“That creature doesn’t scare me.” She said it so swiftly that Morgan believed her, even wondered if his eldest brother had been her first murder or her only. Who was his mother?
Morgan swallowed and realized that his mother had just solved his case. While he’d thought to use what he’d learned about the carriage as a means to put Creed away, he hadn’t wanted Philomena involved. Now, he could use the knowledge that Creed had stolen an entire hotel and threatened a man’s life.
He hated to admit the woman he despised might have saved his case, but it was true.
Morgan said, “Why do you hate Mr. Carey?”
She turned to her papers then. “That’s between Mr. Carey and me. You worry about Philomena.”
Morgan decided that after he got both the lawyers in the custody of the government, he would do just that. But he would not approach her until he had the evidence he needed to make her believe him.
And hopefully, they’d be able to put Creed behind them forever.
* * *
28
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
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“I’m not nearly done with you.” …
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Nora only spoke when she needed instructions on how to draw the man that Mena had seen in Creed’s painting, asking if she had the head, nose, eyes, lips, and chin correct before she did any shading to the image. Then they spoke about his eyes color, the hue, and his hair and skin before silence fell over them.
A small table had been brought out and set beside Nora with paints and brushes covering most of the surface. She was a true artist, and she was very good.
Mena watched Nora’s hand work over the drawing, her dark head bent and her blue eyes squinting slightly every now and again as though she wished to get every detail accurate. Mena was amazed when the drawing came out to be nearly identical to the one that Creed had shown her.
Nora finally spoke as she reached for a new brush. “I hope they catch this man soon.” It was a comment that didn’t need a reply and came out as though she was talking to herself, but Mena dared to think the woman was inviting her for conversation.
“I’m sure with Morgan after him, he’ll be found very quickly.”
Nora glanced at her before lowering her eyes to her canvas again. “You have that much faith in him?”
“Oh, yes,” Mena said quickly. “This man, whoever he is, doesn’t stand a chance at escape.” All she had to do was recall the quickness Morgan had displayed when he’d went after Silas. The carriage had been at full speed when he’d leaped from it.
And then, like always, the memory went on to the moment Morgan had been stabbed.
Mena wrung her hands together.
“Does that bother you?” Nora’s eyes moved to Mena’s hands as an indication of her nerves.
Mena pressed her hands into her skirts and confessed, “So long as he’s still alive in the end, I’ve no worries.”
“You care for his safety then,” Nora stated, her hand still busy.
Mena narrowed her eyes and wondered where the woman was taking this conversation. “Of course, I care for him. I…” She’d not tell this woman that she loved Morgan. Morgan didn’t even know himself.
And he would never know how.
She closed her eyes and took a breath before standing. “If you’ve no further need of me, I believe I’ll go lay down for a bit.” Her thoughts were everywhere. Her uncle was a criminal. Stealing from the Crown was treason enough, but worse, he’d gotten her involved, but could she completely turn her back on him? She wanted to see him again but had no way to reach him. She suspected she’d see him after tea with the princess, but she didn’t know how she’d manage to not give herself away next week.
What should she do?
“Why not simply talk to him?” Nora asked.
Mena lifted her head and her eyes widened. “What?”
Nora put the brush down. “I’m telling you what you should do. If things are not their best between you and Morgan, simply talk to him and put things to rights.”
Mena could only be grateful that she’d not said Creed’s name.
However, she did take a moment to think about Nora’s idea before shaking her head. “It’s no use.” She didn’t know why she was sharing this with this woman. Perhaps it was because Nora obviously wished to help, but nonetheless, Mena went on, “We’re not meant to be.”
“Because you care for Creed?” Nora had turned away from her canvas to face her.
Mena fell back into the chair and her shoulders fell. “He’s all I have… well… he was all I had before Morgan came. He even encouraged me to marry Morgan.”
“Have you ever thought why that would be?” Nora asked. “Why Creed would encourage you to marry someone who despises him?”
Mena lifted a brow. “Because he’s a marquess, and Creed wants what’s best for me.” There could be no other reason. “And I’m not even sure that Creed knows Morgan hates him.”
Nora seemed to hesitate before she said in a calm voice, “He does.”
Mena frowned. “That can’t be. That makes no sense. Why would he encourage me to marry someone who he knew detested his very being?”
Nora turned to return to her paintings and said nothing.
Mena stared at her, waiting for a reply. “Do you know why?” she asked impatiently after none came.
Nora finally said, “He knows Morgan is a spy, Philomena.”
Mena’s eyes widened. “No.”
The other woman looked at her again. “Morgan, Warren, Simon, and Lucas have all been after him for years. Creed knows this.”
“He does?” Did the entire world know? Was she the last to find out the truth? Then another truth hit her. “The men are all spies?”
“The best. They’re the O.S.S. The Order of the Second Sons.” Nora stared at her with confusion. “Morgan didn’t tell you? The king himself called them to England to bring your uncle to an end.”
The words knocked the wind out of her. “The king?” Mena shook her head. “That’s impossible. Creed would have told me if the king thought him a wrongdoer. Even more, Creed would have surely told me that Morgan was a spy.”
“No, he wouldn’t have.”
“Yes, he would have,” Mena replied. “You don’t know—”
Nora slammed the brush down and stood. “You cannot be that blind.” Her blue eyes blazed with anger. She blinked it away and laughed. “But of course, you are. I was just like you two years ago. Lucas tried to tell me otherwise, but I remained loyal to a man who was only concerned for himself. I believed the man had my best interests at heart, only to find out that he was not only plotting the death of Princess Victoria, but he also killed his own brother.”
Mena covered her mouth but had nothing to say at such a horrid tale.
Nora didn’t give her a chance to speak anyway, and she started to pace the room with her hands on her hips. “These men, they tell you what they wish for you to know, but there is an entire story about their lives that you don’t know. Did you know that Creed had a sister?”
Mena’s eyes widened. “He has a sister?”
“Yes. Her name is Matilda St. Clair… well, she’s Lady Abrams now. She married a man named Sir John Abrams”