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lieutenant. I’ll just go gather my things from the maid’s closet.”
    She was giving them privacy, just like a perfect officer’s wife should. Thank God their wedding was back on track, and those precious wifely skills wouldn’t go to waste. He gave her elbow a gentle squeeze. “I’ll join you shortly, sweetheart.”
    He watched as she walked down the hall, her step less lively than earlier in the evening. His heart bucked. She should be asleep in her own bed, dreaming of wedding cakes and flowers. But the cabbie had declined further fares. Said his horse was done for the night. Much as it rankled, Stephen understood the man’s refusal. The animal’s well-being came first. Yet it sure did put a damper on his plans to get Victoria home.
    “The maid’s closet?” Ian asked, his tone ringing with mischief.
    “Don’t ask.”
    “No. I probably shouldn’t. So, what bog did our illustrious Englishman land himself in this time?”
    Stephen shook his head. Ian was well aware of Hammond’s sordid streak. He gave a brief report of the night’s events.
    Ian rolled his eyes. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The man’s an idiot. Leaving the hotel to slog about the city on the night before his wedding. He ought to be strung up by his ballocks.”
    “Believe me, the thought crossed my mind—several times. The bastard could’ve cost me everything.”
    “Lucky for you Sergeant Denton has a weak constitution.”
    “Luck. Fate. Whatever the hell it was, I’m just glad everything turned out for the best. Now all I have to do is find a room for Victoria for the night.”
    Ian shook his head. “’Twould be a waste of time. The desk clerk gave me their last vacancy.”
    Damnation. Of all the bad luck, he had the worst.
    “Why don’t you take my room?” Ian shoved a hand in a pocket. “I shan’t need it until morning.”
    “I can’t do that.”
    “No arguments, boyo. I insist.” Ian pressed a key into his palm. “Next floor up. Room three twelve.”
    Stephen clapped a hand to the lieutenant’s shoulder. “I owe you one. Probably more than one.”
    “Probably. But who’s counting. Go. Get that enchanting fiancée of yours settled for the night.” Ian gave his arm a fake punch. “Just make sure you’re back in the morning to relieve me.”
    “I’ll be here, no worries.” Stephen supplied Ian with a smart salute and then headed down the hall, the load weighing on his shoulders much lighter than before. Men like Ian Warinner were few and far between. He was lucky to count him as friend.
    Victoria emerged from the maid’s closet and met him in the hall. “Where to now?”
    He held up the key. “Ian insisted we use his hotel room for the night. He won’t need it until morn’ when I relieve him from duty.”
    “How sweet of him.” She angled around to wave to the lieutenant and mouth the words “thank you.”
    Ian gave a deep bow and blew her a kiss. Stephen snorted. What a cad. Any other man would be feeling the sting of his fist.
    Victoria laughed and fell into step beside him, the retrieved picnic basket swinging on her arm. Some picnic. An army of ants couldn’t have wreaked more havoc on their evening. He’d make it up to her. After all this Grover wedding business was over, he’d treat her to an outing worthy of a queen.
    Once inside the hotel room, Victoria peeled off her cloak and sank onto the edge of the bed. His groin tightened. It would be the perfect nest for love-making. Plump mattress. Soft bedcovers. A lovers’ Eden. But it couldn’t be. Not tonight. Not after they’d been to hell and back.
    He crossed to the bureau and busied himself with lighting the gas lamp. Golden light flooded the room. Behind him, bed ropes creaked, and then came a soft, utterly feminine sigh that goaded the serpent coiled in his loins. He couldn’t stop from turning around.
    Victoria reclined on a stack of pillows piled against the headboard. “It appears we have our privacy now, Lieutenant Byrne.” She patted