At once Evelyn realized Sayers had no idea of her connection to the department. And why would he? Adrian had had her name expunged from the records. Best to let Sayers believe she and Max were lovers.
“Discretion forbids me from comment.” She forced a pleasant smile. “My husband is sitting right here, you know. How are you, darling?”
“Excellent at the moment.” His brows drew together. “Bit of a headache, though. The chloroform, you know.”
“Nasty stuff,” she murmured.
“That’s enough.” Sayers glared. “This is not afternoon tea.”
“But where are my manners?” Adrian said pleasantly. “I should introduce the two of you.”
“As Mr. Sayers has just pointed out, we have already met.”
“Ah, but you don’t know his full name.” Adrian paused. “Allow me to introduce Mr. Emmet Sayers
Hardwell
.”
“Hardwell?” She frowned. “As in Sir George Hardwell?”
“Sir George was my father.” Sayers smirked. “Which means you are my dear cousin. Oh, quite distant, of course, but we are relations nonetheless. Indeed, I am your only living relative.”
Evelyn stared in disbelief.
“Evie, dear, Mr. Sayers or rather Mr. Hardwell has been good enough to explain everything to me.” Adrian shrugged as best he could given his bonds. “As he intends to kill me, it seemed only fair.”
“How very gracious of you”—she forced out the word—“cousin.”
“It seems, darling, your parents did not leave you penniless after all.” Adrian’s tone was light. “You have quite a sizable fortune in trust that you will inherit on your thirtieth birthday.”
“However,” Hardwell began, “that same fortune has provided for my father and myself. I had no idea, of course. I thought my family was financially sound. As it turns out, my dear father had been taking money from your trust for, oh, as long as he had been in control of it.”
“I see,” she murmured. It was most interesting but not of any great concern at the moment. Still, every minute she kept him talking was another minute for Max and his men to surround him.
“I knew nothing of this until my father cut me off a few months ago. Apparently, in his declining years he had developed something of a conscience. That and the fact that he knew he would be found out when you turned thirty, which, I believe, is next week.” He heaved a dramatic sigh. “Unfortunately, he passed away that very same night.”
“Helped by his loving son,” Adrian added.
“Well, I would have hated to see the old man imprisoned for embezzlement.” Hardwell shuddered. “He wouldn’t have liked that at all.”
“What a good son you are,” Adrian said under his breath.
“I’m afraid I find this all most confusing.” She shook her head. “I would think then that you’d want to kill me, not my husband.”
“Ah, but if I were to kill you first, the inheritance would go to your husband. If I killed him after your birthday, your inheritance might well become part of his estate.” He grinned in a most evil manner. The man was obviously mad as well as dangerous. “But if I kill him before you inherit, I can wait as long as I wish to kill you.”
“How very clever of you, cousin.”
“I thought so,” he said modestly.
“You do realize I would not have come alone,” she said coolly. “You will not escape this.”
“On the contrary, cousin.” He scoffed. “I have explored this building thoroughly. I know every entrance, every exit. And I know them in the dark. Once I dispatch your husband, I shall extinguish the light and vanish in the shadows.” His tone hardened. “Admittedly, I had originally planned simply to slit his throat and throw his body in the river. It would have been much more expedient that way. But I am thoroughly prepared for the circumstances I now find myself in.”
“I am sorry, cousin, to disillusion you but you cannot get away with this.”
“Oh, but I can. You see ...” He lowered his voice in a confidential manner. “Your friend Sir Maxwell heads an organization that is ... how to explain it?” He thought for a moment. “Let us just say they do not work within the confines of the law. Were I to be imprisoned, even executed, I shall make certain the activities of your lover’s organization were made public.” He shook his head in a mournful manner. “It would be most distressing to the entire government. I cannot imagine the political repercussions. Therefore, it’s in everyone’s best interests to let me vanish and forget all about me. Once I am finished here, of course.”
There was an obvious flaw in his plan, but the man was too smug or too mad to see it.
“My, you are clever. But you have forgotten one thing.” She raised the pistol. “I have a firearm.”
He chuckled. “And a charming little toy it is, too. However ...” He laid the knife against Adrian’s throat. “Unless you can kill me with one shot, you will not have the chance for a second.”
