“Er, shall I reserve Maisie for you, sir?”
The duke laughed, but then his eyes narrowed as his jaw flexed, his eyes hungry as they moved over Hugo’s body. “One last time, Hugo,” he repeated.
Hugo swallowed. “Er, that’s—”
The duke nodded vigorously. “Jolly good, jolly good.”
The door to the room opened, as if somebody beyond it was attuned to the royal attention span. It was Gibson and he held the door open and gestured for Hugo.
Hugo turned to the duke, but the older man was looking at his watch. Only the clenched fist that rested on his thigh gave away the duke’s tension.
Again, he opened his mouth to tell the duke that he would not be here next week—that he wouldn’t be in the city. Better yet, that he wouldn’t even be in the country.
Or perhaps he should just tell him that he was married. The duke had a wife and he even seemed to care for her, in his own strange way. Surely he would—
“Time to go,” Gibson said, his cold gaze on Hugo.
No, Hugo thought as he bowed low to the duke and then walked toward the door, his feet like lumps of lead, the time to go was before I ever stepped foot into this damned room.
Chapter 32
Martha, Albert, and Cailean were in the breakfast room when Hugo went down the following morning.
“Hugo, what are you doing up so early? You didn’t come home until after four o’clock. You couldn’t have had more than three hours sleep.”
Hugo didn’t tell her that he’d not even slept that much. Instead, he kissed her cheek and then nodded at Albert and Cailean. “Good morning, Albert, young Cailean.” He grinned at the huge lad. “Nice to see you for a change.”
The boy flushed and gave him a shy smile.
“Coffee, please,” he said to Richard.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Martha asked when Hugo sat down without filling a plate from the buffet.
“I need to have a few cups of coffee first.” He turned to Albert before Martha could try to feed him; she was adamant in her belief that a healthy breakfast was critical to a healthy body. Normally Hugo agreed with her, but this morning he thought he might vomit if he tried to eat.
“How were things with Mr. Williams?”
Albert smiled. “He is confident that I can get control of the patent with the proof I’ve given him. In fact, he knows of my ex-employer and said there have been accusations in the past. He is a brilliant man” His chin wobbled and a distinctly emotional expression slid over his face. “How can I ever thank—”
“Excellent news,” Hugo boomed, not wanting the younger man to thank him—yet again—for loaning him a bit of money and introducing him to a competent lawyer.
“I told Albert that we selected a house with ample room and that he should consider coming to stay with us until his legal troubles are over. Cailean and I would adore having a Londoner show us the best places.”
Hugo was both proud and amused that she was trying to do a favor for the cash-poor young man and make it seem as if Albert were the one doing a favor for her.
Albert’s freckled face flushed at the offer. “Oh, I’m sure the two of you must be tired of—”
“What an excellent idea, Martha.” He turned to Albert. “I’m afraid my business is eating up a great deal more of my time than I’d like at the moment. You really would be doing all of us a favor.”
“I would want to pay for—”
“We can discuss that later.” Hugo cut in. “You must stay with us until the patent issue has been settled. These things can sometimes drag on for months—even years.”
Albert frowned.
“Not that it will in your case,” Hugo hastened to assure him.
“Well, it you are sure—”
“We’re positive.” Hugo turned from the younger man to the fourth occupant of the table. “I’ve not spoken to you in almost two days, little brother. Have you brought home any new houseguests—perhaps a carthorse? Some pigeons?”
Cailean gave one of the hushed, huffing laughs that Hugo found so endearing, his huge shoulders shaking with silent amusement.
“Cailean has been finding homes for some of the animals,” Martha said.
“Is that so?”
“Lord Bellamy’s stablemaster said he needed a good mouser and also that his daughter had taken a liking to Emma—the little black dog.”
“Ah.” Hugo turned to Cailean. “You don’t mind if they go to somebody else?”
Cailean shook his head, his expression calm but firm, as if he’d considered the character of the people and was satisfied. That was probably a good thing since the animal head count seemed to grow weekly.
“Well, you are an excellent judge of character,” Hugo teased. “You liked me on sight, didn’t you?”
Cailean snickered.
“I’ve told Cailean that he needn’t worry there won’t be enough room as our new home has a large back garden,” Martha said.
Hugo had to smile at that. The house they’d chosen had a big enough garden, but it wouldn’t hold all the animals Cailean collected. “I’m sure we’ll manage,” he said, topping up his coffee and taking another sip, beginning to feel more awake.
“Will you be able to come to services with me today, Hugo? You needn’t if you’re too tired. Cailean and Albert are joining me, so I shan’t be alone.” She hesitated, and then added, “It is a new church.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, St. Olav’s. Do you know it?”
“I can’t imagine there is a Londoner who doesn’t, my dear. I shall be delighted to attend services with you today.”
The door opened and Richard approached Hugo with a salver. “I’m sorry to interrupt, sir, but this message just came for you and the messenger is waiting for a reply.”
Hugo ignored the tightening in his gut at the familiar cheap parchment and broke the sickly gray wafer.
I want to see you immediately. Don’t keep me waiting. B.
He swallowed down the bile that surged in his throat at Bev’s terse message. What in the name of God had
