Page 4 of A Whisper in the Shadows

After Inspector Maxwell took his leave, Hadrian turned a rather disgruntled expression on Tilda.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Tilda asked.

“I suppose I wish you’d discussed this scheme with me before accepting Maxwell’s offer.”

“Why would I do so?” Tilda did not appreciate his paternalistic attitude. “I don’t need your permission, Hadrian.”

“Of course not,” he said quickly. He exhaled. “My apologies. Of course, you must accept whatever professional assignment you wish. I do think you are worth far more than twelve shillings per week, however.”

Indeed, Hadrian had paid her quite a bit more than that when he’d hired her on two separate occasions, as had his mother when she’d employed Tilda most recently. “I am accepting this assignment for the experience and the potential opportunity for future work with the City of London Police.”

“But you need the income.” He knew how tight their household finances were. That fact had been an intrinsic part oftheir first case together. “What good is working with the police if they can’t pay you what you need? Or what youdeserve.”

Tilda appreciated his concern—and his unwavering confidence in her abilities. “I am hopeful the pay will increase once I demonstrate my capability.”

He appeared placated by her argument. “I confess I’m greatly disappointed that I will not be part of this investigation.”

“It will be strange conducting it without you.” Tilda realized she was disappointed too. She now understood his irritation during her interview with Maxwell. “I would feel the same if you had been hired and I had not.”

He let out a low, rather humorless laugh. “That is unlikely to happen since my participation in our investigations shall remain anonymous.”

“Will they, though?” Tilda asked. “You worry about my reputation if I took up residence with Maxwell, but what of the inordinate amount of time we spend together during our investigations? Surely people recognize that you call here regularly, and we move about town together quite frequently.”

Mostly, they visited places where no one would account for their presence. However, they’d once attended a reception at Northumberland House, which had required Tilda to dress as a high-society lady. They’d also traveled out of London by train on two occasions. “Don’t you think there are people who have correctly assumed that you have something to do with my investigations?”

“Perhaps, and I would hope that is all they think,” Hadrian replied with a touch of concern in his gaze. “I have made it clear to those in my inner circle that I assist you with investigations and that our association is purely professional. I admit there could be those who wonder if there is something else between us. Beyond professional association, I mean.”

Tilda’s breath snagged in her lungs. Just before Maxwell had arrived, there had been a charged moment between her and Hadrian. Their hands had almost touched. She’d been sorry they were interrupted but now reminded herself it was for the best.

They’d shared a kiss several weeks ago, and it caused an awkwardness between them. However, over the span of their last investigation, they’d returned to their easy, warm friendship, and, of course, their mutually satisfying professional partnership.

Still, the specter of something beyond those things hung about, as evidenced by the moment they’d shared before Inspector Maxwell had arrived and now again with Hadrian’s comment regarding how they may be perceived.

Blast.Hadrian was a good friend and a trustworthy, valuable assistant. She hoped their relationship would continue in that manner. Anything else would potentially ruin what they had. Furthermore, Tilda wasn’t interested in romance, and she was completely against marriage. That wasn’t just because of her business aspirations—her parents’ marriage had been unhappy, and Tilda did not wish to risk the life she currently enjoyed. She was independent and ran her grandmother’s household. It was more than a woman could dare hope to attain, and Tilda was quite content. A husband would ruin everything she’d accomplished and what she hoped to achieve.

“Perhaps you’ve had similar concerns regarding our association,” Hadrian said. “I noted you referred to me as ‘his lordship’ or ‘Ravenhurst’ in front of Maxwell rather than Hadrian.”

“It seemed appropriate.” Tilda hadn’t given it much thought, but Hadrian was likely right. She hadn’t wanted the inspector to think she and Hadrian were that familiar. But, of course, they were. A delicate heat fluttered through her, and she decided itwas best to move on to a new topic. “Did you see anything when you shook the inspector’s hand?”

Hadrian shrugged. “Nothing of import.”

“But you sawsomething?” she prodded.

“I saw what seemed to be the interior of a police station. As I said, there was nothing remarkable.”

“Well, we aren’t investigating Inspector Maxwell,” Tilda said with a sigh.

“Iam not investigating anything.” He did still sound a trifle cross or at least disappointed.

Tilda did not like leaving him out, but this wasn’t her investigation to manage. “I will miss working with you,” she said quietly. “I do have other inquiries from potential clients. Perhaps I’ll have need of your assistance when this investigation is concluded.” She gave him a hopeful look.

Hadrian’s expression was enigmatic. “You know where to find me.”

He turned and took his leave. Tilda frowned. She understood that he felt excluded and would hate to be in his position.

However, she was a private investigator, and he was an earl. They’d been fortunate to work on several cases together, with excellent results. That didn’t mean they would always be a partnership.

Tilda hoped this wasn’t the beginning of the end of their association.