Page 91 of How the Earl Entices

“You’re an amazing woman, Grace Alden.” He lowered his mouth to her temple but didn’t slow his strides to escort her away as quickly as possible, to get her safely tucked into Spalding House and himself back to saving Ross. “What you did…”

“Was exactly what Ross would have done to save me.”

“That’s the God’s truth.” He smiled knowingly. “He loves you, you know.”

All of her tensed for a fleeting moment as sheer happiness poured over her. Then she nodded against his shoulder with a soft tremble as they passed through the door and outside into the sunlight. She whispered, “I know.”

The nightmare was finally over.

Chapter 27

“That’s everything.” Ross finished relating the events of the past few months to the Home Secretary. The same details and events he’d shared earlier with the Secretary at War, the Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor, and the Master of Ceremonies for the Court of St James’s. The same details he was certain he’d have to relate again to King George tomorrow. But now, he wanted to end this and go home to Spalding House, where Grace was waiting for him. “Any more questions?”

The expression on the secretary’s face remained solemn as the man sat across from him at a table in a reception room in the Palace of Westminster, where officials had been questioning him since they escorted him from the Lords. Beyond the tall windows, the dying reds and purples of the fading sunset fell mutedly across London, and an attendant had already come into the room an hour ago to light the lamps and stoke the fire.

The secretary shook his head. “I think you’ve told us everything we need to know.”

Thank God. Only then did Ross allow himself to ease back in his chair. Only then did he let himself completely believe that he would be exonerated.

The secretary rose to his feet, prompting Ross tiredly to his. Then the man extended his hand and said simply, “Welcome home, Spalding.”

“Thank you.” Gratitude warmed inside his chest. He didn’t want to be lauded as a hero. He simply wanted to move on with his life. As a man who had dedicated his own life to England, the secretary would undoubtedly understand. Being welcomed home was better than any kind of honor the Court and crown could bestow.

The Home Secretary left the room, and Ross reached to pour a glass of whiskey from the tray that had been brought in hours ago and thus far remained untouched. He removed the crystal stopper and splashed the caramel-colored liquor into one of the glasses, then wordlessly held it out.

As if on cue, Christopher strode into the room. Not breaking stride, he snagged the drink on his way past the table toward two leather chairs positioned in front of the fire.

Ross filled the second glass, took a large swallow, then topped off his drink. When he slumped into the chair across from Kit, the rush of relief at putting an end to this long day swept over him with a shudder.

After that performance in the Lords, he wasn’t surprised at what they’d both been put through this afternoon. While he’d been subjected to meeting after meeting, repeatedly explaining in excruciating detail the connections he’d made between the pages he’d brought from Paris and the treason that the ambassador had committed, Kit had been interrogated by the Home Office Secretary and the Lord Chancellor. By the time this last meeting ended, Ross was certain both brothers had detailed every step they’d taken for the past ten years of their lives.

The only way he’d been able to tolerate the questioning was knowing that Grace was safely tucked away at Spalding House, where Watkins and Mrs. Mabry had strict orders to tend to whatever she needed. He had no doubt that eventually the authorities would ask to speak with her, just to confirm her innocence, but Ross would be right there at her side when she was. He owed her his life.

More. He wanted to dedicate the rest of that life to her.

Kit heaved out a tired sigh. Good Lord, his brother looked as haggard as he felt. Thoroughly exhausted, Ross wanted nothing more at that moment than to drink himself to the bottom of his glass. Repeatedly. Then fall into bed and not wake up for three days. Judging from Kit’s slumping shoulders, his brother wanted the same.

Yet Kit frowned darkly into his glass. “When?”

Ross’s throat tightened, knowing what he meant. When did he plan to visit Sir Henry’s widow, to inform her that he’d caught the man’s murderer. “Tomorrow.”

Then the ordeal would be over.Finally.

Kit studied the golden liquid as he held it up against the firelight. “You’re England’s newest hero.”

Ross grunted out a scoffing laugh.

“You’ll be made an ambassador yourself now.”

He stared tiredly into the fire, ignoring the quick squeeze of longing in his chest. He’d once wanted nothing more than exactly that. “Perhaps not.”

“Assuredly.”

But his career wasn’t the only one which had suffered acute scrutiny today. “And you?”

Kit shrugged. “Only a man helping his brother.”

So he would continue as a Home Office agent. The publicity hadn’t revealed what he’d truly been doing these past few years, when he’d pretended to be nothing more than the shiftless brother of an earl.Good. Christopher needed his work the way men needed air to breathe.