knocked down that door when he’d had a chance. This could all be over now if he had.
“We did some checking, and the building you were being held in is an old warehouse that has been being used by the Citizens Committee,” Ness informed him. “We’re still trying to get more information.”
Even before the group’s leader had made himself known, Heather had guessed the reading material in the cellar might be a clue about who had taken them. Drake was somewhat surprised and embarrassed that he’d spent so much time thinking it was his brother. He sat down next to O’Brien. “Has there been any news of Danbury?”
“He’s going about his business as usual,” Ness said darkly. “I’ve had a man on him day and night for weeks.”
“Good.” Drake thought about what he could tell Danbury about why he hadn’t been home for days, then wondered if his brother even noticed his comings and goings. He’d certainly never appeared to. Their father’s townhouse was so large he and his brother had often gone days without running into each other. In any event, he’d have to track Danbury down tomorrow and make up an excuse for why he was staying gone. Perhaps he’d claim to have a new mistress.
The thought made him pause, gazing down into the liquor swirling in the bottom of his glass. He had a lovely little house in Belgravia, not far from O’Brien’s actually, where he’d kept his mistresses in the past. Perhaps he could take Heather there to keep her safe. Since his job required the utmost discretion, he’d always been careful to keep the place a secret.
But it seemed wrong somehow, to take her there. He wasn’t quite certain exactly what he felt for her, but it was more than he’d felt for the other women who’d occupied the house. There had been a total of four in the last eight years, but none of them had held his interest for more than a few months. The women who sought such positions tended to be shallow and conniving. All along, he’d been aware that Heather wasn’t like that. She wasn’t someone he could just tup and forget. But she also wasn’t the type of woman he could marry.
Marry? It startled him that the thought had even crossed his mind. He’d always been so certain that marriage and a family were not things he wanted. But the thought of being able to come home every night to Heather’s welcoming warmth and beautiful smile stirred something deep within him.
It would be scandalous if he were to wed someone like her, but what other choice did he have? Especially when she could very well be carrying his child.
Strangely, the thought of that didn’t terrify him as much as it would have in the past.
“Blackstone?” Ness called, obviously not for the first time.
Drake looked up to find them all staring at him expectantly, and he realized he’d completely lost track of the conversation.
He cleared his throat in embarrassment. “I’m sorry. You caught me woolgathering, I’m afraid.”
Ness frowned, looking as though he knew exactly where his mind had been, but didn’t comment on it. “I was just asking what the plan is going forward. Much as Jocelyn and I enjoy having you all here, we can’t live together forever.”
“Yes, of course,” Drake replied, taking another drink to cover his unease. “We must apprehend whoever was behind the kidnappings. Once we have whoever runs the Citizens Committee behind bars, we should all be safe. In fact, I was just thinking of moving myself and Miss Fields to a house I own in Belgravia so that we won’t impose on you any longer. We’ll be safe there. No one knows that I own it, and I’ve always been careful to keep my comings and goings private.”
“What about Allison?” O’Brien asked. “We still don’t know if those bastards meant to take her instead of Miss Fields.”
“You can remain here for the time being. I’d just feel more comfortable in my own home.” Though he and Ness were friendly, the inspector’s earlier comment proved that he really didn’t want his superior living with him, and Drake couldn’t say he blamed him.
“Heather is not yours to protect!” Allison interjected, her lovely face flushed. “She belongs with us! We will keep her safe. I don’t know what happened between the two of you when you were in that cellar together, Blackstone, but if I were a man, I believe I’d call you out!”
O’Brien put a calming hand on his wife’s arm but he appeared just as incensed. “You’ve been treating her with far too much familiarity, Blackstone. It doesn’t look good.”
All four of them were staring at him now with varying degrees of suspicion. Ness was the only one who didn’t look as though he wanted to murder him where he stood. The amount of concern that Heather’s employers and friends had for her wellbeing still surprised him, but he was glad they were so fiercely loyal.
“Miss Fields and I went through a very frightening situation together,” he said carefully. “That created a bond between us that I cannot explain. I want to make sure those bastards don’t get their hands on her again. That’s all.”
“Can you assure us that nothing... untoward happened between the two of you?” Jocelyn asked, finally speaking up. “Because if it did... despite her station... I think that we are going to have to insist that you make it right.”
Drake swallowed thickly. How the hell was he supposed to answer that? Admitting just how many liberties he’d taken with her would be asking for trouble. He’d already considered the ramifications of what had passed between them, but he bloody well didn’t like being taken to task for it by his subordinates. And he needed to find out what Heather wanted before he talked to anyone else.
Before he could answer, Heather entered the room, her face flushed. She’d obviously heard what O’Brien had asked him. “Leave him alone,” she snapped, casting Drake a pained glance before looking away again in embarrassment. “He saved my life, and now you’re interrogating him? Demanding that he... what? Make an honest woman of me? He’s the son of a marquess, for God’s sake.”
“I don’t care if he’s the son of the bloody king!” Allison declared, shocking Drake with her profanity. “If he’s compromised you in any way, he must do the right thing by you.”
“He didn’t compromise me!” Heather assured them all, the lie making him extremely uncomfortable. “But as he said... going through that together created a... bond between us.”
How much of the conversation had she heard? Did she already know that he wanted to take her to Belgravia? If she would just look at him again, he would know. Her lovely blue eyes were so expressive...
Shaking himself, he sighed and ran a hand through his hair in agitation. “I’m glad that you all have such concern for Miss Fields. It is not my intention to make things more difficult for her. All I’m saying is that she might be safer with me in Belgravia. Whether she comes or not is entirely up to her.”
At last, she looked his way, and what he saw in her eyes nearly took his breath away. Pure trust and... He didn’t even know how to put a name to what else he saw. All he knew was that she wasn’t ready to end this thing between them yet either.
“I think he’s right,” she said softly. “If you could do without me for a while longer, Allison, I think I’d be safer with Drake.” Her face flushed even redder. “I mean, Mr. Blackstone.”
Her use of his first name hung heavily in the room for a few moments before Ness cleared his throat and shook his head. “Well, we don’t have to decide anything tonight. I believe dinner is ready. Shall we go in?”