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D ays later Leo was in his study at Starkley House with Bielson, looking over their notes from the previous nights.

Slowly a picture of Harrison’s dealings and his network was beginning to come together.

It wasn’t enough to act on or bring to Collins, but it was certainly enough to have Leo’s teeth on edge.

He played the part with Regina as best he could in the meantime attending small events as needed, but twice lately he’d gone out with Regina and their friends only to leave early when he received a note from Bielson.

The floorboard creaked and Leo looked up from his desk to see Regina watching them closely. There was no smile, only civil judgment which she’d most likely learned from her mother.

“Good afternoon Mr. Bielson,” Regina’s voice echoed in the room.

She didn’t say it, but he knew what she was thinking.

The last few days when Bielson had come to the house she had gone to bed alone.

But she had made plans for them tonight.

In fairness to her she had informed him beforehand about the dinner, and he had made promises.

But this was the first night Collins would be able to meet with them.

He had told Bielson to meet up with him earlier.

At the sound of her voice Bielson stood instantly and bowed. “Good afternoon my lady.”

“Regina.” Leo straightened as if his own mother was giving him a scolding.

Her dark eyes lingered on the desk and the papers strewn over it. “I do hope you are not going to take my husband all night again Mr. Bielson. He has a pressing engagement this evening.”

“Oh?”

“For dinner,” Leo said. Apparently Basil’s mother had elected to invite them to one of her exclusive dinner parties.

According to Regina it was the exact sort of thing they needed to cement their places in English society.

Leo had agreed to attend with the unspoken caveat that nothing more important came up. Like Harrison.

“May I see you in the hallway for a moment my lord.” Her voice was even enough but that wasn’t a sure bet of anything. If she wasn’t annoyed she would have joined them in the room not asked him to leave it. Whatever she was divining, she didn’t like it.

“I’m—”

Regina’s eyes went sharp. “Now,” she snapped. “If you please.”

He followed her, with the distinct impression he was about to get a sound scolding. She had been good-natured about his absences so far, but it was clear that run of luck was about to run out.

“Yes dear?”

She paused a few feet from the door and turned around, her hands clasped together at her waist. She didn’t look at him at first, simply stood there with her mouth pursed collecting her thoughts.

Then she took a deep breath and looked up at him.

“Societal dinners are about more than just food Leo. It is how alliances are forged, how worlds are shaped.”

He shouldn’t have said it. But a part of him was beginning to chafe at her condescension. When she took that tone with him it was like she was schooling a backward country cousin instead of her husband. “I thought that happened in parliament.”

“And it begins in the dining room.” She snapped back. Then she gestured towards his study. “What is this?”

“It is nothing to trouble you.”

“You promised me.” There was a tremor in her voice, but it wasn’t fear. “You promised you would be there tonight.”

He rested his hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently. “I haven’t forgotten, and I will be there.”

She shook her head, her mouth quaking. “Don’t lie to me.”

That struck a nerve. He was trying to console and encourage her, and this was all she had to say? “I am not a liar Regina.”

She stared at him for a humming moment, her eyes already accusing. “Not yet,” she replied before turning on her heel and retreating upstairs.

He watched her for a moment, his jaw flexing against a torrent of words he knew he’d regret. She would understand in the end. Once it was all finished she would be relieved.

*

She had believed him. No matter her words, she had believed that he would, in the end show up for her.

Show up for them. So she dressed herself in a gown of hand woven royal blue paithani silk with a decorative border of copper and pink violet, a gold Kundan choker and earrings, and stuck white roses in her hair.

Then she waited.

And waited.

She waited until the last possible moment for him to come walking through the door.

Then when the clock struck half past the hour, she stood and left for the carriage.

How could he do this? How could he embarrass her like this?

She didn’t know how to merge the man she knew with the man he was turning into.

She wished his mother was here. Naomi would have been able to make him see sense; she would have been able to make him understand how important this was.

She shouldn’t have accepted the invitation.

