Page 118 of A Whisper in the Shadows

Tilda shook her head gently. “I’m afraid not. I value my independence far too much, and I’m rather set in my ways and committed to managing my grandmother’s household.” She had a terrible thought. “Does this mean you can’t live at White Alley?” Perhaps he was counting on her to make that work.

“I will still live there,” he said. “I’m sure Mrs. Burley would appreciate the chance to play matchmaker for me.” He smirked, and Tilda was grateful for his humor.

“I know she would. Be careful.” Tilda chuckled.

They rose from the table, and Maxwell looked at her sideways. “Is it truly your independence that is stopping you from accepting my proposal?”

“Yes.” She wouldn’t reveal the rest. She was barely comfortable with acknowledging it herself.

Maxwell nodded. “I just… That is, I wondered if there was perhaps another reason. Or another…person.”

She followed his gaze to Hadrian, who was still in Mrs. Atkins’s clutches—literally, as she was touching his arm.

“No,” Tilda replied, perhaps a tad too quickly.

“We should probably rescue Ravenhurst,” Maxwell said with a laugh. “And then I suppose we’ll say goodbye.” He met her gaze.

“For now,” Tilda said firmly. “I’m confident we’ll meet again. Perhaps we’ll even investigate another case together.”

Maxwell nodded. “I hope so.”

Hadrian was relieved when Tilda and Maxwell came to rescue him. Not just because he was eager to be away from Mrs. Atkins’s fawning. He’d seen Tilda and Maxwell sitting together with their heads bent toward one another in what appeared to be an intimate conversation. An irrational fear had lodged in Hadrian’s chest. He worried that things were about to change.

A short while later, they left the pub and dropped Maxwell back at White Alley. Tilda packed her things whilst Hadrian fetched his. Then they said goodbye to Mrs. Kilgore, who would be returning home the following day after ensuring the inspector was well enough to care for himself.

Hadrian had shaken Maxwell’s hand, and Mrs. Kilgore had given Hadrian a surprising hug. She thanked him profusely for helping her cousin, Mrs. Cardy.

As Hadrian escorted Tilda to the end of White Alley, where Leach stood with the coach, he began to relax. Had he thought she may not be coming with him?

Perhaps not that, but he realized he’d been anticipating…something.

They climbed into the coach and sat together on the forward-facing seat. It felt good and familiar to have Tilda beside him. Hadrian stretched his legs out. “I hope our next investigation is a little closer to home.”

“I won’t argue with that,” Tilda said. “I’m sure you were eagerly welcomed back at Westminster today.”

“Yes, though I confess I wasn’t there very long. I visited the orphanage where Timothy Eaton’s sister lives and arranged for her to move to a school in Kent.”

Tilda gaped at him. “You did?”

Hadrian nodded. “I couldn’t rest knowing she was going to a workhouse.”

“You are the kindest man,” Tilda whispered, her gaze warm and her lips curving into a beautiful smile. Their gazes held a moment before Tilda looked away, and her features straightened. “I’ve a case I need to work on that I set aside whilst we were assisting Inspector Maxwell. I’m relieved it only took a week instead of a fortnight.”

“Honestly, it felt like a month.”

Tilda nodded. “It really did.” She looked over at him. “You’re sure your head is all right?”

“It only hurts if I touch it, so I don’t.”

“And no other headaches? You shook a few hands at the pub and then you shook Maxwell’s hand before we left. No visions or pain?”

“Neither. I don’t always see a vision when I touch someone.” He hadn’t seen one with Mrs. Kilgore either, and her head had nudged his jaw.

“I know, but isn’t that typically with people you know, such as me and your mother?”

“Typically.” Now that Hadrian thought about it, the lack of any vision from the several hands he’d shaken today was a trifle odd. “Perhaps I’m learning to control it more. I didn’tneedto see any visions today.”

She sent him a smile. “That would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?”