Page 25

“ Ceva nu e ?n regul? cu tine .” Something’s the matter with you. His sister, Thea, said in their native Romanian when he arrived at the rehabilitation center where she and their brother, Stan, had found a temporary home.

Alex bit his lip. “I’m fine; it’s him I’m worried about.

” Stan had a large bandage on his shoulder and was suffering from an infection that had led to a fever.

“How did this even happen?” Alex asked once they were alone, and the servants, along with Stan’s nurse, left them in a small parlor with a lovely window overlooking the gardens.

“I’ll be all right,” Stan said, rubbing his shoulder. “I’m in capable hands.”

“Yes, about that…” Thea’s eyes met Alex’s as she gave a meaningful nod. “This nurse of his is the one in good hands, I believe.”

Alex furrowed his brow. “A nurse?”

Thea nodded, but Stan looked rather defeated. It was the first time he’d seen his brother wear such a look.

I know how you feel, brother.

“You fancy the nurse? Is it mutual? Is that even allowed? A nurse and her patient?” Alex asked. He never thought he’d ask his brother such a question. Then again, he never imagined losing his heart in Cornwall. The world was truly changing.

“Ask her. She wants to marry the orthopedist,” Stan said, almost begrudgingly.

“Wait, what?” Alex’s gaze shot to Thea. What was happening here?

“Well, he’s not my doctor but yours. So, I’m not technically his patient,” Thea crossed her arms.

“He looked after your ankle when he saved you from the kidnappers,” Stan retorted.

Alex was confused. “Stop! Kidnapped? When were you kidnapped?”

“It has to do with Baron von List,” Thea said with a sigh.

“The Prussian?” Alex deflated. It hadn’t been clear from Stan’s letter in Cornwall—only the danger.

But he didn’t want to think about it. Baron Wolfgang von List had been exploiting the gold mines in their region in Bra?ov for so long that it was worth it for Father to send Stan to England to confront him.

“What have you learned about von List?” Alex asked.

“It’s a long story, Alex. We’re going to have tea with my new friend, the Earl of Langley. He has some documents we ought to see.”

Alex nodded. Of course, he’d help with anything that would ensure their home’s prosperity. But he had the sinking feeling that he didn’t quite know what he was facing in London.

The valet knocked on the door and motioned to Alex, who excused himself and strode over to the man who had followed him back from Cornwall. He’d ordered him to find him after he settled his belongings.

They retreated to his room.

He had one question that had been holding most of the space in his head. He didn’t know the maps of London, the neighborhoods, but he knew the night sky and how to navigate to Cornwall—he just had to follow his heart. But first things, first. “How far is Vauxhall Gardens from here?”

“Three miles, Your Highness.”

Alex walked over to the window, peering outside. “You think I’m incapable of navigating three miles on my own?” For her, he would navigate the whole world.

“I think,” the valet replied slowly, “that London streets are not precisely the open fields of Cornwall. You might find unexpected dangers lurking here.”

“Unexpected dangers lurked there as well.” And he encountered the biggest one. But he understood the man’s point. He glanced at his valet. “Also, it’s not the streets I’m worried about, but the timing. Midnight.”

The valet’s second eyebrow joined the first. “Midnight. Vauxhall Gardens. Might I ask why?”

“No, you may not,” Alex replied simply. He needed to protect Sera no matter what. It was already dangerous enough with his sister’s kidnapping and his brother’s injury.

The man sighed. “Very well. Though I should mention that midnight at Vauxhall Gardens is precisely when one is most likely to encounter all sorts of ne’er-do-wells.”

Alex frowned. Did Sera know that? She was the one who had suggested the place. The tree with the lanterns. Oh no! He hadn’t thought it through when they decided to meet. “I have no way to change the meeting.”

The valet muttered something under his breath, something Alex suspected wasn’t entirely complimentary. Fine. He was in the wrong here. Or rather, he was the one who was uninformed. But he couldn’t change what had already been set in motion.

“What about the other matter?” Alex shifted the topic. “What have you discovered about Lyndon?”

“They arrived in town this morning, Your Highness.”

Good. Then he could break this engagement without any trouble. “I need to see him as soon as possible.”

The man nodded. “When is your meeting at Vauxhall? I’ll prepare your attire for the occasion, something dark so you can blend into the night and match the clandestine nature of your escapade.”

Alex grinned. “Thank you, that will be perfect. You know me too well.”

“And yet, not well enough to stop you,” the man muttered, though there was no malice in his tone.

Six days.

Just six more days, and he’d see her again.

And if the stars aligned, perhaps this time, he wouldn’t have to let her go.