Heart of Courage by Kat Martin Page A

the words out loud, it hadn’t seemed such an impossible task.
    She took a steadying breath. “We’ll speak to the police, try to convince them that Rudy is innocent. Then we’ll return to Covent Garden, ask a few more questions.”
    He frowned. “After what happened last night, you wish to go back?”
    She suppressed a shudder at the memory of the men in the alley and their brutal attack. “Going back is the last thing I want. I don’t have any choice.”
    â€œYou must not go there without me.”
    â€œYou needn’t worry about that. Rest assured I have learned my lesson.”
    Thor did not look convinced.
    Â 
    Lindsey didn’t expect to find Aunt Dee pacing frantically in front of the sergeant’s desk in the police station when she walked through the glass-paned door Thor held open for her. Though she probably shouldn’t have been surprised, since she knew how worried her aunt would be.
    â€œLindsey—thank heavens you are here! Rudy has been arrested. The fools are convinced he has murdered those two unfortunate women.”
    â€œI know. Elias Mack came to the office to tell me.”
    Aunt Dee sniffed in disdain. “Mr. Mack is lucky to retain his position. Brawling like some sort of ruffian. I have forbidden him to show his face in the house until he is healed. If a guest were to see him…well, I can only imagine the gossip that would stir.”
    Lindsey glanced up at Thor, who raised a dark eyebrow as if to say, if you hadn’t behaved so recklessly, your footman would not now be on the brink of losing his job, and you would not have been attacked.
    Lindsey merely ignored him. She forced herself to smile. “Aunt Delilah, this is a friend—Thor Draugr. You are acquainted with his brother, Krista’s husband, Leif.”
    â€œWhy, yes, I am.” Her aunt looked Thor up and down, taking in his exceptional height and the breadth of his chest and shoulders. “Your coloring is quite different from your brother’s, but one can certainly see the family resemblance.”
    And it was clear her aunt appreciated the younger brother’s masculine charms. She was a woman, after all. How could she not?
    â€œThor is going to help me find a way to clear Rudy’s name.”
    â€œIndeed.” Aunt Dee gave him another assessing glance, trying to determine the level of his intelligence, a question Lindsey had pondered herself. “Let us hope you can.”
    A man with thinning brown hair walked up just then, Constable Bertram, she recalled, the lead investigator on the murders.
    â€œLady Ashford,” he said to her aunt, “I assume you are here in support of your nephew, Rudolph Graham.”
    â€œI am here because of your ridiculous charges. My nephew has had no part in any murder and I demand you release him this instant.”
    He sighed as if he actually felt regret—which Lindsey was certain he did not. “I wish it were that simple. At the moment, I’m sorry to say there is nothing you can do to secure his release.” But he didn’t look sorry at all, he looked smugly satisfied as he turned his attention to Lindsey. “I’m glad you are here, Miss Graham. I would like a word in private, if you please.”
    A trickle of worry slipped through her. She glanced up at Thor, strangely glad he was there. “Whatever you have to say, you may say right here, in the presence of my aunt and Mr. Draugr.”
    â€œThen I shall say this. You have given false testimony as to your brother’s whereabouts the night of Phoebe Carter’s murder. You know it and so do I. I am giving you a chance to withdraw your statement. If you do not and we disprove your brother’s alibi—which we will—it will mean that you have willfully attempted to impede a police investigation and I will be forced to file formal charges against you.”
    â€œThere is no way you can know where my