Chapter 7 #2
“Please accept my apology, ” she went on in a near whisper.
“I suppose you are right and I have been just as guilty as those I rail at. I shall try not to be so quick to judge in the future.” She drew in a breath.
“But you must understand that my reluctance to discuss this matter stems not from any disrespect for you, sir, but from a desire not to expose anyone but myself to whatever danger there might be. Since I believe the person responsible for these crimes is a gentleman of some rank, I am well aware that I must be very, very careful who knows of my suspicions. Any misstep or slip of the tongue could ruin all efforts to bring about justice, and perhaps even put those who have helped me at risk.”
“I am glad to see you show that much sense at least. However you may rest assured I can take care of myself.” The earl’s tone was still a bit strained, but the rigid set of his features had softened somewhat. “Who else knows about what you are up to?“
“I’ve spoken only to my sister and Jamison about it.” That, she told herself, was not actually a lie. Though she had decided to reveal certain things to the earl, her correspondence with Tinder she meant to keep secret from anyone.
“I suggest you keep it that way. You are quite right in believing that this is no mere game.” He regarded her intently.
“You know, it seems to me there is a possibility that, for whatever the reasons, we are in pursuit of the same man. It might be to both our advantages not to be at daggers drawn and to share our information.”
Augusta’s lips compressed in a tight line, then she made what she hoped was not a foolish decision. “If you are coming to the Turnbridge’s ball tonight, I shall bring the papers.”
“Thank you, Lady Augusta,” he said quietly.
Some others words sounded under her breath.
“What was that?”
“I said, I hope I shall not live to regret this,” she said in a louder voice.
The corners of Marcus’s mouth twitched upward. “May the Almighty turn me into a Goddamn spawn of Satan if I give you any such cause.”
Augusta scanned the crowded room yet again, wondering whether the earl had succumbed to second thoughts about the whole matter, when a low voice sounded close by her ear. She started, nearly spilled the contents of her glass.
“I took the precaution of approaching from the rear,” said Marcus with a chuckle.
“Coward,” she replied, though there was little sting to the word.
He nodded toward the open double set of doors. “Shall we take a stroll?”
“As long as this time we stay well out of range of any falling projectiles.”
“I’ll not argue with you over that. I would prefer that the precious few parts of my anatomy still unscarred remain that way.”
Though resolved to say nothing that might be considered provoking, Augusta couldn’t help but murmur, “I’m sure to you they are precious indeed.”
He only chuckled again, low and so close to her ear that she could feel the warmth of his breath on the nape of her neck. “Why shame on you, Lady Augusta. Are you thinking improper thoughts?”
It was she who was put to a violent blush.
He guided her out the doors and down a graveled path toward the center of the garden.
“By the by,” he continued, seeming to take no notice of her flaming face.
“I seem to recall having failed to thank you for last night. My headache might have been a great deal more severe had you not acted so quickly.”
“If you had been left with any head at all.”
“Yes, well, that is one of my body parts that I would prefer to keep attached where it is, even if you do not seem to think it contains anything of value within it.”
“I … I thought we were going to try to avoid provoking each other.”
“Ah, but I cannot help finding you … most provocative, Lady Augusta.”
“Lord Dunham—” she began
He held up a hand. “Pray, don’t fly up into the boughs. I’m just teasing you.” As they came to a wrought iron bench framed on three sides by a tall boxwood hedge, he paused. “It appears we might have a bit of privacy here.”
Augusta was intensely aware of the heat from his muscled thigh as he took a seat beside her.
Lud, she chided herself, what was wrong with her that she was blushing and stuttering and making a fool of herself like some flighty schoolroom miss?
She opened her reticule with a decided snap and began to rummage through its contents.
“Getting right down to business again, I see.” His arm had come up to rest on the back of the bench and she could feel the brush of soft wool against the silk of her gown.
“Why else would we be out here?” she said. Her fingers finally located the folded sheets of paper and handed them over.
He slipped them into his coat pocket but made no move to rise.
Augusta brushed at a stray curl that had fallen over her cheek. “I have been thinking a good deal about who might wish you harm, sir. Do you still believe we may eliminate disgruntled husbands or lovers?”
Marcus nodded.
“Well, that should narrow the field of suspects considerably,” she said dryly.
