Page 11 of Boy of Chaotic Making

“I think I might get some documentation notarized.” He leaned back in his chair. “In Providence.”

She blinked. “What documentation?” Their marriage license was already taken care of.

“I don’t know.” He fidgeted. “It’s just ... they know about Owein. All of this revolves around him. I honestly don’t know what to expect, so I want to make sure we have any and every protection we need. I think ... I think I’m going to adopt him.”

Hulda’s lips parted. After a beat, she said, “I-I’m not sure the law will allow you to legally adopt a canine.”

“I’ll see what I can finagle. In my experience, you can get away with just about anything if you pay the right amount.”

She frowned. “Perhaps. Though I do not believe you are flush with cash.”

Sweeping back his hair, Merritt said, “Just don’t tell Baptiste I’ll be dipping into his cow fund.”

Adey returned two days later, midsunset. Merritt had a letter ready for him—it was brief, accepting the offer and nothing else. Playing it safe until they had more information. Owein was anxious about traveling so far, and Merritt was anxious about traveling on so little. But they were going together, and that seemed enough to steady them both.

However, after Merritt opened the front door and handed the queen’s man the unsealed note, he didn’t take it. “May I ask, Mr. Fernsby, if the letter is in the affirmative?”

Merritt hesitated, arm still outstretched with the paper. “I’ve no qualms about you reading it.”

The British man smiled. “If you would tell me.”

Merritt sighed through his nose, wondering at the detective’s game. “We are, tentatively, accepting Her Majesty’s offer.”

He nodded, grin still in place. “That is most excellent. In that case, I will wait for you to pack your bags.”

Finally withdrawing his arm, Merritt asked, “Pardon?”

“Her Majesty instructed me to bring you straightaway upon your consent,” he explained. “I’ve a ship awaiting us in Newport, ready to leave on the morrow.”

Merritt stared at the man, incredulous. But he seemed all jovial seriousness.

He heard the clicking of Owein’s nails on the floor before words communed with his mind.We’re going now?

Apparently.His brain picked apart every word, every shift in Adey’s stance, every possibility of subterfuge. He found none. His legal adoption of Owein provided some comfort, but to be safe, he would pack one of his pistols.

“I suppose I’ll have you wait in the living room.” His limbs moved woodenly as he stepped back to allow Adey enough space to step in, which he did. Beth, who had been lingering in the dining room, swept in to take the man’s hat and jacket.

Adey nodded in acknowledgment. “Thank you.” Then, turning toward Merritt, he added, “The swifter we are, the easier the trip will be.”

“If you’d wanted swiftness, you should have called earlier.” Merritt shut the door. Waited for Beth to escort Adey to the living room. Then, feeling quite odd, he walked up the stairs, Owein on his heels.

He packed enough for three days, because that’s what would fit in his suitcase. Hesitating, he took the scarf Scarlet had made him and set it on his dresser for safekeeping. With luck, he’d have more memories to make with her in the future, and maybe this poor bunch of yarn could finally get some rest. He then spoke to Hulda through their communion stones to alert her—once he started across the Atlantic, the spell binding the stones together wouldn’t work anymore. That finished, he came downstairs to say goodbye to his small staff. Owein took a long time with Beth. While Merritt waited, he quietly pulled Baptiste aside, out of earshot, and said, “Keep Beth safe.”

Baptiste nodded.

After a beat, Merritt asked, “Are you ever going to tell me the story?”

The chef raised a dark eyebrow. “What story?”

“You know.” He spun a hand in the air. “Why you had to leave France.” Why he was a convict.

Baptiste’s eyes narrowed while his lips pulled into an almost feline grin. “I do not know if you can handle truth. When I think you can, I will tell.”

That gave Merritt pause. What sort of grotesque thing could the man have done? Surely not murder ... he’d be in prison for murder. Would Merritt have to fire him if it was murder? That was something he’d have to consider.

Owein’s goodbyes complete, they followed the queen’s man into the twilight and sailed into Portsmouth by the gleam of lighthouses.

And in the morning, as Adey had promised, they embarked on the two-day trip across the waters on a kinetic ship to England.

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