Chapter Forty-Six
L ord Tobias, Duke of Moreland
I entered my office at the publishing house through the back door to find Ash sitting at my desk. Correction, his desk. The weeks that had passed since accepting the title had been a whirlwind of change. I hadn’t been able to see him as much as I liked.
“Good morning.” Ash glanced up and smiled, swiveling my one-time chair in my direction. Unlike me, he seemed to have mastered the chair. Long legs spread out, brown tweed trousers pulled at the muscles of his thighs. I still could hardly credit that he had quit the force.
“Good morning.” I leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips, his beard soft on my chin. Brushing my knuckle down his cheek, I rested my forehead against his. “I’ve missed you. Have you been avoiding me?”
“Of course not.” Ash tilted his chin and kissed me again with gentle understanding before he withdrew. He motioned with his hand toward the desk, not looking at me. “I have been busy wrapping up the serials for the end of the year. My predecessor left me a lot of work to do.”
Although his comment was spoken in jest, his tone lacked humor. Something wasn’t right with him, which cemented my earlier concern. I rested my hip against my desk, inspecting his profile. “I am sorry about that.”
He continued to stare at the papers on the desk, a slight pink hue on his cheeks. “You needn’t apologize. I am a partner in this business and you have carried the burden long enough.”
“It was never a burden for me.” The final installment of the Lord Golden books was ready for publication, the last of the books I would edit. It was a bittersweet notion. Ash had taken over the job since my responsibilities with the title took all of my time. My wife had stepped in and, in typical Birdie fashion, quickly organized me, and the ducal staff.
“I, more than anyone, am aware of that. However, since things are quieting down, I have decided it is an opportune time for me to leave England.” He steepled his fingers and swiveled back and forth in the chair. Consternation marked his forehead, along with determination. “Birdie helped me realize I need to go to France and talk to Suzette.”
“I see.” Memories of the heartache and pain she had put him through made me beg him not to but I held my tongue. This wasn’t my destiny, it was his. The truth was, I really didn’t know Suzette very well. I’d met her a few times but never for a period long enough to exchange more than pleasantries. My distrust of her motives toward Ash arose from how she’d spurned him in favor of money and possessions. Regardless, I couldn’t protect him forever, nor did I really think he was content with his current existence.
Until I met Birdie, I had no desire to fall in love. Now I wanted to shout my love for her to the rooftops. Being with Ash had always been emotionally and physically satisfying. I didn’t know what I would do without him. But I wouldn’t try to keep him from finding happiness. The expression that the one constant in life is change stuck with me. “How long will you be gone for?”
He lifted a satchel from the floor and slipped a manuscript into the leather. “As long as it takes to convince her to come back. One of the reasons she didn’t want to be with me was because of my profession. Her stepfather had been a bobby and was very abusive.”
“You are a publisher now, a much safer profession, despite Brown and his threats.” I stroked his cheek with my knuckle. “Suzette said she wanted to be a lady. I can’t make her one but you can let her know that she will always be welcome in my house.”
Ash flashed a sheepish smile, his eyes a bright blue. Love shone in their depths. “And to think, I once believed that every member of the aristocracy was bad. It might take time to get over my prejudices but I will try for your sake.”
“You said one of the reasons. What could she possibly find wrong with you?” Eyebrow lifted, I waited for his comeback.
The color on his cheeks heightened. “She didn’t think I was grown up enough. She said I had a roving eye.”
“Which is true.”
He waved a dismissive hand, shaking his head at my teasing. “One thing the last few weeks have taught me is that I don’t want to just give up on love.” Ash stood, his body mere inches from me. Regret, along with uncertainty, turned his mouth down. “You didn’t, and look how that turned out.”
“That is because you practically pushed me to propose.” I linked my fingers with his and brought him flush against me. We held each other for a long moment, each knowing that this was a turning point in our lives. “And I am grateful for it. I was a prat.”
“You still are.” Ash pulled back long enough to brush a bittersweet kiss on my lips. He stepped back, a small smile playing across his mouth. “I will be back soon, so don’t worry. I will never be far from you.”
A soft knock sounded on the reception door. Birdie had hired a new secretary to see to the everyday running of the business. The slender woman peeked her head inside the door. Frown lines appeared between her eyes. “Detective Chief Inspector Stark is here to see you, Your Grace and Mr. Ashton. May I show him in?” The last time Spark was here, it hadn’t turned out well.
