The Redemption of a Rogue, стр. 60
“Imogen,” her friend whispered, wrapping her arms around her. It was so comforting to feel that embrace. “How could this happen?”
“I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Imogen sighed. How true that was and how much it had changed her life. His life. She glanced to where Oscar had departed and her heart ached. “Can I trust your friends?”
“Yes.” There was no hesitation in Aurora’s voice, and relief cascaded through Imogen.
Which allowed her a moment to let go of her own troubles. She looked over her shoulder at where Nicholas Gillingham stood with the duchess. “That’s the one you were in love with as a child, isn’t it? The one who left you for the army?”
Aurora’s face lit up instantly. She was so beautiful and so obviously in love that Imogen felt a tug of jealousy at it. “Turns out it’s more complicated than that, but yes.”
Gillingham was watching Aurora from the corner of his eye from time to time. And his emotions were as clear as hers. Their future, it seemed, was set. And it made Imogen’s seem all the more desperate. She loved Oscar with the same intensity that Aurora and this man loved each other.
But there were no guarantees for her. No promises, in fact just the opposite.
“He seems to love you,” she breathed.
“Yes,” Aurora whispered.
“Then hold on to that,” Imogen said, grasping her hands. “Hold onto it and to each other. Because others are…they’re not so lucky.”
Aurora tilted her head. “Are you talking about Mr. Fitzhugh? Because there is no denying your connection.”
Heat flooded Imogen’s cheeks. She was so easy to read, it seemed. So obvious and foolish that the world would know. Oscar would know. It would only push him further away.
“Connection is one thing. Protection is another,” she mused. Then she shook her head. “But he has made it clear that he cannot love me. So…I just would like one of us to be happy. When this is all over, I want you to be happy.”
As she said the last, Oscar re-entered the room. There was the command on his expression again. Stern and certain. Her body reacted to that, as it always had. As she feared it always would.
“Arrangements have been made,” he said. “An unmarked carriage is around the back, ready to ferry us away to whatever location you see fit, Your Grace.”
“Good,” the duchess said. “Then I’ll accompany you. Mr. Gillingham, will you tell the duke of my plans? I’ll meet with him back at home. And I would suggest you and Lady Lovell also take your leave. There is nothing else you can do here. The professionals will handle this and keep your friend safe.”
Aurora seemed to sag at that suggestion and pivoted back to hug Imogen tight again. “I wanted to…to save you today. To bring you home.”
Imogen clung to her all the tighter. “I’m so much closer to home now.”
It was true, of course. Up until half an hour ago, she was certain she would have to take a new name and leave London, perhaps even England, entirely. Now there was hope…at least for how this matter with Roddenbury and the Cat’s Companion would be resolved.
That was the gift her dearest friend had given, so she pulled back and kissed her cheek. “I adore you.” Then she glanced past her toward Gillingham. “Mr. Gillingham, I wish I had more time to get to the know the man who has held my friend’s heart for her entire life.”
He drew back, but there was a flicker of a smile that crossed his face. It was very much like the way Oscar did his half-smiles. That made her like this man all the more. As did his genuine tone when he said, “And I wish I had more time to get to know the friend she loves as a sister. But we will have that time in the future.”
“Yes,” Imogen said with a shaky smile. “I know we will.”
She was going to cry. She felt the burning in her chest and the pressure behind her eyes. She didn’t want Aurora to see that, to worry more than she already was. She pivoted toward Oscar and he held her stare, the beacon for her the darkness. She needed him now, more than she needed anyone else in the world. Even the best friend she loved so deeply.
He offered his uninjured arm to her and she took it, holding tightly as he guided her from the room with the Duchess of Willowby trailing behind them. Imogen moved with him through the halls toward the back of the club.
The butler who had greeted them earlier was waiting for them there. His expression was grim as he nodded to his master. “The arrangements have been made, Mr. Fitzhugh.”
“Very good,” Oscar’s voice was low and rough. “Reach out to Will as soon as I am gone. And tell him I’ll contact him as soon as possible, myself.”
“I shall. Be well, Mr. Fitzhugh. And to you, as well, Mrs. Huxley.”
Imogen hadn’t been expecting the kind words, nor the gentle nod in her direction. The tears that swelled threatened to fall even more immediately, and she bent her head. “Thank you. Goodbye.”
They stepped into the afternoon sunshine. So bright that it was almost offensive considering the day’s dark events. Oscar glanced over his shoulder. “You’ll give my man directions to your preferred location?”
The duchess eyed the driver. “He can be trusted?”
“He can,” Oscar said without hesitation as he handed Imogen up into the carriage and then slung himself in, as well. He said nothing as he took a place beside her on the bench and put his good arm around her. She said nothing either. What was there to be said? He had been forced to deal with the family he had cut himself away from. She was in more danger than ever, it seemed, and had placed