Page 68 of To Catch A Rogue

He shrugged and told Blade what he knew.

Which, admittedly, wasn't very much.

"...I don't know if she lied to me, but there's definitely something she's hiding." It bothered him.

"Strange. You two seem thick as thieves again," Blade muttered.

"You would think so, wouldn't you?" Even he heard the edge in his voice. "Maybe she hasn't truly forgiven me yet."

"She forgive you years ago."

"It doesn't feel like it."

"Well, mebbe that's because you ain't forgiven yourself yet." Blade clapped him on the shoulder. "Sure you ain't seein' reproach just 'cos you're lookin' for it? Mebbe it ain't 'er. Mebbe it's in your 'ead?"

Charlie chewed the thought.Damn it.He dug both thumbs under the arch of his brows. "Perhaps a little. I told Gemma I could do this, but.... I hate being responsible for other people's lives. Especially Lark's. I keep hesitating when I should be acting. I keep thinking about that night."

"You should never have been there. You buggered up. You paid the price. But the cost o' Tin Man's life weren't ever on your tally. You think I don't regret what 'appened? I were the one who went up 'gainst the prince consort. I started the whole bloody revolution. And I knew we'd lose people along the way. Mebbe it's my fault? It's the price we paid for freedom. And if you 'esitate now, youmightget someone killed."

Damned if I do, damned if I don't.

"You're a regular bundle of cheer this morning."

"Speakin' of cheerful, anythin' else I ought to know about?" The way Blade said it unsettled him. Far too casual.

"Like what?"

"'Eard tell there's a bet runnin' 'bout the identity of the future Mrs. Todd."

Bloody. Fucking. Hell."I swear I am going to kill Byrnes."

"Good luck." Blade laughed. "Apparently nobody'll take 'is bet."

"Oh, poor Byrnes."

"Poor you. Seems the odds aren't great. Everyone thinks it's a foregone conclusion, so now they're bettin' on whether you've kissed 'er yet."

This was a conversation he never wanted to have with Blade. "How about we pretend you didn't overhear that?"

"I'll take that as a yes."

"If I surrender, will you leave me be?" he groaned. "Nothing is happening between us. We're in Russia. It's dangerous. We've both got to keep a clear head."

"Goin' that well, eh? You want some advice?" Blade rested both wrists on his knees.

Everybody wanted to give him advice these days. "Have you been conspiring with Leo? Is this some grand plan between the two of you to matchmake? You're as bad as Honor and Lena."

Amusement gleamed in Blade's eyes. But he didn't say a word.

"Well, lay it on me." No point holding off the inevitable.

"You said she lied to you. Well, women don't keep secrets for no reason."

Not what he'd expected.

Charlie stilled. So therewassomething she was hiding. "Before today, I would have said Lark and I had no secrets from each other."

"And now?"