Chapter Eight #3
Jansen didn’t respond, simply glared out the window as they headed toward the mews.
She tried to read him but failed miserably.
He was so morose. She had never seen him like this before.
Surely he wasn’t that sour because she had insisted on coming.
“At least this time, we allowed ourselves more of a window of opportunity by leaving early.”
“I suppose so.” Eyes narrowing, he rubbed his chin slowly, then dropped his hand to his lap and fixed her with a look she didn’t quite comprehend. “I need you to do as I ask while we are there. For your own safety. Do you understand, and will you please swear to do so?”
“I promise I am not going to do anything to endanger myself.” And she meant it.
She found her frustration with his protectiveness had somehow lessened.
His worry for her safety, now that he’d allowed her to accompany him, was actually quite nice.
It reminded her of how Papa had always protected Mama.
“All I intend to do is help you watch for the fool so you can catch her.”
“You are sure our enemy is a woman?”
“A woman delivered the last set of notes.”
“That does not mean our blackguard is female. Delivery persons are easily hired and, for extra coin, convinced to wear any dress or persona one wishes.”
She pondered that as the carriage rolled to a stop. If that were the case, and well it could be, their blackmailer might be anyone. “What if they hire someone to pick up the payments? Will we be able to make them tell us who hired them?”
Jansen gave her a look that chilled her to the bone. “Yes, my lady. I assure you, they will tell us who hired them—one way or another.” He nodded at the hollow oak in the distance. “There is our tree.”
Common sense bade her hand him the bundle of coins. She felt certain he would not approve if she darted forward and deposited them in the tree herself.
He rewarded her with a grateful smile as he accepted them. “Thank you, my angel. The fewer our battles with each other, the more I can focus on the real foe.”
“I know…and I am sorry about that. It’s just that I have an extreme aversion to being coddled. There is no need for it when I am a perfectly capable woman.”
“There is a need for it because it enables me to concentrate on the battle rather than have my mind clouded with worries about you. I am now and will forever be your protector.”
She understood that now—didn’t particularly like it, but understood it, and in time, would surely be grateful for it. As long as he was willing to give her as much leeway as possible when it came to her independence. “Let us hope that today is the last of this particular battle.”
“Indeed.”
He deposited the money into the tree, then motioned for her to join him in the stable. “Allow me to introduce you to Crowdy and Pip. The gentlemen I met the last time I was here.” He gently eased her forward. “Crowdy, Pip, this is Lady Joy Abarough, the target of the blackmailer.”
“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” she said.
The grimy man wearing the leather apron bowed, then caught hold of the young lad’s nape and “helped” him bow as well. “Good afternoon, your ladyship. Sorry for your troubles.”
“Thank you, good sir. It is my hope we capture the scoundrel today.” All the while, she kept glancing at the hollow tree. If they missed the thief again, she would never hear the end of it from Jansen.
“We best leave you to it, then,” Crowdy said. “Me and Pip here will work in the back and keep as quiet as possible.”
“Thank you so much, gentlemen.” She stayed by the old door with the missing knothole, pressing her eye to the opening to watch the tree. “Were the other parcels in there yet?” she asked Jansen.
“Yes. All we must do is wait.” He took a position in the shadows, squinting to see through the crack of another split board. “I am glad the Earl of Denby hasn’t replaced these overly weathered portions.”
“I’m surprised he hasn’t been coerced into doing so by his neighbors. These dilapidated boards are an eyesore. I’m sure they think they should be replaced immediately.”
“He’s a jolly fellow everyone likes. I’m sure he uses that to its fullest advantage.” He resettled his footing, leaning with both hands propped against the wood. “This could take a while, my angel.”
“I know, and as you well know, patience is not among my virtues.” Slightly bent to peer through the knothole was not a comfortable stance, and her neck started stinging with mounting stiffness.
Of course, every fiber of her being was tensed tighter than a pianoforte wire as they waited to catch their thief.
