Chapter Nine

NATE

We lurked in the drawing room until all the Teagues, along with Anna Fortescue, left the house. Then, to make sure, I went upstairs and knocked on Charlie's and Steven's bedroom doors. I couldn't bring myself to check the master bedroom. If James Fortescue had been hiding in his room all morning on the off-chance he found someone going through his things, he deserved to catch us.

I descended the staircase and found Alex on the landing, waiting for me. "All clear upstairs," I reported.

"Downstairs, too. Mr Taylor went down the hallway after everyone left."

"I'll guard the staircase," I told him.

My heart was beating fast with the knowledge of the danger we were about to put ourselves in, but Alex looked delighted. As if this was the most fun he'd ever had.

I kept one eye on the stairs and one on Alex, heading for the study door. He knocked on it. Good thinking—it hadn't even occurred to me that James could be in there. When there was no answer, he tried the handle and swore. "It's locked. Have you got a credit card?"

He took the one I gave him, and with some jiggling of the handle and application of the card between the door and the frame, he eased the study door open.

Impressive. Also sobering. I'd have to remember how easy it was for someone who knew what they were doing to bypass a simple lock.

The next hour felt like the longest of my life. I leaned over the bannisters of the cantilevered staircase that stretched the height of the house. A large brass lantern hung between the first and ground floors. It was a beautiful reproduction, in keeping with the age and style of the house, but right now it was a damned nuisance as I had to crane my neck to see around it.

Footsteps in the hallway had my hands clenching around the polished wooden rail. Taylor, coming to pick up the post from the doormat. He retreated again, and I relaxed slightly, trying to control my breathing

When the study door finally opened, I jumped at the small sound it made. Damn it. Anyone would think I was a mouse rather than a dragon. It's just that dragons don't usually back away from confrontation. We don't need to—there's nothing stronger than we are, unless it's another dragon. Sneaking isn't in our DNA. But here, surrounded by hostile dragons, I wouldn't stand a chance if I tried to face them down. I'd have to learn to live with the sneaking. Alex didn't have a problem with it, if the grin on his face as he came towards me was any indication.

"Sorry," he said, handing my card back. "It's a bit bent."

"That's okay. So am I."

He laughed, his eyes full of amusement, and God, he was gorgeous. He was also off-limits. I needed to stop concentrating on Alex and start concentrating on why I was in Bath. "Did you find anything—"

The sound of the door knocker echoed around the hallway.

We were innocently established in armchairs by the time the Teagues poured into the drawing room. Their noise level suggested that sitting in silence at the recital had been a trial.

"Another walk?" I asked Alex, impatient to know what he'd found out. If he had proof that the Fortescues were behind the attacks, perhaps I could leave Bath. I could leave the memories that Charlie stirred up and the temptation of Alex and be back in London by tonight. Back in my soulless flat and dead-on-arrival career.

"Yeah," Alex agreed quickly.

As we edged around the new arrivals, the Teague matriarch seized his arm.

She shot a swift look at me, shrewd and assessing, before turning her attention back to Alex. "I want to speak to you."

I gave him a small shrug, and headed out, biting back my disappointment at not having his company.

ALEX

Margaret drew me to a quiet corner of the room. Keeping my voice low, I told her of my meagre findings so far. None of the papers I'd found in the desk appeared to relate to what Nate and I thought they were up to. I'd like him to look at my photos anyway, in case some of the technical financial papers meant something to him.

"You're convinced the Mortimer dragon's trustworthy?" Margaret asked me.

"Yeah. It looks like the younger Fortescue son was lurking yesterday, and he'd have caught me red-handed if Nate hadn't stepped in."

"Strange that he was lurking like that. Do you think they suspect something's been going on, and they hoped to catch whoever it was?"

I shrugged. Nate and I had discussed that earlier. Nate was hung up on the fact that Taylor had identified by name all the Fortescues who weren't at home rather than saying the family was out. "Almost as if he'd been asked to cover but couldn't bring himself to lie," he'd said.

