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F inn’s restless night was followed by an even more tension-filled morning. After eking out some sleep, he’d awoken with an edgy energy. Blast it, he didn’t want to go one more day without telling Macie the truth. But the time had to be right. It wasn’t as if he could simply blurt out his feelings over the meal Mrs. Tuttle had prepared, much less with the women clinging to every word.

“Did you sleep well?” Macie asked as she dabbed a bit of jam onto her toast.

He reached for his tea, needing the fortification. “Is it so obvious?”

Seated by her side, Nell fixed him with a narrow-eyed look, no doubt taking in the dark circles and small cuts on his chin from his rushed, haphazard attempt at shaving. Bollocks, he must look like a man who’d spent the night carousing rather than lying alone in a bedchamber, unable to quiet his own thoughts.

“Actually, it is,” Macie said. “I do hope Cleo did not disturb you. She possesses a surprising ability to open doors and creep inside.”

He shook his head. “The cat did not decide to pay me a visit. Actually, it might’ve been better if she had. The purring tends to put me to sleep.”

“Cleo has taken a shine to you. A rare thing, indeed. She’s rather finicky about the humans in her life.” Macie’s soft smile reached her eyes. “Nell and I will be leaving shortly to pay Amelia a visit. Mrs. Johnstone is coming with us. She’ll be arriving with her phaeton shortly.”

“Ye’re going to chance riding with her in that little carriage?”

“I’m eager to give it a try,” Nell said. “I may just purchase one myself. Another thing to give my illustrious papa gray hairs.”

“She drives like she’s rushing to a fire.” Finn pretended to shudder. “Ye’re braver than I.”

Macie flashed a brief grin. “I imagine you’ll welcome a bit of peace and quiet, away from the female of the species for a bit of time.”

Truth be told, his reaction was entirely the opposite. But he didn’t need to tell her that. She’d enjoy the moments she spent in Amelia’s company, free from her bodyguard . He’d waited this long to tell her what was in his heart. That evening, he would take her to a fine establishment and tell her he wanted no other woman. He needed her. And her alone. For the rest of his days.

*

“Mr. Caldwell, you have a visitor.” Clutching her feather duster, Mrs. Tuttle eyed him with undisguised annoyance. “It seems I spend more time acting as your butler than attending to my own duties.”

“My butler?” Looking up from the architectural plans he’d been reviewing, he considered the notion. “To tell the truth, I’ve never had one. So, I must admit, this is a novel experience.”

“That lad from the tavern is here to see ye. Says his name’s Tim.”

Finn jolted from his relaxed solitude. “Send him in.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt ye, Mr. Caldwell,” Tim said, shuffling his feet a bit. “But Mr. MacLain says it’s important.”

“Thank ye, Mrs. Tuttle,” Finn said, turning back to Tim as she took her leave. “Ye’ve brought a message.”

“Mr. MacLain’s come upon some information ye may find useful.”

“He’s at the Lair?”

The young man shook his head. “He’ll be at the café until midday.”

“Good enough,” Finn said. “I’ll meet him there shortly.”

As Finn set aside the drawings he’d been looking over, he paused, eyeing the layout of the entry hall of Bennington Manor. The grand staircase was showing its age, but it was still sturdy. Renovating the lower floor of the place would not be an easy task, but he could certainly oversee skilled craftsmen capable of the task. He smiled to himself. If Macie accepted his proposal, he’d see to it that her beloved grandfather’s home was preserved in style. He had the funds to start, and his share of the profits from the contracts with Mason Enterprises would provide most of the remaining cost.

Cleo hopped up on the desk, eyeing the drawings with her golden-amber eyes. She met his gaze, seemed to nod her approval for his plans, and sauntered over to the window to bask in the midday sun.

Calling over his shoulder to Mrs. Tuttle to let her know he’d be leaving her in peace for a bit, he walked onto the pavement, blinking against the sunny sky. A rare thing, that. Perhaps, just perhaps, it was a good sign of what was to come.

When he arrived at the Rogue’s Respite, he spotted a familiar conveyance—Jon Mason’s brougham. Now that was a bloody surprise. Why in blazes was he back in London, days before his expected return? Evidently, he’d attended to matters in Scotland with his typical take-charge efficiency. He would not have left Inverness had operations not been running smoothly. Likely, he’d be in good spirits. All in all, it was an excellent development, another good sign of things to come.

