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“Now would be a good time to shut up.”

“Well, that was illuminating,” Shaw said once they were safely inside the carriage.“Rare magical abilities, secret French collaborators, burned papers—why, it’s like something out of a penny dreadful.”

Evander could tell from the gleam in her eyes that she was relishing the challenge of their investigation.

“And yet entirely too real,” Rufus contributed grimly.“The question is, what did Whitley discover that frightened him so badly?”

“And how does it connect to his disappearance?”Evander murmured.

The journey back to Scotland Yard was spent in thoughtful silence.Shaw departed to file her report with the AFD once they arrived, while Rufus accompanied Evander to his office.

“I’ll speak with Winterbourne about reaching out to the French authorities,” Rufus said as they entered the west wing.“They might be able to find out who Whitley was collaborating with.”

“Agreed,” Evander replied with a frown.

Rufus’s suggestion proved unnecessary in the end.

A sealed message marked urgent was waiting on Evander’s desk when he entered his office.He broke the wax seal and scanned the contents rapidly.

What he read had his stomach plummeting.

“What is it?”Rufus asked tensely at his expression.

“It seems the French magical authorities are already involved.”Evander handed over the message.“They’re sending one of their Arcane Investigators to London.Apparently, a specialist in advanced Elemental Magic by the name of Professor Henri Chevalier has gone missing.He worked at the Paris Institute for the Arcane.”He frowned.“He must be the French professor Whitley was collaborating with.”

Rufus cursed softly as he read the missive.“Two elemental specialists from two different countries, both connected by their research, and both vanishing within days of each other?This is no accident.”

“No,” Evander agreed grimly.

He looked at his pocket watch.The French investigator was due to arrive the following morning and would be meeting them at Scotland Yard.

“Why don’t we stop here for today?We should ask Shaw to send a forensic team to Walter Whitley’s home tomorrow.”

Rufus nodded.

Evander began gathering his things.“Will you be at Ginny’s tonight?”

Rufus’s ears turned red.“Yes.She’s invited Ophelia for dinner.”

The daughter of Baron Miller, a representative of the House of Lords, Ophelia Miller was not only the current belle of the social season but also a rare light mage.Though her power was a secret she and her family had kept all their lives, she had stepped in briefly to assist Evander during the Renwick affair.He was now part of the inner circle who knew about her wondrous abilities and had sworn to protect her confidentiality, along with Ginny, Viggo, and Rufus.

Evander’s chest lightened as he observed the inspector.

No one had been more surprised than he and Ginny when Ophelia and Rufus had developed an instant attraction for one another upon their very first meeting a few weeks ago.

“How goes the courting?”

“It’s going well, thank you,” Rufus murmured.

Evander arched an eyebrow.“Are you ready to talk to the baron yet?”

Rufus’s eyes widened with alarm.“Should I?I’ve been wondering about that.I mean, Ophelia insisted we court in secret for now and I am ever so grateful Ginny has chaperoned our meetings, but—” he babbled.

“Relax, Rufus.”Evander crossed the floor and pressed a hand on the inspector’s shoulder.“I was only jesting.Besides, I doubt the baron will be able to resist his daughter’s demands if she insists on marrying you.”

Rufus blanched.“Oh God.Should I propose?Isn’t it too early?I was thinking of the spring, so we could plan a summer wedding.What if Ophelia is expecting a marriage demand and I end up disappointing her—” He stopped, his chest heaving with panic.

A hurt look washed across his face at Evander’s muffled snort.