“Of course, send him in, please.” I shared a look with Ash, curious and a touch alarmed until I remembered that the charges had been dropped against me.
Stark walked in, holding his hat, looking rather harried. He was clearly not his usual self, and I prayed it had nothing to do with Birdie’s outstanding arrest warrant.
“Thank you for seeing me, Moran. Or should I say Lord Moreland?” He looked a bit confused, which was very unlike Stark.
“You can call me Moran. I’m not used to the other name yet. Unless you are here to arrest me again.” I didn’t like being called Your Grace and Lord Moreland and all the other accoutrements that came with the title.
He laughed at my quip, rubbing a hand over his scruffy chin. “No, I am not here to arrest you. I am here to return something that belongs to Lady Birdie and to ask a favor of Ash.”
“Can I get you something to drink?” Ash asked.
“I would love a scotch or a whiskey or anything you have.” He plopped down in a chair and looked around. “It has been a long few days.”
Silence fell, my curiosity rising while Ash poured the scotch. He brought the glass over to Stark. The other man took it, drinking deep from the amber liquid. He shuddered at the taste before taking another sip.
“I take it things are not going well?” Ash asked.
“Actually, they are going better than well, which concerns me.” He shook his head. “I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
“I can well imagine,” Ash said. “What you uncovered is huge. My father is very impressed.”
Stark beamed at the comment. “That is a great compliment indeed.”
Animated voices could be heard from the other side of the reception door. Stark shot to his feet as Birdie rushed inside, terror on her face. “Pence said DCI Spark was here. Are you here for me?”
“No, my lady. I am not.” Stark was quick to reassure her.
I held out my hand to Birdie and she took it, a visible quiver to her lower lip. She pretended like the arrest hadn’t been traumatic, but the paleness of her cheeks gave away her fears. “It is all right. Stark is here with good news. Well, good news as far as Brown has been arrested and taken off the streets. He will never be able to hurt another woman.”
She squeezed my hand. “He is a horrible man.”
“I also need to tell you that we have dropped the charges of unlawful impersonation against Lady Moreland.” Stark pulled a small wooden box from his pocket and handed it to her. “I believe this belongs to you.”
“It was a gift from my father.” She held it tight to her chest. “Thank you.”
I wrapped my arms around her waist, drawing her close to my side. “The nightmare is finally behind us.”
“I am very grateful. Thank you for delivering the news to us.” Birdie exhaled a long breath.
Stark nodded and finished his drink and set the glass on the desk. “It is my pleasure. The entire department is in disarray. Ashton, if you can spare a few hours, I need to get some clarification on the Anderson file. I know it isn’t your job anymore, but I want ironclad evidence against Brown.”
“I have a few hours before I catch my boat,” Ash said, gathering his hat and coat from the coat tree.
Birdie rushed up to him and threw her arms around his neck. “Good luck! I can’t wait to meet Suzette.”
Aware of Stark, he merely nodded. “I can’t wait for you to meet her, either. Come on, Stark, we need to hurry. I am going to France and don’t know when I will return.”
The two men left the room, leaving me with Birdie. I pulled her tighter into my embrace, my love for her seeing me through a tough moment. There was no doubt in my mind that Ash would be returning, but I didn’t want his absence to become the new normal.
“He will be back. You needn’t fret.” She glanced up at me, her arms sliding around my neck. “Time has a way of rushing by us.”
I cupped the back of her neck, the silky strands of her hair tickling my hand. “He said you encouraged him to go.”
“I did.” She brushed her lips against mine, the pull of her kiss too hard to resist.
I slanted my lips over hers, gliding my tongue into her mouth. She returned the gesture, her breasts soft against my chest. When I had first seen her, I knew there was something special about her. Elizabeth had pricked my pride. Birdie challenged it at every turn. I drifted my hands down her back, needing to be close to her. In the space of a month, my loneliness evaporated and I renewed my connection with Ash, all because of Birdie.
My business had once been my life. Now it was a part of it, not the entire thing. While a part of me wanted what I once had, what I had now topped it thrice. I soon would have a household of six women of varying ages. Right now it was Birdie and me and there was nowhere I wanted to be other than in her arms.