“Well, if she tries to contact you, or you remember anything else that could be useful, would you come and see me?” he asked, realizing he’d gotten as much from her as he was going to.
She nodded and surged to her feet, obviously glad for the interview to come to an end. “Thank you, Inspector. I will.”
After she’d shut the door behind her, he let out a groan of frustration. Though he hadn’t learned much about Polly, he had learned that the men who frequented the Viper Club were capable of violence toward women and that they had parties where women were passed around like party favors. But that didn’t make them any less untouchable or narrow down his suspect list at all.
Hopefully, they’d either find Daisy soon, or Ness would have something to report when he returned.
* * *
ALLISON, JOSEPH, AND Heather pulled up outside J Division Headquarters in a hired hack once again five days later. Allison’s stomach rolled with nervousness as she and Heather waited while Joseph got out and went to fetch Quinn.
Nearly a week had passed since the night she’d spent in Quinn’s arms, and she’d struggled to think of a way to see him ever since. She’d promised to think about things before they met again, and she had. She’d done nothing but think about him and the dangers associated with continuing to pursue a sexual relationship with him.
In the end, she’d decided that none of the fears she had were enough to keep her from wanting to be with him in that way again. But she’d also realized she wanted far more of him than that. She enjoyed his company, his conversation, the comfort she found just being around him.
So today, she’d sent a message asking him if he would go with her to visit Mercy House. She’d professed to be nervous about going back there after what had happened, but although that was somewhat true, she just really wanted to see him again. To her very great surprise, he’d sent word that he would join her.
She’d been struggling to figure out what she needed to say to the women under her care. It had become clearer to her every day that she was not going about this in the right way, that she was not providing the help and support they needed, but truthfully, she didn’t really know what to change. Finally, she’d decided that the best thing to do was ask them. If Lucien had ever bothered to ask her what she needed, maybe she never would have wanted so badly to leave.
“I still don’t understand why you want him to come with us,” Heather said in a low voice as they waited for the men to return. “Why are you suddenly pretending as though you’re afraid to go to Mercy House? Joseph will keep us safe.”
Allison bit her lip. “Perhaps. But I want to see him again. I’ve run out of ways to engineer meetings.”
Heather laughed. “Do you think he doesn’t know that is the real reason you asked?”
That stung a bit, but Allison knew her friend was right. Still, it was a way to spend time with Quinn, and that was her sole focus at the moment.
Before she could answer, Joseph and Quinn exited the building, and Allison felt herself blushing hotly as Quinn climbed up into the hack.
He smiled at her, his eyes burning. “Good afternoon, Lady Allison.”
“Inspector,” she replied with a nod, as though she hadn’t touched him in the most private of places, and he hadn’t touched her just as intimately. He sat across from her, his green eyes sparkling in a shaft of sunlight. Sometimes, he literally took her breath away. His golden beauty had been unfairly given to a man. He reminded her of an archangel with his fiery perfection.
“I’m glad you let me know you wanted to visit Mercy House today,” he said when he was settled, and Heather smiled grimly. “But I really don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish.”
Allison squared her shoulders. “I need to do this, Inspector. You’re always telling me that I don’t understand what it’s like to be poor, and I know Mercy House isn’t like most places in this neighborhood. I need to understand why the women I’m trying to help aren’t more grateful for the home I’m trying to give them. Why would Polly do... what she did... when she was living in a place so much nicer than where she came from?”
Heather and Quinn shared a look that made her feel as though they both knew something she didn’t, something she could never learn, no matter how hard she tried. She hated that they thought her spoiled and stupid. But she also couldn’t deny that they had reason to believe that.
“Well, you need to prepare yourself,” Quinn said tersely. “I’m afraid you’ll be very shocked and disturbed by some of what you hear today.”
She nodded, biting her lip and staring out the window. This wasn’t going to be a pleasant outing where she and Quinn held hands and skipped through a flowery meadow. She’d just illustrated the vast gap between them and made it even more unlikely he’d agree to become her lover.
Perhaps she was spoiled and stupid. Sometimes the breadth of the things she did not know about the world left her dizzy and overwhelmed. Quinn and Heather were the only ones who’d ever been honest and real with her about anything. Perhaps that was why she considered the two of them her very best friends.
Seeming to sense her disquiet, Heather reached over and squeezed her hand. “It will be all right. You’re strong. And we both know your heart’s in the right place.” She looked across at Quinn. “Don’t we, Inspector?”
He sighed and nodded. “You are so impulsive, Lady Allison. But you’re also very kind and generous. I admire your willingness to put yourself in other people’s shoes.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, somewhat mollified.
“Where did you grow up, Miss Fields?” Quinn asked, turning his attention to Heather.
“I grew up here in Bethnal Green,” Heather answered, seeming surprised that he’d bothered to ask her. “How about you?”
“I grew up here also,” he answered warmly. “My parents fled from Ireland in the hopes of finding jobs and a new life in the city. Like many, they were unsuccessful.”
“Well, I’m certain they are proud of you and all you’ve accomplished,” Heather said. “Not many men from Bethnal Green become police inspectors.”