The Imposter's Inheritance by C.J. Archer

Author:C.J. Archer [Archer, C.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: www.cjarcher.com
Published: 2020-02-03T18:30:00+00:00

"Come home and have breakfast with us," I urged Brockwell. We stood in the reception area of the Leman Street police station, waiting for the duty sergeant to escort Willie from the holding cell. The detective inspector had flashed his Scotland Yard identification and ordered Willie's release after giving a swift, no-nonsense lesson in the precise legal meaning of gross indecency.

The sergeant had wasted no time in acting. He seemed worried about the repercussions of the false arrest. It was difficult to tell if he was more worried by Matt's thunderous expression or Brockwell's cold one. Neither man looked as though he would tolerate incompetence.

"Thank you, Mrs. Glass, but I ate breakfast before your arrival," Brockwell said. "I must get to work."

"But it's still early."

He slapped his hat on his head. "Even so. Good morning."

"You're leaving now? Don't you want to see Willie?"

For the first time since entering the station, he looked uncertain. "I think it's best if I don't."

I moved to block the exit. "Stay. She'll want to thank you."

He hesitated. That hesitation cost him moments in which he could escape before Willie arrived.

She didn't seem too ruffled from a night spent in the holding cell. Her clothes were crumpled and her hair resembled an abandoned bird nest, but that wasn't out of the ordinary. She didn't even look particularly tired.

"You didn't both have to come," she said to me.

With his back to her, she didn't realize Brockwell was standing there until he turned around. She froze.

Brockwell touched the brim of his hat. "Good morning, Miss Johnson."

"Jasper," she began. "I—I… What are you doing here?"

"I came to explain the law to my colleague." Brockwell nodded at the sergeant, now back behind the counter. "He understands his mistake and won't make the same one again."

The sergeant studied his ledger intensely.

Willie swallowed. "Right. Well. Thanks. I s'pose I owe you a favor."

"You owe me nothing. I must go. Good morning, all."

He stepped around me and left.

"Willie," I hissed. "Go after him."

"Why?"

"To thank him properly, of course."

The sergeant asked her to sign the ledger and returned her few belongings to her, including the gun.

She strode past me and we followed her out. By the time we reached the pavement, Brockwell had departed.

"Visit him later," I said to Willie. "I think he's upset. He didn't accept my invitation to join us for breakfast, and Brockwell never misses an opportunity to eat for free."

She climbed into our waiting carriage and threw herself into the corner, arms crossed. "I knew he'd be like this. He's fine that we ain't committing to each other, but me being with women…that's different. He's a prude, India, just like you. "

"Then he'll come around, just as I did. Even Aunt Letitia accepts that part of you now, in her way. Brockwell will accept it too, if you give him the opportunity."

"I don't think so. It's different for you and Letty. You're friends, family. You ain't intimate with me."

I appealed to Matt as he sat beside me, but he put up his hands.

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