Chapter 23 #2
The thought saddened him even as he smiled. He hated that circumstance forced her to feel so inferior. It made him look forward to their next encounter and the possibility of explaining his intentions to her properly.
Having reached Number 5, he gave the door a couple of solid raps with the knocker, then stepped back and waited. It didn’t take long before Elks came to greet him. The butler pulled the door open, relief showing in his otherwise inscrutable expression when he spotted Edward.
“Welcome, my lord.” The man looked like he needed to sit for a minute and gather his energy.
“Is Croft home?” Edward asked.
“Yes. Um… Do come in.”
Elks opened the door wider and Edward entered the foyer, which had always struck him as both elegant and soothing in its simplicity.
Yet somehow it seemed morose today, though nothing appeared to be different than usual.
The air, however, was heavy with the awareness that Samantha was no longer here.
That she had been taken and might have been made to suffer at the hands of her captors.
Edward shook aside that unpleasant thought and removed his gloves. He dropped them into his hat and handed the items to Elks.
“You ought to prepare yourself,” the butler informed him. “This business has taken its toll on him.”
Edward could well imagine. It would be strange if it hadn’t.
He followed Elks to Adrian’s study and waited to be announced. Adrian could be heard muttering something and then Elks returned.
“Would you like some tea or coffee?” Elks asked. “Perhaps something to eat?”
“A cup of coffee would be appreciated,” Edward said.
Elks hesitated briefly, as though on the cusp of saying something more, only to nod before striding off.
Edward took a breath and stepped into the room where Adrian waited.
His first observation was the darkness. While it was already late afternoon and overcast with rain, the closed curtains blocked out all possible light.
Only a dimly lit oil lamp placed on the sideboard allowed Edward to get his bearings.
He paused immediately inside the doorway and swept his gaze toward the shadowy figure who sat behind the desk. Well, this was cheerful. Unsure of what the right words were in this kind of situation, Edward decided to focus on his reason for coming. “What can I do to help?”
“Hmm?” It sounded like Adrian hadn’t yet realized that Edward had entered the room.
“I stopped by yesterday to offer whatever support you need, but you were out. Searching, I suppose, or possibly forging a plan?” If only this were the case. “Have you learned anything? A possible clue as to who would have done this and where she might be? If the motive is clear, then—”
“What?” A grunt of displeasure sounded as Adrian pushed himself into an upright position. He slammed an object against the desk — a glass, perhaps — then braced his hands on the surface, his posture hunched. “Ya think a clea’ motive ’ll solve this?”
Edward stared at the man he’d known most of his life and realized he’d never before seen him like this. Three sheets to the wind and his speech so slurred he could barely make himself understood.
“How many drinks have you had today?”
“As many’s was needed. To numb the head.” He slumped back into his seat.
Edward collected the oil lamp and turned it up. “You don’t even have a fire in here to warm you. I’ll ask one of the maids to—”
“Don’t ya bloody dare.”
Edward froze on his way to the bell-pull. He turned to Adrian, whose face was now visible thanks to the added light. Despite his intoxicated state, he still had that dangerous look about him that threatened to unleash infinite fury on anyone daring enough to thwart him.
And yet, Edward saw it for what it truly was in this moment. Pure terror.
The only way to vanquish it was to get Samantha back, and to do that, Adrian would have to be saved first.
Edward took a breath. “Foregoing comfort won’t help.”
“How the ’ell would you know?”
“Because this is not an environment conducive to forging plans. And drinking yourself into oblivion won’t provide the mental faculty required to find a solution.”
“You think I’ve done nothin’ but sit here on my arse?
” Adrian’s voice rose as he pushed himself back on his feet.
He snatched up his tumbler and started rounding the desk with a heavy tread.
“I’ve been out there, Edward.” He jabbed his finger toward the window.
“Huntin’ the streets. Askin’ for…for help.
I’ve sent people off to…to search. But she’s gone.
So by all means, Edward, tell me what to do.
Tell me where to look if you’re so damn clever. ’Cause I’ve no bloody clue.”
“Have you brought the matter to Bow Street’s attention?”
Adrian gave him a what’s-wrong-with-you look and swung toward the sideboard on unsteady feet.
“Adrian. You have to stop drinking.” When Adrian ignored him and proceeded to refill his glass, Edward crossed to where he stood and took hold of his arm. “Enough.”