“Which of your remaining sisters will I have the pleasure of being tested by first?” he asked with quiet thoughtfulness.
She pondered that while blinking against being mesmerized by the swaying branches of the hollow tree in the distance.
“Gracie will be last because to visit her will require a trip to the Lake District. Her churching is soon, but even then, she rarely comes into Town. She hates to leave her beloved country lodge.” Joy rolled her shoulders and wished she could remove her gloves and lean against the boards like Jansen.
But she daren’t do so. She had enough scandalous things being tossed around about her without being seen outside, in public, not wearing her gloves.
“I believe Fortuity would ease you into the Abarough gauntlet. One never knows what sort of mood Blessing will be in, since we just learned another little Knightwood will be joining us next year.”
“Would it be appropriate for me to congratulate Lady Blessing and her husband?”
Joy wrinkled her nose. “Best wait and see what sort of day she is having. Last time my dear sister was with child, we saw an entirely different side of her.” She straightened and stretched. “Good heavens, I didn’t realize how trying this would be. I do not wait well.”
“I should have had Copper stay close with the carriage rather than in the next street over. You could have waited in it and been a great deal more comfortable.”
She turned and pondered him, touched not only by his words but also by his handsome profile in the shadows. “Thank you,” she whispered.
He didn’t pull his focus from the tree. “For what, my lady?”
“For not pouncing on the opportunity to say I told you so, and that is why you should have stayed home. That means a great deal to me.”
He gave a heavy sigh and barely shook his head. “I love you, Joy, and only want you safe and happy.”
“And I love—”
“There!” Jansen sprang around her and shot out of the stable.
She hurried out after him, but remained just outside the door, amazed at the young lad in the distance, little more than a child, dashing away with a cloth sack thrown over his shoulder.
Jansen gave chase, but it was easy to see that even in his fine physical form, he was no match for the spry youngling.
The boy wiggled through a loose board in the fence farther down the mews, successfully cutting Jansen off.
“Damn and blast it all!” Jansen shouted with an enraged growl. “I cannot believe I lost him again!”
Joy was torn between going to him or giving him time to come to terms with this latest downturn. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t tried to catch the youth. Good heavens, as fast as that boy had been, it would have taken one of Gracie’s fastest hounds to overtake him. “Jansen…”
Shoulders slumped, he hung his head. “Yes, I know. I failed again.”
Devil take it all, she hurried over and took both his hands in hers. “You did not fail. The vile little wretch was as fast and slippery as an eel.”
Eyes closed and head still bowed, Jansen shook his head. “I failed you. Again.”
“Sir Jansen Winterstone! You will look me in the eye immediately.”
Jaw set, he opened his eyes and glared at her, disgust for himself shimmering in the depths of his golden-eyed gaze. “Yes, my lady?” he asked with strained quietness.
“I cannot bear to see you like this,” she said just as quietly. “You did all you could.” She squeezed his hands and gave him the most understanding smile she had ever given anyone. “We will outsmart them next time. I promise.”
“How can you make such a promise?”
“Because I am wise beyond my years. All knowing, even. We women are like that, you know.”
He arched a brow. “Truly?”
“Truly.” She tugged on him. “Come along now. Let’s find Copper and go for a carriage ride. An unchaperoned carriage ride. And I will not have you hurting my feelings this time by sitting across from me. We two are meant to be side by side. Understand?”
He finally smiled. “I understand, my lady, and I do beg your forgiveness for hurting your feelings. I assure you, that was not my intent.”
“I should hope not.” She took his arm, then opened her parasol and propped it on her shoulder to shade her face. Serendipity would be so proud. “Now, come along. I might even be in the mood for a kiss or two, since we find ourselves in such a daring state.”
“Kissing in a carriage while driving through Mayfair?” he teased, feigning an expression of shock. “Is that wise, my angel?”
“As I already told you, I am wise beyond my years. We’ll sort it out. I assure you.”
“Lead the way, my darling. Lead the way.”