Page 120 of Heart of Iron
“With a reference.”Leo’s dark expression betrayed his curiosity, but he wouldn’t ask.They’d never shared a relationship like that.He’d protected her and guided her through the dangerous waters of the Echelon, but he always held her at a slight distance.Indeed, a distance with which he held the world.
“Thank you,” she murmured, stretching up on her toes to press her lips to his cheek.“For everything you’ve done for me.For taking me in when I didn’t know what to do with my life.”
A slight pause.Then an enigmatic lift of his brow as he drew away, a rash of heat curving across his cheeks.“I believe what you’re saying is good-bye.”
She nodded.“I know where I belong now.”
“With Will.”
“How did you—?”
“Lena,” he said dryly, “there are only so many ways the loupe can be spread.I don’t even want to imagine how you caught it, since you’re my…”
“Your sister,” she prompted.
He took a deep breath.“I can never be your brother.Not in public.You know that.This was all I could ever give you.”
Always so stiff and distant.She smiled mischievously.“You’re going to be an uncle, you know?”
His gaze dropped swiftly to her midriff, then away.
“Not me,” she laughed.
An incredulous expression broke over his oh-so-proper countenance.“Good God.He’s breeding.”
“Heis your brother-in-law,” she reminded him.“With any luck their baby will be just like him.”
Horror gave way to a calculated expression.“Yes,” Leo murmured.A smile edged over his lips.“Thatwould be justice.”
He laughed then, the sound of it following them all the way to the carriage.
***
Steam carriages disgorged their occupants onto the cobbled courtyard outside the Ivory Tower.Lena gathered her skirts and looked around for Will.The courtyard was a flurry of color, with bright parasols and elegant hats.At a ball, a debutante seeking a protector was expected to wear white.During the day, the vibrant nature of the Echelon sprang to life.
“Where’s Will?”she mused.
“I don’t see Blade’s carriage,” Leo murmured.“Perhaps they’re not yet here.Traffic in the streets is rather congested.”
Her eye caught a conservative group near the stairs.“The Norwegians.”Snapping open her parasol, she straightened.“I’m going to speak to them whilst we wait.”
“Lena—”
With a blithe smile she turned and stepped into someone.They collided in a tangle of skirts, and Lena grabbed the other woman’s arm before she could help herself.
Green eyes widened and Adele looked away sharply.“Pardon,” she murmured, attempting to move past.
Lena’s fingers tightened.“Don’t.Please, Adele.”
A pained expression crossed her friend’s face.“I can’t,” she whispered.“My father’s on the verge of signing a thrall contract for me with Lord Abagnale.”
“That old brute?”
Adele glanced around.“I can’t be seen with you.You know what they’re like.This is my last chance.”
“Adele, there are whispers he beat his last thrall to death!”
Color faded from Adele’s smooth cheeks.“You don’t think I’m aware of that?”She looked away and Lena’s gaze was drawn to the heavy pearl choker that draped her throat.
