They waited for Alice to do the same. She felt a bit like one of the Three Musketeers as she added, “To a job well done.”

They all drank, and Preston finished his champagne in two swallows. “Alice, you were dashed fantastic in there. I hope he offers you a full-time position.” He stood and clapped Kit on the shoulder. “Must run. I’m expected elsewhere.”

“Wait, don’t leave yet,” Kit said, a little desperately.

“Sorry, pal. You are on your own.” With a wink at Alice, Preston started across the tiled floor.

“You’ll let me know if the Pinkertons find Forrest?” Kit called.

“Of course. Good night, Alice!” Preston said, and disappeared.

Was Kit uninterested in being alone with her?

I want to give you everything, show you everything, but I know I haven’t the right.

Hardly uninterested. If she had to guess, he was being cautious. Because he didn’t trust himself alone with her?

That was promising. She slid a glance at him and found him staring at the unlit candle on the table.

My cock is hard all the time for you.

Was it still the case?

He spoke quietly, not looking at her. “You should go, before someone notices you are missing. You’ve been here since one o’clock and it is almost eleven.”

She wasn’t worried. She’d purchased her maid’s silence today by allowing Mary the night off to go to Staten Island to visit family. No one would notice the hour of Alice’s return. “Do you want me to leave?”

Throwing back the rest of the champagne, he grimaced. “I don’t want you in trouble for helping me.”

“I won’t be. Do you have plans tonight?”

“No.”

“Kit.” She waited until he finally met her gaze. His brown depths were swirling with emotion, as tortured as she’d ever seen. For a man who had organized such a triumphant evening, this turmoil surprised her. “Would you prefer it if I left?”

“Alice.” He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “It’s not about what I prefer. It’s about what is right.”

“You’ve never worried about society and its conventions before now.”

“Because I’ve never cared about anyone before. I care about you, Alice. I don’t want to see you hurt by an association with me. We should stop before something happens that we cannot take back, especially now when you have a real chance at attaining the future you’ve always wanted.”

He cared about her.

Kit cared about her.

Elation filled her, expanding in her chest like dough in a warm oven. Perhaps he didn’t wish to marry her, but he cared about her . . . so she could hold on to that for now.

Whatever happened, she would never regret it. And if this was the last time she saw him, then it was better to make the most of their final moments together.