Page 30 of Restored

“How much was that payment to be?”

Henry raised his head and met Reid’s curious gaze. “Three hundred pounds.”

Reid’s eyes widened and he whistled, low. “Andthe house? You did lose your head.”

I lost my heart, Henry thought.

But he didn’t say that aloud.

Reid looked thoughtful. “It seems to me more likely than not that the severance payment was made. If you’d broken the agreement entirely, surely Christopher or the madam would have kicked up a stink?”

“That’s what I thought,” Henry said. “After I went to Wiltshire I heard nothing more from Christopher. Not a thing. But then, why not make a stink about the house? That was part of the agreement too.”

Reid frowned. “Without knowing what Parkinson said to this Christopher, I don’t think you can make any assumptions. Perhaps Parkinson offered him more money instead? Have you asked Christopher?”

Henry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “He has refused to meet with me. I only learned he had not received the house through a chance meeting with a mutual acquaintance. Otherwise I would never have known.”

“So, what will you do now?”

“Try to find Christopher for myself,” Henry said. “I was hoping you might assist me with that.”

“Of course.” Reid nodded. “What’s his full name? I can make enquiries.”

“Christopher Redford.”

“Redford?” Reid’s gaze was sharp, almost disbelieving. “NotKitRedford?”

Slowly, Henry said, “Do you know him?”

“Not well, but I knowofhim,” Reid replied. “Your Christopher is the owner of an exclusive club for gentlemen of our persuasion. Redford’s on Palfrey Terrace.”

Henry gawked at him.

Reid said, almost apologetically, “I’m a member myself.”

“Does he live there? At Palfrey Terrace?” Henry asked.

“I’m not sure, but that’s something I can soon find out. Let me look into it and I’ll send a note over in the morning.” He paused, then added quietly, “If you’re sure that’s what you want.”

“I’m sure,” Henry said quickly.

Reid’s gaze was sympathetic. “It’s worth giving some thought to,” he said gently. “These events took place a very long time ago, and in all the years that have followed, no trouble has come your way. Is it prudent to stir this up now?”

“You think I should let sleeping dogs lie?”

Reid’s gaze was steady. “It’s worth considering. Redford probably won’t be how you remember him. Only think how muchyouhave changed in the last two decades. I know I’m a different man from who I was twenty years ago.”

It occurred to Henry then, for the first time, that he may not like the new Christopher—and that the new Christopher may not like him. That they might find each other sadly lacking in comparison to the memories they had of the young men they had once been.

Memories were such crude and unreliable things.

Henry shook his head. That didn’t matter. This wasn’t about satisfying his curiosity about Christopher—thought he was, of course, curious. It was about righting a wrong that he was responsible for. He wouldn’t shirk from that. If he had breached his agreement with Christopher—even inadvertently—it was up to him to make good the deficit.

He met Reid’s eyes and said quietly, “I’m quite sure.”

Soon after that, Reid took his leave, promising to return with Christopher’s direction as soon as possible.

Henry spent the rest of evening brooding over his memories of Christopher, and trying to envisage what he would be like now.