Page 41
Story: Stolen Magic
“Aye,” Shaw responded wisely.“And that’s seven years closer to the last roll call, sir.”
Evander pursed his lips when the pair began arguing in low voices.
Leon raised an eyebrow.“Are they always like this?”
“Alas, yes.”
The Frenchman fell silent.
“You’re brooding again,” Leon remarked as they descended the steps of the Institute.“I can practically hear the gears turning in that brilliant mind of yours.”
Evander gave him a sidelong glance.“This is hardly the time for levity, Leon.”
“Au contraire, mon cher,” the Frenchman countered with a wry smile, “it is precisely when matters are most grave that we need moments of lightness.”
“I’ll report back to Scotland Yard and brief Commander Winterbourne,” Rufus said as they approached the police carriage.His gaze flicked uneasily between Evander and Leon.“Will you be joining us, your Grace?”
“Not immediately,” Evander replied.“I need to speak with Viggo about these developments.Nightshademight know something we don’t.”
Leon’s expression sobered, something that looked like displeasure clouding his eyes momentarily.“Before you dash off, might I suggest we discuss our next steps over an early dinner?I’ve gathered some intelligence from Paris that may be relevant to our investigation.”
The invitation hung in the air between them, laden with unspoken history.Evander hesitated, torn between professional necessity and personal unease as he considered his options.
The last thing he wanted was to spend an evening alone with Leon, especially when he wished to talk to Viggo.But if the Frenchman had intelligence that could help them locate Whitley and Thornfield, he couldn’t afford to refuse either.
Besides, something about Leon’s behaviour in Rigley’s office and his current tone told Evander he needed to hear what his former lover had to say.
“Very well,” he conceded reluctantly.“Where and when?”
Leon’s face brightened a little.“There’s a French restaurant near Covent Garden, not far from the hotel where I’m staying.It’s calledLe Petit Château.The chef is from Lyon and his coq au vin is magnifique.Say six o’clock?”
Evander had heard of the place.He dipped his head.
“I shall meet you there.”
They parted ways outside the Institute, Evander summoning a hansom cab to take him home.He needed to change.More importantly, he intended to send a message to Viggo to come to his place tonight.
Hargrove greeted Evander at the door when he reached his Mayfair townhouse.
“Welcome home, my Lord,” the manservant said, taking his coat.He observed him shrewdly.“You appear rather fatigued.Shall I prepare a bath?”
“Thank you, Jasper.That would be most welcome.”Evander removed his gloves and handed them over.“I’ll be dining out this evening.Le Petit Château,the French restaurant in Covent Garden.”
Though Hargrove’s expression remained impassive, Evander detected a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
“Very good, my Lord.With Mr.Stonewall, I presume?”
“You presume wrong,” Evander replied tartly.A hint of tension entered his voice.“If you must know, I am having dinner with Comte Beaulieu.”
Hargrove’s eyes bulged, surprise turning to full-blown shock.“Not that French dunderhead, my Lord?!”
“Mr.Hargrove!”Mrs.Sinclair warned sharply as she entered the foyer and caught the tail end of their conversation.“Please mind your language.”
Evander greeted his housekeeper with a warm look.Cordelia Sinclair had been his nanny since he was an infant and had practically raised him.She was the only Ravenwood employee who knew all his secrets, including the one he had yet to reveal to Viggo.
“Has anyone ever told you that you move with the stealth of a ninja, Mrs.S?”Hargrove grunted.
Mrs.Sinclair’s eyes shrank to slits.“Is that an insult, Mr.Hargrove?”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114