Page 46 of Garden of Lies

Hurley experienced a surge of relief. The bastard did not appear either mad or dangerous. He looked like a scholar. Nothing like his father, at all. The big man was evidently a servant.

“What the devil do you want, Roxton?” Hurley asked.

“I came here tonight to say farewell to you,” Slater said.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“You will be leaving on a ship bound for Australia early tomorrow morning. Your passage is paid. One way. You will not be returning. Mr. Griffith, here, has your ticket. He will see you safely to your lodgings tonight and assist you with your packing. Once I receive word that you are actually in Australia, I will send you a small financial stake to help you get started in your new life. After that you will be on your own.”

“You really are mad,” Hurley said. “I’m not leaving London.”

“The choice to go or stay is yours, of course.”

“Damned right it is.”

“I would point out that, while your creditors have some interest in keeping you alive, at least as long as they believe that you might be able to get some money out of the Roxton estate, I have no such interest. Indeed, I find you a great inconvenience.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No, Hurley, I am giving you my solemn promise that if you are not on that ship to Australia tomorrow morning you will not have to concern yourself with the payment of your outstanding debts. You will have... other problems.”

“You bastard. That money should have been mine. I’m Judith’s father. I have every right to control the income from the Roxton estate.”

“My father left strict instructions in his will. You are not to receive a penny from the estate. Therefore, I am using my own money to finance your passage to Australia. One way or another you will disappear from all our lives tomorrow, Hurley. If you do not board that ship in the morning they will pull your body out of the river tomorrow night.”

Hurley struggled for words. “No.No.”

Slater looked at the giant. “Mr. Griffith, please see Mr. Hurley to his residence and stay with him until he boards the ship.”

“Yes, sir,” Griffith said.

“You can’t do this,” Hurley yelped. “You really are mad.”

Slater removed his glasses with a world-weary motion of one hand and looked at Hurley. He did not speak. There was no need. In that moment Hurley knew that of the two devils, this was the one he feared the most.

Slater put on his glasses, turned and walked away into the night.

NINETEEN

He took a hansom back to Ursula’s house because Griffith needed the carriage to transport Hurley and his trunks to the docks.

She was where she had promised to be, watching the street from an upstairs window. A candle set on the windowsill burned low. There was just enough light to show him that Ursula was wearing a wrapper. Her hair was in a single braid that hung down over one shoulder.

At the sight of her the remnants of the cold, battle-ready tension inside him were instantly transformed into another kind of readiness—the sort that burned. The fierce need caught him by surprise.

He got down from the cab, intending to go up the front steps. She would open the door for him and he would carry her upstairs to bed.

But Ursula opened the window and leaned out.

“You are all right?” she demanded.

“I’m fine,” he assured her.

“Excellent. In that case, good night, sir.”

She closed the window with a bang and drew the blinds shut.

The message could not have been more clear.

---