Kim came and sat next to him, leaning into his side. Will stretched his arm along the back of the sofa, and Kim grabbed his hand and tugged it down to rest over his shoulders. “We hope he comes back and explains himself like a reasonable man, the Private Bureau charges Leo with Fairfax’s murder, we go home, and my father makes the rest of his life an unending hell.”

Will tipped his pint. “I’ll drink to that.”

Chapter Eighteen

They ate dinner in the Breakfast Room, which was probably the sort of thing that got you blackballed from clubs. Kim rang for the butler once they were done. There was no news of Lord Chingford’s whereabouts.

“So he hasn’t gone for the yacht,” Will said.

“Or he has, and my father has realised it would be better for him to breach bail and flee the country than hang. A position with which I can agree. Actually, it would solve all our problems.”

“But shows he’s guilty.” Will contemplated his wine glass. “Must be pretty bad for your father right now.”

“We reap what we sow,” Kim said. “Or do you think I should go and offer him comfort?”

He said that with such lightly amused, mocking irony that someone who didn’t know him might think it wasn’t a real question. “We all make our choices,” Will said. “And come to that, we all make mistakes, and your father’s not the only person in this house to make a sodding mess of his life and find himself sitting in the wreckage. How much comfort did he offer you then?”

“Some might say that’s a reason to do better.”

“Some might think he’d curse you out of the room for presuming to offer sympathy.”

“You’ve got an excellent grasp on my family situation.”

He didn’t go. They sat quietly together, reading, until the clock struck ten and Kim said, “I’m going to bed. If Chingford comes back tonight it won’t be in an amenable mood.”

“Works for me.”

Will followed him up, and when they got to the Floral Stair, he followed him into the room and shut the door with his heel. “Do you want company?”

“Very much.”

Kim walked into his arms. Will kissed him, holding his face, wanting to hang on and not let go. He slid his hands down Kim’s lean back and onto his hips. “I meant to say. You did bloody well in there.”

“In—?”

“Earlier. Lying like a trooper. Working out what was going on. I was pretty confused.”

“You didn’t look confused.” Kim closed his teeth on Will’s earlobe. “You looked deliciously intimidating.”

“I do that when I’m confused. It saves trouble.” He arched his neck to give Kim more access to the sensitive skin. “Got to admit, it’s good watching you lie to people. When they’re not me, I mean.”