*
Oliver couldn’t move.
His mind still reeled from little Leo’s announcement, Talbot’s careless confession, and the horror on Louisa’s face when he admitted the truth he had hoped for purely selfish reasons that she would never discover.
He stared at the steam rising from the untouched cup of tea before him. Around him, the light murmurs of conversation hummed, and in the corner, the barman laughed at something a customer said. He’d returned straight to the tavern below hisAshford lodgings after leaving Talbot’s residence, which was far preferable to the unnerving silence in his room.
He should be happy.
He had gotten what he wanted and more. He would submit the evidence to Bow Street and expose the secret women’s club, and they would dismantle it one member at a time.
So, why did he feel so deuced empty inside?
It couldn’t be just because Talbot had revealed the truth to Louisa. It didn’t make any sense. His hopes aside, she still deserved to know the truth.
And Bow Street wasn’t likely to let the Duchess of Talbot off lightly. They might even be inclined to use her as an example for all the other members. They would also probably send someone to Brighton for the Havendish ledger once he reported its existence. Bloody Fury men. They deserved whatever trouble the law could bring to their little tavern.
But what weighed on him most was the way all of this would affect Louisa. He’d known, of course, that it would touch her in some way, but he’d never allowed himself to truly consider it. Never paused long enough to grasp the depth of what it would cost her. He hadn’t dared. He wouldn’t have been able to do his job if he had. He didn’t want to do it now.
But he must.
Because once again, a Cavanagh would be responsible for causing the Talbots some form of distress. Oliver dragged a hand through his hair. But it hadn’t been enough to stop him. Louisa wouldn’t have wanted him to stop either, no matter the consequences to her.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?”
Oliver’s muscles tensed at the sound of the familiar voice. He slowly turned to catch Helgate’s smiling face. He scowled, not in the mood to be pestered. For a moment, he thought of ignoringthe man entirely, but that would only make the pestering worse. “What are you doing here?”
The man pulled up a seat and joined him at the bar. “Miles and I left for Ashford shortly after you. Thought I’d see if you were still around.”
Oliver’s glanced over his shoulder to sweep the tavern with a glance. “And where is Miles?”
“Retrieving things.”
Oliver grunted. Nothing about Miles and Helgate surprised him anymore. The one was full of smiles, whereas the other was a true phantom, just like Louisa had said.
Helgate knocked on the countertop. “Why the sour face? Did Talbot’s wife not have a ledger?”
“No, she did. We found it.”
“Well, I’ll be damned!” Helgate slapped him on the back. “Isn’t that something to celebrate?”
“There is nothing to celebrate.”
Helgate raised a brow, his smile faltering slightly. “Why not?”
Oliver let out a dry chuckle, though there was no humor in it. “She knows about the kidnapping—her kidnapping,” he admitted, the words feeling heavy as they left his mouth. “She knows.”
“I see.” Helgate’s voice dropped a notch. “So, that’s why you look like you’ve been dragged through a field of nettles. She didn’t take it well, then?”
“I didn’t stay to find out.” The look in her eyes had been enough. He hadn’t been able to stand it. “Talbot returned with the duchess as well.”
Helgate whistled low, the sound slicing through the tavern. “So that’s how it is. Found you with his daughter, did he? Honestly, Mortimer, what did you expect? Your families are enemies. No matter what, the duke would never entertain you.”
Oliver stared into the full cup of tea that had lost its steam. He had known. However, knowing and experiencing were bitterly different. “I didn’t want it to end like this.”
“A pint of ale, please,” Helgate called to the barman before turning back to Oliver and asking, “How did you want it to end, then?”
He didn’t know. Not likethis. “I never thought about it beyond each moment.”
