Mason got the sense that with Shelbourne’s self-induced death and Katherine being unharmed, the authorities were happy to consider the case closed. Considering it involved a man of wealth and prestige, he doubted they’d put much effort into investigating the many questions and mysteries surrounding the entire plot.
It didn’t surprise him. It took a lot of power and influence to go against Britain’s aristocracy.
Mason, however, wasn’t prepared to let the matter get swept out the door. After listening to Katherine’s recounting to the constable, he was convinced there was something deeper and darker going on with Shelbourne’s involvement. There was a lot more to this story, and the missing journals remained a link to the Blackwells. Something had to be done about that.
It was also clear that Warfield knew a lot more about the situation than he’d let on to them or the authorities. Mason intended to put a bit more pressure on the evasive lord at the earliest opportunity. Luckily, Katherine insisted her cousin join them for dinner the next night, after they’d all had a chance to rest and recover from the ordeal.
It was nearly two hours after the constable’s arrival before Mason managed to get Katherine back to the mansion in Mayfair. Together, they went to the third floor to look in on the children before going to bed.
They found Frederick sprawled carelessly across his bed, a soft snore echoing through the room. And Claire was tucked safely in her bed, curled on her side in the light of early dawn, her hands tucked sweetly beneath her cheek.
As they descended the stairs to the second floor, Mason could sense the weight of worry in the woman beside him. Though some things had been resolved through the drama of the last several hours, there remained a heavy shroud of uncertainty over the whole thing. When they paused at her bedroom door, she looked up at him with an unreadable shadow in her eyes even as she tried to form her lips into a smile.
Mason lifted his hand to trail his fingertips over her temple and down along the strong line of her jaw. She closed her eyes with a weighted sigh, and he allowed himself the luxury of soaking in the lovely lines of her face. There was so much more to be seen and admired in the details of her features than he would have thought possible. He recognized her ferocious loyalty in her straight brows and firm chin. He saw nobility and courage in the curve of her cheek and compassion in the fan of her lashes. Her lips, so pink and full, were softened by...sadness.
A raw ache tightened the muscles of his chest.
“All right, dove?” His voice was roughened and raw.
“Mm-hmm. Just tired.”
When she opened her eyes, he saw the weariness she’d been holding at bay, probably for much longer than he’d realized. But he saw something else as well, something that reached out to batter his heart.
She parted her lips as if to speak, but when no sound emerged, she gave a gentle shake of her head and smiled before trying again. “Thank you. For everything. For rescuing me tonight. For insisting on coming to the party. For keeping Fredrick safe. For...everything,” she finished with a heavy sigh.
The words sounded like a good-bye.
And why wouldn’t they be?
With Shelbourne dead and the threat to Frederick apparently eliminated, his purpose was concluded. She would likely expect him to find a new residence as quickly as possible.
Perhaps he should tell her his suspicion that Shelbourne was involved in something that went much farther than the work her father had done for him. That there might be others...
Not tonight. He brushed his thumb across her cheek. Tonight, the woman needed rest.
After reaching past her to open her door, he swept her up into his arms. Rather than resist him as he half expected her to, she cuddled into his chest and sighed.
Laying her out atop her bed, Mason went about removing the trappings of her fine evening attire. She barely stirred as he stripped her down to her chemise then tucked her into bed.
When he straightened and would have walked away, she reached out to wrap her hand around his wrist. “Stay with me,” she murmured softly.
With his heart beating thick in his throat, he replied roughly, “Not tonight, luv.”
Her hand dropped away as she slipped into sleep. To keep himself from crawling into the bed with her after all, Mason turned away and left the room.
UPON WAKING THE NEXT morning, Katherine immediately went in search of Frederick. She didn’t want to wait another moment to tell him the man behind the abductions was gone for good. She found her brother in the schoolroom with Claire.
The little girl saw her first and scrambled quickly to her feet to run across the room and lift her arms toward Katherine. With a smile, she scooped the toddler into her arms and held her close, breathing deep of the child’s sweet scent.
“My lady.” The nurse rose from her chair in the corner to curtsy.
“Good morning.” She glanced to Frederick, who’d been sitting at a small writing desk but now crossed the room to her.
“Morning, Kit,” he said with a smile. “How was your evening?”
“Eventful,” Katherine replied, “and exactly what I came to talk with you about.” Her brother arched a brow. “Breakfast will be ready soon. Shall we walk down together?”
“Certainly.”
“I’ll take Claire,” the nurse offered, hurrying forward.
Katherine looked at the girl in her arms who’d started twirling a tendril that had fallen from Katherine’s coiffure around her little finger. “Has she eaten yet?”
“Uh, no. We were planning to ring for something shortly.”
“Do you mind if she joins my