“One shot, oh dear.” She shook her head. “That is awkward.”
“At the very least,” Adrian murmured.
“Do try to keep still, dear.”
“I am trying.” A tense note sounded in his voice. Oddly enough, his concern lessened hers and she’d never been calmer.
“Come now, cousin,” Hardwell scoffed. “Your hand is already shaking.”
She cupped her right hand with her left. “That’s better, I think.”
Hardwell laughed. “I must give you credit, cousin. You do bluff well.” His eyes narrowed. “But as amusing as I find this, I am tiring of this game.”
Her gaze met Hardwell’s. “Do you trust me, Adrian?”
“With my life, apparently.”
“Did you know I am an excellent shot, darling?”
“I do hope so, my dear.”
“Even if you could make that shot,” Hardwell said, “I daresay you won’t shoot the only remaining member of your family.”
“Oh, but you are not my family, Mr. Hardwell. My husband is.” Her tone sharpened. “And if you do not drop that knife and step away right now, do not doubt for a moment, I will shoot you.”
A slow, evil smile spread across his face. His hand twitched and she squeezed the trigger. The shot caught him right above the bridge of his nose. His eyes widened in surprise and the knife dropped from his hand. No more than a trickle of blood oozed from the smoking hole in his face. Odd, she’d thought there would be more blood. Slowly he crumpled to the floor.
Adrian stared in shock.
“Excellent shot.” Max emerged from the shadows.
“Are you all right?” Concern sounded in Adrian’s voice.
“Quite.” She nodded, turned, took a few steps, doubled over, and retched.
And in the end ...
Revelation
... but at the length truth will out.
—William Shakespeare,
The Merchant of Venice
Chapter 25
“U
ntie these blasted ropes,” Adrian ordered.
“I’m trying,” Max said sharply. “But it would go much faster if you would keep still.”
His poor wife was doubled over, retching. Not that he was surprised. He’d seen the strongest of men react similarly the first time they’d killed a man. The ropes around his wrists loosened and he pulled his hands free, rubbing them briskly to restore feeling.
Max knelt to untie his feet. His voice was low, for his friend’s ears alone. “Hell of a shot, Adrian.”
“She saved my life,” Adrian said simply. It was, however, an amazing shot, even for him. If asked, he would have wagered she could not repeat it. But these were extraordinary circumstances, and in his experience, even the most ordinary of men rose to the occasion when pressed. Of course, Evie was not now, nor had she ever been, ordinary.
“Done.”
Adrian kicked the ropes away and rushed to his wife’s side. “Are you all right?”
“You needn’t keep asking me. Yes, yes, I’m fine. Better now, really.” She straightened and stared at him. “Are you?”
“You saved my life.” He yanked her into his arms. “But I’m more angry than grateful. You placed yourself in grave danger.”
“My apologies.” She glared up at him. “But you obviously needed my assistance, and I was not ready to become a widow.” The faintest flicker of amusement shone in her eyes. “A wealthy widow apparently, which I suppose would tend to take some of the sting out of widowhood.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I have no intention of allowing that to happen until you are entirely too old and feeble to enjoy being a merry widow. And with that in mind ...” He released her and gently removed the pistol from her hand. “I’ll take that, if you please.” He flicked the revolver open and emptied the bullets. “I would hate to be shot accidentally.”
She stared at him, then laughed; laughter tinged by the faintest edge of hysteria. “It would be no accident.”
“Good to know.” He studied her closely. “You’re shaking.”
“Well, I did just kill my only living relative.” Her gaze slipped past him to where Max’s men were collecting Hardwell’s body and she shuddered. “He was a nasty sort, though, wasn’t he?”
“As he had already killed two men, including his father, and fully intended to kill us both, I would say calling him a nasty sort is being kind,” Adrian said firmly. He handed the pistol and bullets to Max, who had come up behind him, Miss DeRochette by his side.
Evie’s gaze searched Adrian’s. “We have a great deal to talk about.”
More than she knew. He drew a deep breath. “Then let us go home.”
