Page 6 of A Whisper in the Shadows (Raven & Wren #4)

T he moment Hadrian’s gaze met Tilda’s, he could see her surprise.

He probably should have warned her that he’d decided to attend the meeting.

However, the truth was that he hadn’t wanted to tell her, in the very likely case she would ask him not to come.

As he made his way to her, he hoped she would grasp his plan and accept it.

“Good evening, Sister,” he said, noting her darkened hair. It was a bit jarring to see her without her reddish-blonde locks.

“I wasn’t sure you would be able to come,” she said smoothly, but with a gentle flare of her nostrils that no one but Hadrian likely noticed.

He was relieved—and pleased—that she didn’t call him out. “I was able to arrange my shift at the club so I could attend this meeting tonight. I hope it’s all right.” He glanced about and saw that Inspector Maxwell stood with another pair of gentlemen.

Tilda narrowed her eyes at him slightly before turning her attention to the man beside her. “Allow me to present my brother, Mr. Beck. Nigel, this is Mr. Nevill, a member of the society’s leadership council.”

Nigel? Hadrian had known a Nigel at Oxford. He was a sneaky fellow, always getting into trouble. Perhaps it was a good name for this scheme.

“I hope it’s all right that I invited my brother,” she said to Nevill. “He’s interested in joining the society as well.”

“Does he have someone to propose his membership?” Nevill asked.

“I’d hoped my brother-in-law could,” Hadrian replied easily. “His interest in joining sparked mine.”

“Well, technically, Mr. Harwood isn’t yet a member.

” Nevill narrowed his eyes toward Furnier.

“But he will be shortly, so I say it’s fine that he proposes you.

The society is always looking to expand its membership.

” He grinned at Hadrian. “Let me smooth the way with my colleagues. It may be best if Mr. Beck waits in the common room for a few minutes.”

“Certainly,” Hadrian replied eagerly. “Would you care to accompany me, Sister?”

“I will, yes.” Tilda smiled prettily at Nevill, then glanced toward Inspector Maxwell, who was watching them with a somewhat hooded gaze.

When they were in the common room, Tilda led Hadrian to a corner. “What on earth are you doing here?” she asked quietly but urgently, her dark-blonde brows pitched together.

“Participating in the investigation,” he replied in an equally low tone. “I decided I could join the society as well.”

“As my brother.” She blinked. “It doesn’t work like that, as you’ve just learned. You can’t just show up and seek membership. You must be proposed by an existing member.”

“I understand that now, but it doesn’t seem to be a problem according to Nevill, since Maxwell is apparently becoming a member tonight.”

“I hope he is. He’s currently undergoing a medical evaluation with the society’s doctor. If he passes, I believe he will be welcomed or initiated, or whatever it is they do.”

“There’s an initiation?” Hadrian asked.

“Some sort of ceremony,” Tilda said. “Did you see the table at the front of the room with the candles and other items?”

“I did, but I wasn’t sure what that was for. Sounds intriguing. Knowing your curiosity, you must be looking forward to seeing that.” He half-smiled.

“I’m not allowed,” she said with disgust. “Women are not permitted to attend the meetings, but neither will you be if you aren’t accepted for membership. What is it you hoped to accomplish in coming here?”

“I told you—to join the investigation. I thought I could be helpful. Particularly with my special ability.”

She exhaled, her expression still perturbed. “You are always helpful—with and without your ability. Alas, you were not invited. I can’t think Inspector Maxwell will be in favor of this.”

Hadrian knew he’d made a gamble coming here, but he’d hoped Tilda would be pleased. “Do you want me to go?”

A long moment stretched as she studied him, then looked toward the meeting room. “No.” She turned her gaze to him. “I must say, you’ve done an excellent job with your disguise. The blond hair threw me.”

“Your darker hair also gave me pause,” Hadrian said.

She swept her gaze over him, and he felt a jolt of awareness. “Your costume is very plain—and doesn’t appear costly. It doesn’t reveal you to be an earl. I’m impressed.”

“Thank you, though I can’t take the credit.

I called on Mrs. Longbotham at the Hen and Chicken.

” They’d met Mrs. Longbotham, who was actually a man who preferred to dress as a woman and be addressed as such, during one of their investigations.

Mrs. Longbotham had aided them in disguising Tilda as a man so that she could visit a gentlemen’s club with Hadrian.

Tilda’s eyes rounded. “Did you? Well done. Your simple costume doesn’t advertise your nobility.”

“It was Mrs. Longbotham’s idea that I take on the role of a footman at a gentlemen’s club. Such a position allows for my speech. I didn’t think I’d be able to speak differently, not like you can.” Tilda had employed an excellent Cockney accent on several occasions during their investigations.

