A Secret Surrender - Darcy Burke Page 0,89
brought up the Magdalen Hospital. Lady Satterfield had been so interested that she’d suggested they take a tour. Selina didn’t have a farthing to give them, but perhaps she could help in other ways. For the first time, she thought of a different future. There was no brother to be reunited with, no sister to see secure—if Beatrix’s father welcomed and took care of her. She could do something that would maybe, hopefully, finally bring her peace.
Selina had gone to her room after returning home, as had Beatrix. A gentle knock on the door drew her from her reverie.
Standing from her small dressing table, Selina answered the summons. Mrs. Vining stood over the threshold, her mouth dipped in a rather extreme frown.
“Mr. Sheffield is here.”
Selina’s heart hammered as a tremor ran through her. With a nod, she moved past the housekeeper and went downstairs. She paused halfway down. Harry stood in the entry.
Though it had been only five days since she’d seen him, it felt like much, much longer. He held his hat so she had a clear view of his beautiful tawny eyes with their long lashes and dark auburn brows. He was impeccably dressed in his well-cut but entirely serviceable constable costume—dark gray coat, light gray waistcoat, and black breeches. He’d told her once that he dressed to blend in so his clothing was always either gray, black, or brown. Except for the times she’d seen him at his parents’ house. Then, he’d worn a brighter waistcoat.
She realized she was staring. Blinking, she swallowed as she finished descending the stairs.
“Good afternoon,” she said cautiously. “Do you want to come to the sitting room, or should I get my hat and gloves?”
“The sitting room,” he said tersely.
He waited for her to precede him. She went to the other side of the room so there could be as much distance between them as Harry could want. Turning to face him, she asked if he wanted to sit.
“I do not. I came here with a proposition. It’s come to my attention that you know and have worked closely with Luther Frost. I won’t arrest you or Miss Whitford if you tell me how I can find him.”
“I rather preferred your previous proposal,” she said without thinking, as if they could still flirt with one another.
His gaze locked with hers, provoking a longing she knew would never be satisfied. At length, he said, “Where can I find Luther Frost?”
Selina straightened, eager to provide what help she could. “He moves around a bit, but I visited him on Peter Street near Saffron Hill.”
“He hasn’t been there in some time.” Harry’s voice was cold. “Where else?”
“Somewhere in Cheapside, maybe?”
“We looked for him there too, and we have people watching over these places. He’s disappeared, and I need to speak with him.”
“Why, if you don’t plan to arrest me?”
“This has nothing to do with you. Unless you were somehow involved with the fire on Saffron Hill four years ago. Perhaps that’s yet another truth you kept from me.”
Of course. Selina felt foolish for not putting that together. “I had nothing to do with the fire. I wasn’t even in London. I haven’t been here since I was eleven.”
“But you knew I was looking for Frost, and you didn’t tell me you had a relationship with him.”
She could lie again and say she hadn’t realized it was the same Frost, but she couldn’t bring herself to say one more thing that wasn’t true. “How could I without divulging who I really was?”
“Of course. It always comes back to you and your lies. Are you lying still?” He took a step toward her. “I need to find Frost.”
“I’m not lying—I don’t know where he is.”
“It’s my understanding that he’s in love with you. You don’t love him in return?”
“No.” Her chest felt as if it were covered in bricks. “I love you.” The revelation didn’t make her feel any lighter.
Harry seemed frozen, his gaze glued to hers, his hands tensely gripping the brim of his hat.
Selina closed the distance between them. “I didn’t realize that until it was too late,” she said softly. “And I had to have help. I don’t know what love feels like.”
His jaw twitched. “I’ve tried to understand how you could be so deceptive. I don’t know what to believe. You’ve given me nothing to trust.” His tone was even, without a hint of emotion.
It would be easier if he were anguished or angry. Selina could deal with that. But this was terrifying.