Lily’s hands trembled slightly as she entered a bookshop just off Bond Street. The dark-rose gown and yellow-gold cloak she wore made her feel out of place amid the shanty shelves and dusty tomes. Motes of dust danced and swirled in the beams of light cutting through the windows and illuminating the gilded spines of the books stacked thickly behind her.

An old man sat behind the counter, sleeping, the soft repetitive sound of his snores a comfort in the thick silence of the musty little shop. In the last year she’d grown accustomed to meeting Hugo in clandestine, often dangerous places. To meet now in such a quaint little shop, just a street away from the where most of the ton were shopping for Christmas, was strange. But this was where his message had instructed her to meet.

She leaned against the nearest shelf and looked out onto the street. Lily closed her eyes but a moment, replaying how Charles had looked just before she left Emily’s house to come here. He had pulled her into an alcove and wrapped her in his arms. He hadn’t wanted her to go, but Ashton was right—she had to. The moment she had confessed herself to Charles, this had become her battle as much as his. She had pressed herself into him, letting the beat of her heart match his.

The memory of their making love had left a beautiful magic that seemed to run beneath her skin whenever Charles was near. It was as though she could summon the feel of their union in her mind and body over and over. She’d always remember the bliss of looking into his eyes and seeing the world born anew. It was his memory she would carry into this meeting like a shield against Hugo.

With a stolen kiss, she had vowed to come back safe to him. He had promised to spend the afternoon with Kat and his mother, making their wedding plans.

Lily tensed as the shop door opened, and her heart stuttered to a stop. Hugo had arrived. He removed his hat and glanced calmly around the room. He meandered toward her, pausing every few seconds to look at the ramshackle shelves as though perusing the titles. Lily glanced at the old man behind the counter, who was still snoring rhythmically.

When he finally reached her, Lily went rigid. Every muscle coiled tight. She forced the black memories of what he’d done to her deep into the recesses of her mind and instead wrapped herself in memories of Charles. The way he’d lingered with her in the alcove, his hands clinging to her before he finally let her go.

“I hear wedding bells will finally ring?” Hugo said casually.

“Yes. The wedding is to be in a few days.”

“So soon? I’d have preferred more time to prepare. Is this your doing?”

She shook her head. “Given the time of year, he wishes to honeymoon here in London with his friends before their families leave for the holidays.”

Hugo gave a cold smile. “I will manage.” Lily wished she’d brought one of Emily’s muffs instead of only wearing gloves.

“What must I do next?” she asked, careful to keep her tone calm. He could not suspect any change in her demeanor, or she would doom herself and destroy any advantage the League had.

His eyes narrowed. “Eager for orders?”

“Eager for this to end.” She allowed her weariness to show. It was no act. “I want to be free of you and this life. I want to take my child away from London and never look back.”

He studied her a long moment, assessing her for any hint of deception. But every word had been the truth, just not the way he thought.

“That was the agreement. Fear not, plans are being made. I’ll give him his precious honeymoon. Then perhaps I’ll take away something he loves, to remind him he will never be safe.”

“Still with the games?” Lily said, though she knew she was in danger of angering Hugo by saying it. “I thought you were ready to move against him? To end this once and for all?”

“I am ready,” said Hugo. “I have already decided on an appropriate venue. Someplace Charles will think he has a…fighting chance. But I have no desire to end things too quickly.”

Lily sighed inwardly. He was still not done with his torturous games? “What do you wish for me to do next?” she pressed carefully, not wanting him to know she was trying to glean further hints of his plans.

Hugo grabbed her upper arm, his hand squeezing hard. He dragged her close to him, and the familiar scent of his soap made bile rise in her throat. She hadn’t been able to clean the scent off her skin fast enough after that night with him.

“You are to give Lonsdale a very satisfying honeymoon. I want him to have a taste of marital bliss. That will make his downfall all the sweeter.” He released her arm, and his gaze shot to the window at the front of the shop, then back to her.

“Soon this will all be over,” he said, a distracted look now in his eyes. “And you will have earned your freedom.”

Then he left her, exiting the shop before Lily could say anything else. She sagged against the bookshelves, clutching her arm, which still throbbed. It was going to bruise and Charles would be furious, but at least she was safe.

She waited several minutes, giving Hugo time to leave the immediate area. Her gaze turned to the gilded spines gleaming in the sunlight streaming through the window. She wished now more than ever that she could slip between the pages of a book and vanish into a story. But there was no escaping this. She could only see it through to the end.

Taking a deep breath to clear her head, she pulled the hood of her cloak up and exited the shop, calling a hackney back to Emily’s house. Inside, she heard voices coming from the drawing room.

Katherine was screaming.

The sound sent a flash of terror through Lily. She burst into the drawing room and froze. Charles was holding Kat up in the air, spinning her in circles. She was screaming in delight, not from fear.

“Again, Unca Charles! Again!” Kat waved her chubby arms as he carefully lowered her back onto his chest. The look of relief on his face when he saw Lily in the doorway stirred her heart.

“You’re back!” he exclaimed and rushed over.

“Mama!” Kat waved, and Charles transferred the squirming child into her arms.

“Sweetheart.” She buried her face in Kat’s hair, taking in her child’s sweet scent, letting it bury the memory of Hugo’s.

Charles curled an arm around her shoulders, drawing her and Kat into a loose but comforting embrace. “How did it go?”

She checked the room and the hall. There was no place close enough for someone to overhear them. She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed. “He wants the wedding to go ahead. Whatever he’s planning will be after the honeymoon.” She closed her eyes, weary. “He wouldn’t tell me what he wants to do next. He’s being close-lipped, more so than usual. It makes me afraid, Charles. So very afraid.”

“I know.” He kissed her forehead. “Emily has volunteered to take over for you if you need to rest. She adores Kat.”

She shifted Kat from her right hip to her left. “I would like that, but I don’t want her out of my sight.”

“Why don’t we go to your chamber? I’ll watch over her while you sleep.”

“You don’t mind?” She hated that she wanted to rely on him like this. Looking after Kat was her responsibility.

“She will be my daughter in a few days. It’s my duty and honor to look after her,” Charles said. They exited the drawing room, and Lily paused at the foot of the stairs.

“You really do not mind that she’s…?” She couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

Charles shook his head. “She isn’t his. She is and always will be yours. That’s all that will ever matter to me.” His vow, so softly worded, was delivered with such intensity that it stole her breath.

“You are…” She choked on the words. “You are the most wonderful man. I do not deserve you.”

“Nonsense. I do not deserve you.”

He took Kat from her, and the three of them went upstairs to her bedroom. Lily gratefully lay on the bed, at first intending to simply watch Charles and her daughter play, but when her head settled on the pillow, her eyes shut and she drifted to a state of dreams.

They were dancing. The ballroom, once so full of people, had darkened around the edges as people faded and wall sconces and candles were extinguished.

“What do you treasure most?” Charles asked, a smile hovering about his lips.

“I think you know…” she said.

Suddenly, the world around her changed, and she was standing in a dark hall facing a gilded mirror. The glass was foggy, but it cleared when she placed her palms on it, revealing Charles holding Kat. They were both watching her, smiling. Then for a moment Charles’s face changed into Hugo’s before it changed back again.

The world around her changed again. Charles was running away from her, down the Lewis Street tunnels, his harsh and panicked breath echoing down the stone corridor. He vanished right before her eyes, and Hugo’s voice followed her into deeper sleep, murmuring words that would never stop haunting her.

“Soon this will all be over.”