Page 53 of Seduced By a Scoundrel

“Are you truly here to stay?” he asked Clary several more minutes later, as they sat drinking tea in Jeremy’s upstairs rooms. “Is this a visit or a relocation?”

“I cannot say that I truly know,” Clary said, looking perfectly at home sitting at Jeremy’s table. “I should like to work with you, if you would allow it.”

“Of course I would allow it,” Jeremy said, laughing with joy at the thought. “You allowed me to work with you, after all.”

“Yes, this will make us even,” Clary said. “I would impose upon you for a room to stay in as well, but I’m uncertain Mr. Talboys would want me around.”

She asked the question with a cheeky look, but that grin faltered when Jeremy’s expression turned to pure misery and his entire body sank with the weight of his sorrows.

“What is the matter?” Clary asked, like a sister who would go to war for her brother’s honor. “What has Talboys done to you?”

“Nothing,” Jeremy sighed. “We had a small bit of a falling out is all. Derrek was insistent that I stay safe and secure within the walls of a club we both belong to and I insisted on returning to my life and my business. We quarreled a bit over it, and we have not seen each other in days.”

Clary blinked at him then put her teacup down. “You quarreled because he wished to keep you tucked away in a box all to himself and you insisted on being your own man?”

Jeremy smiled at Clary’s assessment of the situation. Of course his friend would see things from his side immediately and without him needing to explain.

“Derrek has some troubles of his own,” he said. “He may not have given his superiors in Scotland Yard sufficient notice that he was taking me out to the country to keep me safe. I have not confirmed it, but I believe he may have been dismissed from the police.”

“Poor Talboys,” Clary said, pressing a hand to her chest. “But that is no reason for him to wish to keep you a prisoner.”

“He insists his intent was to keep me safe.”

“And are you still in danger?” Clary asked. “Because word around the village was that Lord Albert returned for an incredibly brief stay before returning to the Continent.”

Jeremy sat straighter. “Has he returned to the Continent? Has that been confirmed?”

“I could not say for certain,” Clary said with a frown. “I learned as much through gossip.”

Jeremy frowned, considering it. He did not know Lord Albert well enough to guess what the man would do, but from Derrek, he understood that the blackguard was a coward. He’d seen for himself how frightened of Derrek the man had been when he’d interrupted them that morning.

A sudden wave of longing hit Jeremy. That morning had begun with so much promise, so much love. He knew full well where their interlude would have ended up had they not been interrupted. He’d been ready for it, ready to give everything to Derrek. He’d been ready to spend the rest of his life with the man. How had things gone so wrong?

“Oh, deary,” Clary said, reaching across the table and taking Jeremy’s hand. “Whatever has passed between the two of you, I am certain it can be remedied. It was clear to anyone who had eyes and a bit of knowledge in the village that you and Mr. Talboys were very much in love.

“It’s Detective Talboys,” Jeremy corrected her.

“Actually, it is only Mr. Talboys now.”

Jeremy jumped and twisted so far in his chair at the sound of Derrek’s voice in his doorway that he nearly fell over. Derrek stood there, framed by the door frame, dressed a bit shabbily, unshaved, glancing down slightly. He looked a bit like a stray dog who had found his owner again after a long absence, but Jeremy did not care.

“Derrek!” He leapt up from his seat and rushed to his lover, but he stopped himself before he could throw his arms around the man, burst into tears, and beg him never to go away again. “What is the matter? You look a bit dreadful.”

Derrek huffed a laugh and took a few steps into the room. “I feel dreadful,” he said. “I feel dreadful without you.”

Jeremy’s jaw dropped, but because his head and his heart were both so shocked and telling him different things, one urging caution and the other begging him to throw himself at Derrek, he said nothing.

“I was sacked from the Metropolitan Police,” Derrek said first, then glanced to Clary. “Miss Jones,” he greeted her with a nod.

“Mr. Talboys,” Clary replied. She stood and took a few steps closer to Jeremy, crossing her arms protectively. “What brings you to my friend’s private rooms in the middle of the morning like this?”

Derrek broke into a sly half-smile and shook his head slightly. “I see you’ve been reunited with your co-conspirator in all things,” he said to Jeremy.

“Clary has just arrived from the country,” Jeremy explained. “We were discussing the possibility of her staying and joining my business.”

“An admirable idea,” Derrek said. “One I could have predicted coming to pass.”

“And what are you doing here?” Clary asked, eyes narrowed at Derrek. “I’ve been given to understand that your behavior toward my friend has not been what it should be.”

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