Page 19 of The Truth Serum
Sure enough, Nate hobbled to her side before she could storm out into the afternoon sun.
Chapter Five
Ras watched thewomen go inside then pasted on a tight smile as he turned to Fletcher. He was fully aware that he’d just given the man a “win.” Just being seen publicly with Fletcher gave everyone the impression that he sided with Fletcher against Kynthea in that very public altercation.
Nothing could be further from the truth, but he needed Fletcher to think they were friends if he intended to get to the bottom of the man’s accusations against Nate. He’d accused Nate of everything from petty secrets to destroying Fletcher’s family, not to mention driving a wedge between Fletcher and Ras. That, at least, wasn’t true. Fletcher himself had destroyed their friendship by obsessing on Nate’s supposed perfidy their last year in school. Nate had disappeared, Fletcher’s father had died, and when the boy returned to school, all he could talk about was how Nate had killed his family.
He’d been grieving, obviously, but there was only so much hatred and venom Ras could take. He’d iced out Fletcher, and for that he felt some guilt. Had he, inadvertently, added to Fletcher’s madness? If so, then perhaps this walk would make some amends. But in the meantime, he wanted to know—exactly—what Fletcher had discovered about Nate’s activities.
Thankfully, Kynthea understood the situation and had agreed to the public slight. It was one of the reasons he loved her. She saw the bigger picture, could be counted on to makesacrifices if necessary, and—best of all—no longer cared what thetonthought of her.
She loved him and so had promised to support his machinations in this matter. After all, Nate had become Kynthea’s friend first. Ras had realized what a treasure she was long afterwards.
“It’s a lovely day for a stroll,” Fletcher said, his expression genuinely happy.
Ras eyed the myriad people walking ever so slowly by them. Fletcher would want to parade their renewed friendship in front of the entireton, but Ras had little interest in being so public.
“Let’s go to my stable. I want to check on the salve that Lady Zoe sent. She says…” He frowned. Kynthea’s cousin Zoe was brilliant when it came to horses, but listening to her talk about them was like getting a lecture in Greek. He couldn’t understand anything beyond the first few words. “She said it’ll make them spry. Or something like that.”
Fletcher chuckled. “You really did make the right choice in refusing to marry her. The two of you have nothing in common.”
They had a love of Kynthea in common, but that was about it. “Lady Zoe is very happy where she is. And very determined to win her bet against Prinny.”
The man made a delicate shudder. “No way to win in that situation. Stupid to win a bet against a royal and well, she’s not a girl who will lose gracefully.”
Ras shot Fletcher a sidelong glance. The man was perceptive. That was exactly Ras’s fear when he’d proposed the arrangement with Lady Zoe. Either way, that was a problem for another day.
“Fletcher,” he said as they rounded the corner into the alleyway. “You must know that I have not forgiven you for maligning my fiancée.”
The man huffed out a breath. “Honestly, Ras, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You told me so to my face.”
“We haven’t spoken in an age!”
Ras turned to face the man, studying his baffled expression. If he didn’t know better, he’d believe Fletcher’s every word. There was such sincerity in the man’s tone, such earnest passion that he led Ras to doubt himself. But Ras did remember. And now he wondered how far Fletcher would take his lies.
“The day I brought Nate to my house,” Ras said. “You were outside his building. You told me what you’d done.”
“Yes!” Fletcher huffed. “I was trying to find out if he lived. You must know that he’s involved in…” He shook his head. “Unsavory things. He was at the docks. I told you that.”
“And what were you doing at the docks?”
He folded his arms. “Investigating! Don’t you know that there are smugglers everywhere? Right under our noses! Things that are supposed to be English are going other places. They’re goingFrenchplaces.”
“What things?”
Fletcher made a disgusted noise. “That’s what I was trying to find out.” He continued walking toward the stable doors. “England has always had smugglers. Cornwall was built upon it, for God’s sake. But it’s a bold man who manages it right here in London.”
Was there admiration in the man’s tone?
“You think Nate is smuggling something to Napoleon?”
Fletcher shrugged. “He’s always been one to play both sides. He’ll pretend to be your friend as long as it’s to his advantage. But the minute he doesn’t need you…” Fletcher made a stabbing motion with his fist. “He’s ruthless. He killed my father.”
That didn’t sound like Nate at all. Though again, Fletcher said it with such conviction that Ras had to reconsider certain things.
“Nate didn’t kill your father, Fletcher. He had a heart attack.”
