Page 77

“How did it go?”Evander mumbled.

“Without incident, something I’m grateful for despite Solomon’s feelings on the matter.”Viggo’s lips brushed Evander’s temple.“He paraded around half of Mayfair in Ginny’s livery without attracting any unwanted attention.We’ll try again tomorrow night.”

“No shadow creatures?”Evander asked sleepily.

“None that we could detect.”Viggo’s hand traced a soothing pattern along Evander’s spine.

Evander made a soft sound of acknowledgement.

“Go back to sleep.”Viggo pressed a gentle kiss to Evander’s mouth.“Tomorrow will be another long day, I wager.”

Evander drifted back to sleep in his embrace, the Brute’s heartbeat drumming steadily against his cheek.

Chapter32

Evander woketo an empty bed the next morning.

He swallowed a stab of disappointment when his hand found the cool sheets beside him.Viggo must have left hours ago.He rose, crossed to the window, and parted the heavy curtains.

London had vanished beneath a dense blanket of fog.

The weather matched his mood as he dressed and made his way downstairs.

Hargrove was waiting for him with coffee and a plate of eggs and toast in the breakfast room.

“You were sleeping soundly, my Lord, so I did not bring you your morning tea,” the manservant informed him smoothly.

Evander took the seat Hargrove pulled out for him.“When did Viggo leave?”

“At dawn, my Lord.He asked me to tell you he had urgent business to attend to.”

Evander nodded.“Any messages?”

“One just arrived, my Lord.”Hargrove brought over the tray with the morning paper and post.“It’s from Comte Beaulieu.”

Evander put his napkin down, picked up the message, and unfolded the note.

The elegant handwriting it contained informed him that Leon intended to visit the Royal Institute early this morning to follow up on some observations he’d made in Whitley’s laboratory and the hidden chamber beneath it.The note concluded with a promise to meet Evander at Scotland Yard afterwards.

A strange sense of foreboding lifted the hairs on the back of Evander’s neck as he stared at Leon’s missive.He wrinkled his brow.Though there were officers stationed at the Institute, he didn’t like that Leon had gone there on his own.

I’m being overly paranoid.

Still, he pushed his chair back and rose to his feet.

“Please give my apologies to Cook, Jasper.I shall be skipping breakfast this morning.”

Concern clouded Hargrove’s face.“Is it that urgent, my Lord?”

“Yes.”

The manservant pursed his lips.“Still, you must make sure to eat, my Lord.Or else you won’t be able to keep up with Mr.Stonewall.”

Evander looked at him blankly.

Hargrove sighed.“I mean in the sack, my Lord.”

Evander’s eyes shrank to slits.