"If there's nothing on paper, I'm not sure you're going to be able to find out anything else," Margaret said. "I think we should simply wait for James to reveal his hand."

She evidently saw my resistance to that suggestion because she tightened her grip on my arm. "God knows why, Alex, but I'm rather fond of you. I wouldn't want to see you facing the wrath and considerable might of the Fortescue family for no real reason."

Their considerable might was precisely why we needed to find out what they were up to. They outgunned us, both in numbers and resources. If they decided they didn't want Arthurian dragons around… Well, we'd fight to the last and inflict a hell of a lot of damage, but we couldn't win against them. Knowing bankers, they wouldn't make it physical but would call in mortgages or buy our land or something. I was a bit hazy about how they could do that, but I didn't doubt there were all sorts of legal dirty tricks available to rich people.

I wasn't prepared to stop investigating. "I'll keep liaising with Nate," I told her, hoping she'd hear what she wanted to in that statement.

Her brows raised. "Is that what you kids are calling it these days?" She sobered abruptly. "And that's another thing for you to be careful about. I brought you with me because you have a good brain but need some experience. Don't mess things up because you're thinking with another part of your anatomy."

"Aunt Margaret! How could you?" I staggered dramatically, looking for a fainting couch to support me in my shock.

Her eyes were like gimlets. "I know all of your tricks, Alex—deflection with humour won't work." She leaned in. "For the record, I was talking about your heart. I saw how you looked at him just now. I don't want to see you hurt again."

That made two of us. Margaret meant well with her warning, but she was too late. It wasn't that I was in love with Nate Mortimer. Sure, he was hot as hell, and I'd take him to my bed in a heartbeat, but I scarcely knew him. My problem was that I wanted to know him. I wanted him to be the man I thought he was, though the chances of me getting that right for once were infinitesimal.

NATE

Bath hadn't changed since our walk around it that morning. The only difference was that it was much duller without Alex's company. Even so, I wasn't in any hurry to return to the house and the crowd of visiting dragons.

A board outside the tourist office advertised coach tours to King Arthur's Realm. I stopped for an instant, surprised by the coincidence. Could Alex and his family really believe they were descended from King Arthur? I didn't think anyone gave credence to his existence as a historical figure, though there was evidently enough interest in the legends to milk tourists.

I hadn't paid the story of Arthur any attention since I was a child. My favourite book back then had been a lavishly illustrated hardback, full of tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. One particular illustration, that of an improbably handsome Lancelot wearing not very much, had cemented at an early age my realisation that I was gay.

I'd loved the stories about Excalibur. The magical sword forged in dragon fire had captured my imagination. Dad had bought me a plastic toy sword, which I'd instantly christened Excalibur and tried to jam into every rock I found. Unsurprisingly, it broke. Dad had dried my tears by telling me that once the rightful heir to Arthur appeared, they would pick it up and it would become whole again, stronger for having been broken.

I wondered briefly what had happened to my book and broken sword. I supposed they had been packed up with the rest of our stuff when Mum and Dad had died in that accident and given to a charity shop.

Over the years, I'd thought about how different my life would have been if the accident hadn't happened. I knew dreams would change nothing, but it had helped to have an imaginary, perfect world instead of the one I inhabited. Uncle Thaddeus had taken Rufus and me to live with him, and I'd be forever grateful to him for that. I had no doubt that he'd come to love us both. But I also had no doubt that he only took us because Rufus was red, like him. I'd been the unavoidable adjunct. Without Rufus, he'd never have chosen to adopt me.

Although they hadn't intended to make me feel excluded, Rufus and Uncle Thaddeus had been happy together in their red-dragon, book-collecting world. A world in which I didn't belong. The rest of the family didn't particularly want anything to do with me, and when I'd tried to be part of the family, I'd tried too hard. My neediness was tedious, Andrew had said. He'd been nominated to be spokesperson for all my cousins, telling me to be less annoying. It had taken me a little while to figure things out, but I'd finally realised the reason no one wanted me was because I had nothing to offer. I'd have to make myself useful.