“I’m afraid not.” Max stepped forward. “As much as I hate to interrupt this reunion, Miss DeRochette will accompany Lady Waterston to your house. You will ride with me. There are matters—”
“Of course.” Adrian smiled into his wife’s eyes. “I will join you soon.”
Her eyes narrowed. “See that you do.”
A short time later they had seen the ladies safely off, and he and Max were in a second carriage. Adrian had been both surprised and gratified that Max had been able to marshal the resources of the department so quickly. But then he’d really never doubted his friend’s ability to run the organization.
“I’m assuming you learned more from Sayers, or rather Hardwell, than you revealed to your wife,” Max said.
Adrian nodded. “Apparently he joined the department under the name of Sayers to avoid any question of nepotism, even though Sir George had already retired by then.”
Max sighed. “His record was excellent.”
“And I believe, from what he said, it was legitimate. His references and background, however, were more than a bit fictitious. He discovered Evie had married a former head of the department after he began working directly for you. He admitted he found that rather amusing at the time.” Adrian clenched his fists absently. “It wasn’t until he had that falling-out with his father over money that he came up with his plan to get her inheritance.”
“By doing away with you?”
“By killing me first and then her. It was really rather an ingenious plan.” Adrian sorted through the information in his head. “He thought by taking the file, killing Lansbury, and then me, it would appear whoever was behind it all was targeting the department. It would never be suspected that Evie’s money was his real goal.”
“Then Lansbury’s death was—”
“Nothing more than furthering the impression that this had to do with the department.”
“Poor bastard,” Max murmured.
“Once I was out of the way, the pressure on him would be lessened.” His voice hardened. “And he could take his time to kill Evie. He planned to make her death some months from now look like an accident.
“With her birthday approaching, I was a more pressing problem. Hardwell hadn’t quite figured out the best way to dispose of me as of yet. But when he learned I would be meeting her at the Langham, he seized the opportunity.”
“He wasn’t as clever as he thought.”
“His biggest mistake was in thinking he knew everything. In thinking his plan was foolproof.” Adrian’s gaze met the other man’s. “I’m assuming, even if he escaped tonight, he would never have been allowed to live.”
“He thought the department would let him go to avoid embarrassment and exposure.” Max shrugged. “Which is far easier to do if the threat is eliminated entirely.”
Adrian nodded. “He never thought Evie would come to you for help. And why would she? It would be most awkward, after all,” he said in a casual manner. “He assumed you and she were lovers.”
“So I heard.”
“He was quite snide about that. He said he thought sending me the note to join her through you was some sort of game she was playing.” Adrian shook his head. “But he never imagined she’d been trained by the department.”
“Which is why he wasn’t concerned tonight about her appearance.” Max paused. “In hindsight, your insisting her name be wiped from the records proved his undoing.” He chuckled wryly. “Given her actions this evening, perhaps she is the one I need to return to work.”
“Don’t even think about it, Max,” Adrian warned.
It was odd, though. Upon reflection, Adrian realized there’d been no mention of the department, no reference to him as Sir during the confrontation between his wife and her distant relative. Was it at all possible his secret was still safe? Did she or did she not know he was Sir? With all that had happened in recent days, was it even conceivable that particular point had evaded her notice?
He’d be foolish to assume she knew if she didn’t and even more foolish to assume she didn’t if she did. Best to let this game play out to the finale. Once again he realized his friend had been right. This was indeed the most dangerous game he had ever played.
And he had no idea how it would end.
He stood in the doorway of the dressing room that connected his bedroom to hers and watched her pace for a moment. Evie had changed into her blue dressing gown, the one that fairly made his mouth water. He took it as a good sign.
He cleared his throat. “Evie?”
Her gaze jerked to his. “Oh, Adrian!” She flew across the room and into his arms. “Oh, darling, I was so scared.”
“As was I.” He chuckled. “And never more so than when I saw you in the cellar.”
“Oh.” She paused. “About that.” She heaved a heartfelt sigh, pushed out of his arms, and stepped away. “There are things I need to tell you.”
He nodded. “There are things I need to tell you as well.”
“Mine are in the form of, oh, a confession, I would say.”