You will bear in mind that she is my sister... at all times.

Considering his friend’s words before he’d entrusted him to watch over Macie, it would be a show of good faith to let Jon know of his desire to marry her. Not that he needed her brother’s permission—or her title-hungry father’s say, for that matter, but it would be good form to declare his intentions before popping the question to Macie.

Yes, this was definitely working in his favor. He would inform Jon straightaway of his intentions to wed Macie.

It sounded easy enough in his thoughts. So why did he feel like he had a fist digging into his gut?

As he made his way up the stairs to Logan’s office, he heard the men’s voices. When Finn entered the room, Jon’s face betrayed his surprise.

“Now this is a welcome I had not expected.” Seated in a leather Chippendale chair, Jon smiled broadly. “Finn, it’s good to see you.”

“I presume everything in Scotland is under control,” Finn said.

“Operations came together more swiftly than I expected. As my father would say, the train is back on the tracks.” Jon scratched his chin, as though he pondered a thought. “You look no worse for wear. I see you survived your time with Macie.”

“Indeed,” Finn said. “She and I got on... well.”

Bloody hell, that was an understatement, if ever he’d uttered one.

“And not one scandal to speak of,” Jon said casually.

“Ye could say that. If ye don’t count stumbling upon a dead man in a reputedly haunted theater.”

“I did get word about that when I arrived last night.” Jon’s expression dimmed. “At least no one thinks she’s responsible. I understand the gent expired of natural causes.”

“That’s the detective’s conclusion,” Logan spoke up. “At least for now.”

“For now?” Jon’s brow furrowed. “Should I ask?”

Finn shook his head. “’Tis a long story. I will brief ye on the details.”

Jon shrugged. “I suppose something of that nature was bound to happen, sooner or later. Macie traipses about with that camera of hers in the most dismal places. But you kept her out of trouble. That’s all that matters.”

Finn’s thoughts flashed to the costume ball, precisely to the moment when he’d been sorely tempted to toss the ruffle-necked viscount who’d dared to touch Macie out on his noble arse. “There were some close calls.”

“I don’t doubt it was a challenge,” Jon said.

“At times.” God knew he’d faced a challenge reining in his own instincts when he was with her. He set his mind to the task at hand. He’d waste no more time before telling Jon his intentions. “There’s something ye need to know.”

“You can start by telling me this, Finn—what’s your bloody secret?”

“There is no secret,” he replied with a shrug.

“Ah, there has to be. We both know Macie rebels at any attempt to rein her in.”

Rein her in. Why in blazes would anyone want to hold a brilliant woman like Macie back from following her own heart?

“The lass has a mind of her own.”

“Now that, my friend, is putting it mildly. She’s a force of nature.” Jon pointed to his hair. “You see these gray hairs? Each one should have my sister’s name on it. But enough of that. I know what you want to discuss.” He smiled broadly. “Consider the contracts yours, my friend.”

By hellfire, the deal was done.

He’d secured the contracts for his family’s distillery. He had justified his family’s trust.

“That is tremendous news. You won’t regret this.”

Not until I tell you the truth about Macie. And me.

“I’ve seen no mention of her name in the scandal sheets. For that alone, I owe you, Finn. A blasted miracle, I’d say.”

Jon’s tone was like a burr beneath Finn’s heel. His view of Macie as a crisis to be managed was so blasted far from the truth.

“Ye trusted me to watch over her.” Finn kept his tone deliberately bland.

“You earned every one of those contracts. And then some,” Jon said. “I suppose Macie’s charade kept her out of trouble while it held the heiress hunters at bay.”

Jon’s attitude rubbed against the grain. Suddenly, Finn understood why Macie chafed against the restrictions of her life. But he held back the first words that came to mind. For now, he had to speak his intentions.

“Jon, there’s something ye need to know.”

“We’ll work out the details of the contracts. My assistant handles all the business with numbers and calculations and such,” Jon went on. “I must admit, I had my doubts. But there is a code of honor among rogues like you and me.”

Logan coughed against the fist he held to his mouth.