I'd watched my uncles and my aunts and learned their tricks when it came to socialising. I became a valued guest who could grease even the most awkward social wheels, and I successfully flattered and cajoled clients.

But I knew it was unlikely to last. I'd made myself useful to Charlie in so many different ways, and they hadn't been enough. I hadn't been enough.

With an effort, I shook myself out of my depressing thoughts. Bim had sent me here. That had to count for something—he must have some belief in my ability.

That cheery thought lasted for perhaps twenty seconds, and then I remembered I was the only Mortimer who'd ever exchanged anything other than a solicitor's letter with the Fortescues. That was why he'd sent me. I'd just have to succeed in my investigation, and then perhaps something would change.

*

"Mr Fortescue would like to see you," Taylor told me on my return to the house. "He's in his study."

My heart thudded guiltily as I headed for the first floor and the room Alex had been rifling through earlier. Perhaps he'd been careless and left something out of place.

I paused halfway along the landing. My heart rate and breathing needed to be normal before I was any closer to James. Even in human form, dragons' senses were keen, and if he heard my heart beating as if it were trying to get out of my chest, he'd know I was involved in whatever was wrong.

Once I had myself under control, I knocked on the door.

"Ah, Nate," he said, getting up from behind the desk and moving towards the armchairs by the fireplace. "Have a seat. Whisky?"

"Please." He wouldn't waste his precious tipple on me if he was about to rip my head off. Would he?

"How's your book coming along? It sounds a little racier than the usual Austen ephemera."

Ella had obviously passed on the conversation I'd had with Alex. "I'm still doing the background research. It's very helpful being here and seeing so many of the places that haven't changed since Jane was here. Thank you again for your hospitality."

"You said you wanted a break. From banking or London?"

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. "London," I said eventually. It didn't seem politic to disrespect his profession.

"Your client list is fairly impressive. One trusts you haven't put them offside by decamping in such a way."

"I've ensured my clients will be fully serviced during my absence." Where the hell was he going with this?

He looked at me over the rim of his glass, blue eyes penetrating. "I wonder if you have a little too much of your great-uncle in you. People rely on their bankers to be safe and predictable. They don't expect them to run off and write a novel."

I fought to contain my anger at his implication that Uncle Thaddeus had been unreliable. My great-uncle had been the most honourable man I'd known. He'd simply decided halfway through his life that he didn't like banking. "I don't intend to be absent for long, so it's not too different from taking annual leave," I pointed out.

"Good."

Silence stretched until it became deeply uncomfortable. He doubtless wanted me to cave in and break it, but I was sure anything I said would somehow give me away. I sipped my whisky and waited for him to speak.

"Would a permanent move from London be of interest to you?"

The whisky I was swallowing went down the wrong way. By the time I finished choking, a slight smile had lifted the corners of his mouth.

"Are you offering me a position?" As I said, subtlety isn't one of my strengths.

"I'm asking if a move might be of interest to you. Nothing more than that."

He was testing my loyalty to my family, that was clear. What would be the correct answer? He wouldn't believe me—he'd be more suspicious still—if I disclaimed any loyalty to them. Yet if I turned this down, I might lose the opportunity to dig deeper into the Fortescue family's affairs.

"I'm aware my career has stalled for reasons that have nothing to do with my ability or commitment to the bank," I temporised. "Honestly, it's never occurred to me to move, but it could be an exciting opportunity."

"I hate to see talent going to waste. You would need to sign strict NDAs, of course, and observe them unswervingly. No hint of Fortescue family business can be leaked on pain of the severest penalties."

"My grandfather would expect the same concerning his business. I'm accustomed to keeping work confidential, whatever personal commitments I may have. Charlie and I had to do so…" I paused as the thought hit me. "Would any potential offer be contingent on Charlie and me being back together?"