Perhaps he ought to have known where the interference would lead, yet the upward jab of Adrian’s elbow still caught him off guard. He stumbled back a couple of steps. By the time he’d regained his balance, Adrian’s fist was flying toward him so fast he barely managed to dodge it.
“You think you have the right?” Adrian asked, choosing this time to catch Edward’s lapels in his fisted hand. “To come here and issue instructions when you didn’t even have what it takes to avenge my sister.”
Edward knew the words were part of an outburst that had very little to do with him, yet they still stung. “I’m not like you, Adrian. You know this.”
Adrian shoved him against the wall and leaned in, his face twisted in fury. A sneer curled his lips. “You’re weak and you’ve made me weak by association.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Afraid of the truth?” Adrian snorted. “Let’s see if you have the stomach for it, shall we?
In case you’re wondrin’, Clive Newton died at my hand.
I’m no sorrier for it than I am for killing Benjamin Lawrence or Doctor Ashburry.
The number of lives I’ve taken would horrify you, but only one of them matters right now and that’s Finn Bloody O’Leary.
He’s the reason Samantha was taken. Because I killed his father, Edward.
I did this to her, you see. Me. The monster she married. ”
None of what Adrian said surprised him. Although this side of his friend had always been kept in the dark, Edward had known. He wasn’t sure how, but he had, and he’d never once thought it reason enough for him to end their association.
Perhaps because of who Adrian was as a person.
“You would never take a life without good reason. That tells me O’Leary’s father deserved it.”
“Should that make me feel better?” Adrian released his hold on Edward’s lapels. He turned away, leaving Edward to straighten his jacket. “Just leave me be.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because you’re my friend. As such, I’m not about to abandon you when you need me the most.”
“Trust me when I tell you, you don’t want any part of this.” Thankfully, Adrian appeared to have forgotten about refilling his glass. He returned to his chair and had almost reclaimed his seat when a maid arrived.
She brought a tray filled with coffee things and prepared to place it on the desk when Adrian said, “We’ve no need for that since Marsdale is leaving. Please take it away.”
“Ignore him,” said Edward. “I mean to enjoy a cup of coffee and one of those tasty looking sandwiches before I depart.”
“No. You. Won’t.” Adrian’s voice cut through the air.
The maid, clearly torn between heeding her master’s command and doing as a guest told her, remained utterly still. Pitying her, Edward reached for the tray. “I’ll take that so you can return to the kitchen.”
No sooner had the exchange taken place than she bolted from the room.
Edward turned his attention to Adrian’s glowering expression. “Coffee and food will do you good. It will help get the brandy out of your system.”
“Did it ever occur to you that I’ve been enjoying the brandy’s effect? That it is the only thing helping me through this living nightmare?”
“I had the impression you wanted to suffer. No better way to do so than by clearing your head.” Edward set the tray on the desk and filled both cups. He set one in front of Adrian along with a plate containing a couple of sandwiches. “Drink and eat.”
Adrian glared at him. “I hate you right now.”
“You’ll hate yourself more if you let despair cripple you.
” Even though Edward felt compelled to turn on his heel and leave this awful version of his friend, he couldn’t.
So he took a seat and told him plainly, “Imagine if you receive word about her whereabouts and you’re in no position to help. Consider how you will feel then.”
Only the rough sound of Adrian’s breathing filled the room in the moments that followed. He stared at the cup of coffee and the sandwiches as if both were poisoned. Until he finally blew out a breath and nodded. “Fine.”
He drank some coffee and Edward did the same. They ate in silence with Edward forced to press his lips together to keep from smiling when Adrian took additional food.
“Do you hate me a little bit less now?” he asked when they’d finished their second cups of coffee and only crumbs remained on their plates.
“I don’t…” Adrian’s eyebrows dipped, accentuating the pained look in his eyes. “Forgive me. I’ve been awful to you, but this helplessness I feel is eating away at me. It’s not an excuse, I realize, just the truth of it.”
“I understand. It’s a terrible situation to be in, but drowning yourself in drink won’t solve anything.”
“You’re right. I just… Sitting here, unable to do anything, not knowing where she is or what state she’s in… Not knowing how Murry is faring either… If he’s still alive, even. It’s killing me, Edward.”