“I’m not speaking too differently,” Tilda said. “We are saying we came from Essex, so I suppose you should be from there too.”

Hadrian saw the inspector leave the meeting room and move toward them. “Here comes Maxwell.”

Inspector Maxwell, who was now clean-shaven, kept his features placid, but his jaw was tight. “What is going on?” he asked softly. The question held an edge of irritation.

“His lordship wanted to offer his help as an investigator,” Tilda replied. “He has fabricated a disguise as Nigel Beck, a footman at a gentlemen’s club.”

“Has he now?” Maxwell asked, giving Hadrian a frosty look. “You are muddling our investigation. You should have discussed this with me first, particularly since I said your assistance would not be required.”

“I do apologize,” Hadrian said.

“It will be fine,” Tilda interjected. “Lord Ravenhurst is an excellent investigator. I am confident his presence will provide valuable assistance. He would join the Amicable Society, but he does not have anyone to propose his membership. You can after you become a member. How did it go with the doctor?”

Hadrian noted Tilda did not wait for Maxwell to agree. He had to stifle a smile.

“Fine,” Maxwell replied. “He asked me about my general health and whether anyone in my family had suffered from certain illnesses, such as consumption. He also asked if we had any children, or if you had ever been with child. I said you have not, but that we hoped to be blessed.”

Though Hadrian knew this was all make-believe, the thought of Tilda having a child with Inspector Maxwell was shockingly distressing. Perhaps it was because Tilda had never expressed a desire to become a mother—or a wife.

Tilda nodded. “Does that mean you will be inducted, or whatever they call it, this evening?”

“I will.”

Maxwell narrowed his eyes at Hadrian in what appeared to be irritation. “Your intrusion in this investigation is highly irregular. If you were not an earl, I would ask you to leave forthwith.”

Hadrian tamped down his annoyance. He had intruded on the inspector’s investigation uninvited. And Maxwell couldn’t know what… unique perspective Hadrian would offer by way of his special ability to experience others’ memories.

“Consider what he may contribute,” Tilda argued. “You work all day, whereas Lord Ravenhurst’s pretend employment is in the evenings. Perhaps there is investigative work he can do during the day.”

The inspector fell silent a moment, his brow creased with contemplation. “I suppose that would be helpful.” He continued speaking to Tilda as if Hadrian weren’t there. “They’re going to ask where he lives.” Now, he looked to Hadrian. “What will you say?”

Hadrian lifted his shoulder. “I thought I would say I live with you.”

Maxwell’s expression flashed with discomfort as he looked toward Tilda. There was something Hadrian didn’t know.

“Is there something wrong with your lodgings?” Hadrian asked.

“No,” Maxwell replied. He fixed his gaze on Hadrian. “Would you actually want to stay there or just pretend to?”

“I can pretend as Miss Wren is doing.”

Tilda exhaled. “I will not be pretending. As of tomorrow, we have arranged for a chaperone to stay at the house. She is Mrs. Kilgore, the wife of a sergeant at the City of London Police, and she will be residing with us as my sister.” She met Hadrian’s gaze with a wry look. “ Our sister.”

Now it was Hadrian’s turn to be surprised—and irritated. He did not like that Tilda had arranged to reside with the inspector. Though he supposed he had to give them credit for providing a chaperone.

“I believe we’re getting ahead of ourselves,” Maxwell said. “Let us even determine if the society is willing to consider his lordship’s membership.”

Tilda’s brows arched briefly. “Here comes Mr. Nevill. He seemed to think it would be possible.”

Nevill flashed a smile at them. “Mr. Beck, I just need to ask a few questions to assess your eligibility for membership. Where are you employed?”

Hadrian looked down at the man, for he was several inches shorter than Hadrian’s six foot two inches. “I work at a club in the West End. I prefer not to name it for discretion’s sake.” And so that no one would go asking about him and learn he was not actually an employee.

“I understand,” Nevill said with a vague nod. His brown eyes lit with interest. “Do you rub elbows with the elite?”

“I serve them,” Hadrian said rather flatly.

“Of course,” Nevill replied with a laugh. “Well, in my opinion, you will make an excellent addition to the Amicable Society. We’ve just a few formalities. Would you like to come with me and meet the other administrators?”

Hadrian smiled eagerly. “I should be delighted.”

Nevill turned and started toward the private dining room. Hadrian followed the man, and Tilda and Maxwell trailed behind. However, when they reached the doorway, Nevill turned and gave Tilda an apologetic smile.