He choked down a bark of laughter.
“I assume you don’t cheat at cards or renege on your vowels, so we can ignore that line of inquiry as well. So, the most obvious thing is to assume that your recent speeches may have done more than ruffle a few feathers.”
There was a gleam of grudging approval in his eyes. “That’s very astute of you, Lady Augusta. I’m impressed by the power of your logic.”
“I should hope I am not quite as witless as you have been wont to think,” she mumbled, once again chiding herself for letting a casual compliment throw her insides in a tizzy, as if she were no more that the greenest of girls rather than an over-the-hill bluestocking.
“It’s been some time since I thought that,” he replied softly. His expression turned rather inscrutable before he went on. “I must admit that I have come to the same conclusion—unless, of course, the stone was meant for you.”
She started. “For me?”
“I’m not trying to frighten you, merely point out that if you continue to break into houses, purloin papers and the like, someone may take it amiss. As you said this afternoon, this investigation of yours could turn out to be very dangerous.”
“I am aware of the risks involved, milord. But I don’t frighten easily.”
“No, I don’t imagine you do.” There was a brief pause. “Now, let me exercise my own intuitive powers, if I may. Since the odds of our chance encounter being simple coincidence seems slim, I must assume that certain evidence has led both of us to suspect the same man.”
Augusta gave a slight nod. “Go on.”
“Well, as that is the case, perhaps it would be more efficient if one of us takes over from here, keeping the other person informed, of course, as to what information is discovered—”
“That ‘someone’ being yourself?”
“Well, er, yes.” He shifted slightly. “However, you would have to tell me exactly what crime you suspect the gentleman we seek is guilty of, and why, so that I may know just what it is I am trying to help you prove.”
She thought for a moment. “What sort of crime do you think him guilty of?”
The earl sidestepped the question. “I am looking into his affairs at the behest of a …. friend.”
“Why?” she persisted.
He drew in a breath. “I am not at liberty to say right now.” He forbore to add it was because he did not know the full details himself. “You are not the only one who wishes to be careful in this matter.”
“So you are offering to take all the risks and share with me what you learn?”
“Yes, I suppose I am.”
“Once again, I must ask why.” The corners of her mouth crooked upward. “It is not as if we are even … friends, sir.”
“No, but as I have told you, Edwin and I were.”
At the mention of her brother’s name, Augusta’s throat suddenly became very tight. “I—” The crunch of gravel and the faint trill of laughter warned of the approach of another couple. “I must think on it.”
“Do.”
She got quickly to her feet. “We had best be getting back, lest people begin to get the wrong idea.“
He rose as well, a slight smile on his face. “Afraid your reputation shall end up shredded by the gossips?”
“Oh, it is not my reputation I am worried about, milord. It’s yours,” she said over her shoulder as she started up the path. “Imagine how much your consequence would suffer at your clubs and other … establishments if word were to get out that you’d been keeping company with an aging antidote.”
Marianne scrunched up her face in a scowl.
“Don’t do that,” murmured Augusta. “You’ll end up with wrinkles around your eyes, just like Mrs. Winslow.”
“Mrs. Winslow has been making that face for nearly sixty years, so I imagine I have a good way to go before I need fear such a dire consequence.” Marianne kept her gaze riveted on Augusta and closed the book in her lap.
“You are keeping something from me, Gus. And don’t say you aren’t, for you know I can always tell. ”
Augusta squirmed slightly under her sister’s scrutiny. “It’s not anything you need concern yourself with. Really.” She cleared her throat and tried to steer the conversation away from her recent behavior. “Did you enjoy last night? Viscount Andover seemed particularly attentive and—”
Her sister let out a single word.
“I, er, wasn’t aware you were familiar with that expression.”
“You weren’t the only one to overhear Edwin when he was angry.” Marianne’s scowl deepened. “And don’t try to change the subject. I want you to tell me whatever it is that has you muttering under your breath more than usual. Maybe I can be of some help.”
Augusta gave a reluctant laugh that turned into a wry grimace. “The Earl of Dunham for one thing.”
“I thought the two of you had agreed to stay at arm’s length.”
“I’m afraid we have lately been a good deal closer than that,” she murmured, a warmth stealing over her on recalling the feel of his muscled limbs and the intriguing bar rum scent of his person.