She should have told Ada that she didn’t need help.

She should have noticed the clear signs that he didn’t care about this sort of thing.

She should have made sure no one expected him.

Then she wouldn’t be forced to endure this humiliating spectacle.

As it was she couldn’t very well cancel at the last minute.

How would it look if Basil asked his mother to help them only for them to throw her courtesy back in her face?

The carriage came to a pause and Regina closed her eyes, bracing for the worst. The woman would be within her rights to send her away.

Well within her rights to never put herself out for their benefit ever again.

The door opened and the driver helped her down to the sidewalk.

She braced herself for refusal and strode forward to the door, issuing three knocks.

A butler opened the door and ushered her inside. Standing near the doorway, was her hostess who smiled widely at her.

“Lady Starkley,” she greeted.

“Lady Sterling,” Regina replied sinking into a respectful curtsy.

“I’m still getting used to calling you that,” she said taking her arm.

“I’m getting used to hearing it,” Regina replied with a nervous smile. So far so good.

She paused and glanced at the now closed door. “Where is your delightful husband?”

“He… he has been,” Lord what on earth was she meant to say? “He had a conflict this evening.”

“A conflict?” she blinked, her smile dimming.

“Yes.” She felt sick. This was humiliating. “We had some crossed lines of communication. He promised he would try to be here, however.”

It took the viscountess a moment to process that information but eventually she nodded.

“Ah, I suppose that is reasonable. There are so many new duties to contend with, it is a true adjustment and men after all have different priorities. Even the viscount still shows up late to certain events and I’ve been his wife for well over thirty years. ”

“We are so grateful for your efforts on our behalf.”

“Not at all dear. Any friend of Basil’s. Do you suppose we should wait upon the Baron?”

“No, I don’t want to put you out any more than we likely already have.”

She patted her arm gently with one gloved hand. “If you insist dear, now come let me introduce you to my guests this evening.”

Her guests as she called them were no less than 4 sets of couples, all Barons or Viscounts not including her and the viscount.

She and Leo were meant to be the sixth. It would have been a wonderful evening, and a very thoughtful arrangement provided her husband had actually elected to participate.

Instead, he had left her there to the humiliating spectacle of picking up his slack and make lukewarm excuses on his behalf.

*

The tavern was dark and hot. It smelt of old cheese, stale beer, and sweaty unwashed humans.

Leo and Bielson had set themselves up against the far wall, allowing themselves to blend in with the crowds of factory and dock workers.

All salt of the earth seeking a moment of levity after a hard day’s work before heading home. The exact opposite of his prey.

Bielson and Collins were unknown to Harrison.

The idea was for them to keep an eye on Harrison once he arrived at the one pub where he didn’t owe money and wait for Collins to arrive.

It wasn’t the first time Leo had lain in wait for a suspect.

But unlike before, he was growing more restless by the minute.

Everything about this establishment was a far cry from Regina and her bed.

Not that he’d ever have the privilege again.

Marriage was until death and Regina was likely going to kill him.

Despite his best intentions he was late. Horribly late. He glanced at his pocket watch. Eight. If he left right now he would be able to salvage something. Possibly.

“Around what time does he normally come here?” Leo asked.

“Six usually. He’s late.”

That was an understatement. Leo put away his pocket watch and took a deep breath before picking up his warm beer.

“Do you have to leave?” Bielson asked him.

“I should have left an hour ago. Regina is going to have my head.”

“You don’t strictly speaking, have to be here Kingston.”

Leo looked at him, wondering for the first time if perhaps he shouldn’t have been there.

He couldn’t wrap his mind around not being the one to bring him in.

He trusted Collins, and Bielson but after last year with Trent, Leo couldn’t imagine leaving Harrison to anyone else.

He had to be the one. He had to know that Harrison was delt with and behind bars.

That he couldn’t hurt Regina anymore. “I do. I need to do it myself.”

Bielson nodded. “I’m sure she will understand once you’ve explained.”