Chapter 95

Kit glanced at her, briefly thrown, and then gathered himself again. “Blackstone’s estate is in Hampshire.”

“Yes. Shadowcross.” Leander found his shirts and folded them into the trunk, not letting himself think about where this conversation would inevitably lead. If he did, he would only lose his nerve.

“What if Blackstone refuses to see you?” Chance asked.

My heart will very likely break, Leander thought, but knew that wasn’t what Chance meant. “There’s an inn not far from Shadowcross. I can stay there.”

“If you like, I can go with you.”

As much as Leander appreciated Chance’s offer and the acceptance it implied, this was a trip he had to make alone. Before he could say anything, however, Kit, with as much firmness as Leander had ever heard from him, announced, “No one is going anywhere.”

Leander thought it best not to contradict him aloud again, and so he merely kept packing.

“Master Leander,” Powell appeared in the doorway. “The coach is ready, sir.”