His fingers tightened on his glass. "If anything, any offer would be contingent on you showing enough commonsense not to be with Charlie." He looked at me, and if I weren't so suspicious, I'd have thought he was sincere. "You appear to have matured somewhat over the years and come into the promise you showed. Charlie, unfortunately, has become a very volatile young man. It's not a character trait that investors value."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I went to take another sip of my drink only to find I'd already finished it.

"You are not to construe this as any sort of an offer," he said, rising from his chair. "I merely wanted to explore your thoughts concerning the possibility."

"Thank you," I said, following his lead and placing my glass on the side table. "I appreciate it."

I headed for the door and, once out on the landing, found my knees were slightly wobbly.I'd need to unpack that conversation. At least there'd been no accusation of espionage. Perhaps it was precisely what it had seemed on the surface.

Perhaps.

ALEX

I had no opportunity to get Nate alone and show him the photos I'd taken. The younger Fortescues returned before supper, and whenever I saw him after that, either Ella or Charlie was with him.

It still wasn't clear to me what the situation was between Nate and Charlie. From their conversation at the bar, I'd deduced there'd been a nasty split. But although Nate stepped back each time Charlie got too close, he didn't tell him to get lost. Ella seemed not to have heard of personal space, as she spent much of the evening hanging off Nate's arm. It was a timely reminder that Nate was one of them. Whatever I thought I saw in him, I was kidding myself.

I did the rounds of our family group, checking that everyone was okay. It made me feel like an old-fashioned chaperone, but as there wasn't anything useful I could do, I might as well make sure none of those entitled Fortescues were upsetting anyone.

I'd had enough of this. I wanted to be out of Bath and breathing in the sea air, feeling the spray cool and wet on my skin. The incessant cries from gulls over the city weren't helping my longing for the sea. The only thing that calmed my dragon was looking at Nate, seeing the smile in his eyes as he teased Ella and how his lips quirked at her response.

His lips had done a lot of things when he'd kissed me. None of them had involved quirking.

I needed to stop staring at Nate. My dragon needed to stop his rumbling complaints every time Charlie was close to him. But somehow, no matter how often I reminded myself that Nate was a banker and a Mortimer, I couldn't stop.

I was like a moth drawn to the warmth that burned so brightly in him. The worst of it was that I didn't want to turn away to save myself.

NATE

It took me a long time to fall asleep that night. James's offer that wasn't an offer kept bouncing around my head.

Had he been sincere or merely sounding me out further about why I was here? If he did offer me a job, what would I do? My career, such as it was, wasn't going anywhere. I indulged myself briefly with dreams of dizzying promotions at the Fortescues' bank, but I knew, deep inside, that I could never betray my family.

The cotton sheets were soft against my skin as I turned over restlessly. I missed my treasure, which always settled me when I was unsure. It was locked away safely in my flat in London. All except for a pair of cufflinks and my watch. I reached to the bedside table for my watch. I couldn't see them in the faint light from streetlamps filtering through the blind, but it helped to know they were there. Waiting for daylight, when they'd sparkle like Alex's eyes.

What a strange thought. Then I remembered how he'd gestured so enthusiastically when telling me about his home, and his eyes had definitely been sparkling. His accent had become more pronounced, with something oddly comforting about its musicality. His entire body had expressed his enthusiasm, in fact. The fluidity with which he moved turned me on just as much as the way his faded jeans clung softly to his thighs and lovingly hugged the curve of his arse. The breadth of his shoulders left no doubt of his strength, yet he was graceful.

I wondered, yet again, how it would feel if he was on top of me, holding me down. The thought left me weak and hopelessly turned on.

Regardless of my fantasies regarding Alex, I needed to talk to him. To find out what he'd discovered in James's desk and to see if his eyes would sparkle like that again. He wasn't my treasure, of course, but how I felt when I was with him was an echo of how my treasure made me feel.

I was still thinking of Alex when I finally fell asleep.