“A confession,” he said slowly. Perhaps it would be best to let her have her say before he said anything he might regret. “Go on.”
“Well.” She wrung her hands together in an overly dramatic manner. His eyes narrowed. She was rarely overly dramatic. “It’s about tonight.”
“I assumed as much.”
“When I saw that madman was prepared to kill you and I realized it was all my fault ...”
“Yes?”
“I simply couldn’t live with myself if something had happened to you.”
“It would have been ... awkward,” he said slowly.
“Awkward?” She scoffed. “It would have been devastating. The guilt alone. And your mother ...” She shuddered. “Your mother would have made my life a living hell.”
“Something to consider, of course.” His mother? He was dead and she was worried about his mother’s reaction?
“Well, that’s neither here nor there now, I suppose.” She waved in an offhand manner. “You’re alive and look none the worse for it.”
He rubbed his forehead. “I still have a bit of a headache.”
“As I did last night when I was abducted and dropped.” She scoffed. “You’ll be fine.”
“I suppose ...”
“You’re alive and that’s all that matters.” She squared her shoulders. “And I intend to keep you that way.”
“You do?” he said cautiously.
“Without question. I will not allow you to be put in danger again.” She shook her head in a mournful manner. “And I fear it could happen in the future.”
He stared. “I don’t understand.”
“I know, you poor darling.” She paced the room. “This is difficult to say.”
“Then it’s best simply to say it,” he said in a harder voice than he had expected.
Her brow rose. “I shall attribute your irritable mood to the events of this evening. I know I felt rather ill-tempered last night. It’s not pleasant to be abducted and dropped, you know.”
“My apologies,” he muttered.
“Accepted,” she said in a lofty manner and continued. “Before we were married ...” She frowned. “Perhaps you should sit down for this part, darling. It might be a bit shocking.”
His jaw clenched. “I prefer to stand.”
“I am concerned about your aching head.”
“It feels much better.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened in astonishment. “I know when I was abducted and dropped—”
“Would you stop saying that?” he snapped.
“What?” Her eyes widened in an innocent manner. “That I was abducted and dropped?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Because it was at my direction!
“It was a dreadful incident and I do not wish to be reminded of it.”
“You poor dear. Very well then.” She shrugged. “Stand if you feel up to it.”
“I’m fine.”
“As I was saying.” She drew a deep breath and yet she appeared remarkably collected. “Before we were married, I worked as an agent for a government department that, oh, operates for the most part in a clandestine manner.”
“Oh?” Was this the moment to tell her he already knew? Or should he just keep his mouth closed?
“I had thought it was all in the past.” She shook her head. “But last night I realized that it will never be in the past. Indeed, I fear now my true identity has been revealed. It had been hidden up until now, thanks to the efforts of a truly remarkable man. Quite dashing and adventurous and I must say ...” She sighed again. “The intoxicating way he takes pen to paper is only eclipsed by his charm in person.”
He glared. “And?”
“I know that after last night, you are full of, well,
confidence
in your courage, and indeed, I am most proud of you,” she added quickly. “But you have to admit, that in spite of one adventurous moment, aside from your past adventures with women ...” She shook her head in an annoyingly kind manner. “You’re really not an adventurous sort.”
He stared.
“And I have come to realize that you might well never be safe as long as I am in your life.”
“I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” he said through clenched teeth.
She continued as if he hadn’t said a word. “So, in order to keep you alive and well ...” She shook her head sadly. “I’m afraid I have no choice but to leave you. Forever.”
“What?” Surely she wasn’t serious?
“Oh, darling, don’t look at me that way.” She cast him a pleading look. “This is as difficult for me as it is for you.” She paused. “Although I suppose I will be able to turn to Sir for comfort and—”
“This has gone far enough,” he said in a hard tone.
“And I much prefer it go no farther.” She sniffed back a sob. “Why, when you were abducted practically in front of me—”
“When I was—” At once, he realized the truth.
Adrian
wasn’t abducted.
Sir
was.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “When. You. Were. What?”
Damnation! For the first time in his life, words failed him. “Uh ...”
Her eyes narrowed. “When. You. Were. What?”
He winced. “How long have you known?”