The sight of Elise’s black leather jacket sent a hollow pang through Harry’s chest. Gingerly, he took it from Nigel, his fingers running across the slight cut on the chest. “I’ll drop it by her flat.”

“You’ll have a wasted trip. She’s gone.” Nigel retook his seat and leaned back in his chair.

Harry glanced up sharply. “What do you mean she’s gone?”

“She took a late flight home last evening.”

The hollow ache inside Harry’s chest erupted into full-blown agony. Elise had left without saying goodbye? He read the finality on Nigel’s face. “I wasn’t aware.”

“Out of curiosity, did the two of you ever work out why I called her in early for her tests?”

“At the time, I assumed you needed her skill set to complete a specific mission.”

“And then?” Nigel prodded.

“Then I got to thinking. Elise’s speed didn’t pick up like it had after her first accident. Due to the location of those pins and the extensive nerve damage, it was a foregone conclusion that she wouldn’t regain field-agent status. You needed her to discover that for herself, didn’t you?”

“True. While she might regain her former speed in time, I doubted she could maintain it without causing further damage.”

“And my assignment to Glenkinnon?” Harry prodded. Had that been part of Nigel’s ruse as well?

Nigel laughed, his face relaxing into more congenial lines. “You were specifically groomed for that. However, I did time your appointments to coincide. I was aware of your feelings for Agent Taylor. You admitted them when you joined MI6. I specifically remember your concern that they might prove difficult.”

“Yet you paired us together anyway.” Harry’s stomach tightened, and he moved his foot the slightest bit.

“I trusted your integrity, Benson, and Lady Elise’s. With your skill sets, you needed a hard taskmaster, one who could beat you on occasion. Lady Elise was the best I had.”

“So you hedged your bets that we would travel to Scotland together?”

“You must admit that was a logical outcome of such an encounter. She needed R & R, and you needed a childminder.”

Harry threw back his head and laughed. “So you contrived . . . ?”

“I simply nudged things in the right direction. The pair of you would have worked it out eventually.” Nigel sobered, his face settling into its old pattern. “I’ve never served with two finer agents. Thanks to both of you, Gilmont and his band are obsolete.”

“It was an honor to serve with you. I look forward to that restricted telephone call.” Harry pushed back his chair and started for the door.

Nigel rose to his feet and followed him, stopping beside a console table. “Lady Elise doesn’t know the least trifle about running a large property. She’ll likely drive her estate manager round the bend. Poor chap. I hear he’s on the verge of retirement.”