“Wouldn’t you say so, Finn? Some things are simply off limits.” Jon studied him over his steepled fingers. “Simply not done.”

As Logan made another deliberate cough against his balled hand, Finn followed his gaze to the open door.

Bollocks.

Amelia strolled through the doorway with Macie by her side. Nell and Mrs. Johnstone lingered in the corridor outside the room.

“Hello, Logan. Please pardon the intrusion,” Amelia said with a soft smile. “We did not wish to interrupt.”

“Yer presence could never be considered an intrusion,” Logan said. The look in his eyes made it clear he was as besotted with his wife as he had been on the day they exchanged their vows.

“I wanted to share our latest acquisition with the ladies. I so adore the watercolor piece.” Scanning the room, she frowned. “I thought it was hanging behind your desk.”

“I asked Murray to display it in the front dining room.”

“A delightful placement,” Amelia said. Her eyes narrowing, she offered Finn a perfunctory greeting, then turned to Jon. “It’s good to see you’ve returned safely from your journey.”

“All is well at the Inverness store. We shall soon be open for business.”

“How wonderful.” She slanted Macie a speaking glance. “Ladies, shall we proceed to view the painting?”

“Of course,” Macie said. “I do require a moment, if you don’t mind.”

Amelia sent Finn a speaking glance. A warning. “Of course.”

Macie flashed her brother a soft smile. “A code of honor among rogues, you say? I had no idea such a thing could exist.”

“If honor can exist among thieves, then why not rogues like your brother?” Jon questioned in a wry tone.

“Indeed.” Macie’s gaze was colored by an emotion Finn could not entirely read. How much had she heard?

“Aren’t you going to welcome me back?” Jon asked.

“Of course.” Macie graced her brother with a faint smile. “I’m delighted to see you’ve made it back to London, and without so much as an additional gray hair. I shall have to see to that matter immediately.”

“I do wish you wouldn’t.” Jon appeared oblivious to the not-quite-teasing tone of her voice.

As she spoke, Macie seemed to deliberately avoid meeting Finn’s eyes. “I shall endeavor to remain scandal-free. If one does not hold stumbling upon dead men everywhere I turn against me.”

“I’m told the man who collapsed at the theater was old enough to be our grandfather.” Jon sounded quite rational. “I hear the unfortunate fellow perished from natural causes.”

“We can hope that is true,” Macie said blandly. “I presume all is well in Scotland, or you would not be here.”

“Operations are running smoothly. Until the next crisis, that is.”

“Excellent. Papa will be pleased, I’m sure,” Macie said. “I suppose congratulations are in order, Mr. Caldwell.”

Seldom had Finn felt as tongue-tied as he had at that moment. Seeing his hesitation, Macie added, “For the contracts. How nice that your family’s business will now have a tie to mine.”

He felt as if he were walking into a trap. “The arrangement will provide benefits for both family enterprises.”

“Indeed. I do know how vigilant you are about fulfilling the terms of an agreement.” Her smile was radiant, even as daggers flashed in her emerald eyes. “You certainly met all the terms of our bargain, though I do understand it was a challenge. But you persevered, did you not?”

Bloody hell, she was magnificent. Especially when her eyes gleamed like that.

“Persevered?” Finn shook his head as he met her gaze. “ That is not the word I would use.”

She blinked and pressed her lips together, appearing to swallow against an emotion she didn’t want him to see. “In any case, this is truly an excellent time to inform my brother of my exciting news.”

Jon sat up straighter, his interest perked. “You’ve finally found a man capable of convincing you to walk down the aisle?”

“No, silly, it’s nothing so banal as that. Not to mention, convenient for you.” A subtle half-smile played on her lips. “This recent development might prove a wee bit scandalous, but I do hope you’ll understand why this adventure is so important to me. Grandpapa would be so very proud of me.”

Adventure.

Bollocks. Finn braced for a bare-knuckled fist to the gut while Jon studied her, looking as if he was preparing for a very large boot to drop.

“Macie, what are you talking about?” Jon asked.

“It is truly the most exciting news,” she said, dropping her voice as if she were sharing a scandalous secret. “You see, Jon, I’ve been offered the opportunity to participate in a research expedition to Athens. I shall be their documentarian. And I’ve decided to accept.”