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‘I should be more careful with my thoughts, should I not?’ Particularly around him. He noticed too much.
He frowned. ‘Is there something you are not telling me? Something with which I can help?’
Hope lifted her heart. No. What was she thinking? He would never understand a woman desiring to make her own life choices rather than be dependent on a man, be that a husband or a cousin. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to think clearly. She gave him a tight smile. ‘I think it would be unwise to accept any offer of assistance from you, Lord Sandford. Who knows what sort of price you would set?’
The tiger gave a little snigger.
‘Round two also to you, Lady Tess.’
He pulled up at her cousin’s front door. ‘It has been a pleasure.’
‘When will I hear from you?’
‘When I have something to report.’
She wanted to press him, but did not dare in case he changed his mind. Men were such obstinate, fickle creatures.
He jumped down and escorted her to the door where he bowed over her hand. ‘I will let you know when I have news.’
The butler opened the door to his knock.
Sandford touched his hat. ‘Good day, Lady Tess. Thank you for a pleasant afternoon.’ He sauntered back to his carriage.
Blasted man. He really was the most annoying individual she had ever met. He thought he could get away with anything just because he was rich and handsome.
So very handsome. If any man could be described as an Adonis, it was he. And he drove to an inch, handling the ribbons with expert ease. It had been impossible not to notice all the ladies casting admiring glances his way.
Pah. What did that have to do with anything?
Chapter Three (#u3d0c7096-aabe-5bbe-95e2-3d854006fb50)
Two days had passed since Tess had given Lord Sandford the information about Freeps and there was still no word. All morning she had been sitting in the drawing room with her needlework in hand, listening for the arrival of the mail.
And when it came, she had received nothing.
She was being foolish. Too anxious. A single gentleman did not write notes to a single lady who was not a relative or an intended. She certainly had no wish to set alarm bells ringing in Wilhelmina’s feather brain. If they thought Lord Sandford was trifling with her, they’d have her sent north in the blink of an eye. Or they would if Mr Stedman wasn’t still showing a marked interest in her.
Wilhelmina drifted in wearing her Phineas-has-issued-an-edict face. Edicts had been issued more and more frequently of late. Tess tensed.
‘Good morning, Theresa,’ Wilhelmina said with a vague smile. ‘I missed you at breakfast and couldn’t find you anywhere afterwards.’
Worse and worse. Tess let her needlework fall into her lap and forced a cheerful smile. ‘I went for my usual early morning walk.’ The walk her cousin did not approve of.
Wilhelmina’s glance sharpened. ‘With your maid, I assume.’
Poor old Mims was far too old to be trotting along at the pace Tess preferred. ‘I took one of the footmen.’
‘Carver gave his approval?’
Tess gritted her teeth. ‘He did.’
A vaguely disgruntled expression flitted across her cousin’s face. ‘That is good then. He always complains to me when his schedule for the day is altered without his knowledge.’
That wasn’t it at all. Wilhelmina loved her role of Countess and she loved catching Tess out in one mistake or another. Tess had quickly learned how to avoid her traps. Not that Wilhelmina realised Tess was on to her. She was far too self-absorbed.
Her cousin took the chaise longue and reclined along its length. ‘Ring for tea, there’s a dear.’
She could have rung for tea before she sat down, but it amused her to treat Tess like a servant. Tess put her embroidery aside and got up to tug on the bell pull beside the hearth.
‘How is your work coming along?’ Wilhelmina asked the moment she sat down.
‘Very well. I have it half done.’ She was embroidering a cushion cover for her trousseau at Wilhelmina’s suggestion.
‘May I see?’
Wilhelmina accounted herself an expert needlewoman, though she rarely set a stitch herself. Tess thought it might be because she was becoming short-sighted and didn’t want to wear spectacles.
She took the piece over. Her cousin sat up and made a space for her on the chaise.
Oh, yes, she definitely had some instruction to impart from dearest Phin. Tess sank down beside her. ‘I only have one bird left to finish.’
Wilhelmina held the fabric up to the light. ‘I think you need a couple more French knots here. See, there’s a space. What do you think?’
Dash it, the woman was right. The French knots had taken her for ever to complete and had made her fingers sore. She had known a few more were needed, but didn’t think anyone would notice. ‘Thank you for pointing it out, Cousin. I’ll be sure to fill in the gaps.’
With a self-satisfied smile, Wilhelmina handed the work back. ‘I did tell you we are attending the Halliwells’ ball on Friday, did I not?’
‘You did, indeed.’
‘Which gown will you wear?’
Tess mentally ran through her meagre wardrobe. She had already decided which gown to wear, but if she named it, Wilhelmina was sure to prefer a different one. ‘The pale green, I think. I like something with a bit of colour.’
True to form, Wilhelmina frowned. ‘Not for the Halliwells. All the younger ladies will be wearing white.’
‘Hmm. There is the white-and-silver tissue, I suppose.’
‘You have worn that one at least four times. People will start to talk. No. Wear the one with the roses festooned at the hem and neckline.’
Tess bowed her head in compliance and to hide her smile. It was the dress she had planned to wear all along.
How much nicer this would have all been if she could have been friends with her cousin’s wife. They could have enjoyed this Season together as. Instead it was a battle of wits and Wilhelmina had so few of them it was becoming quite boring.
‘Why not wear your mother’s diamonds? They will look perfect with that gown. Phineas reminded me only this morning that you have never worn them.’
The breath rushed from her lungs. She swallowed the lump in her throat. ‘I...umm... I am not sure where her bracelet is.’ She winced at how feeble she sounded. ‘I put it away somewhere. The clasp was broken.’
‘You don’t know where you put a diamond bracelet? Well, I must say, that is careless in the extreme. Have that maid of yours look for it and we will send it to Rundell & Bridge for repair.’
‘I hate to put Phin to the expense,’ Tess managed. ‘Who knows how much it might cost?’
Wilhelmina frowned. ‘I shall have to ask him what he thinks. In the meantime, please find it.’
Tess nodded. ‘Yes, Cousin. I will do so.’ The reprieve would give her time to think up some more plausible excuse as to where the bracelet had gone. Right now her brain seemed to have frozen solid. She began to relax.
‘Oh, and by the way, Theresa...’
Tess tensed again. ‘By the way’ always heralded Phin’s less pleasant admonitions and instructions.
‘As you know, my dearest Phineas has your best interests in mind and he has agreed to meet with Mr Stedman to discuss,’ her voice rose to an excited squeak, ‘the settlements.’ She clasped her hands together. ‘Isn’t it exciting?’
Tess stared at her cousin’s wife. ‘Mr Stedman hasn’t yet asked for my permission to approach Phin. I thought...’
Her voice tailed off at Wilhelmina’s annoyed expression.
‘Phin said I might have a little more time,’ she continued valiantly. ‘I hardly know the man.’
‘It is a preliminary discussion only,’ Wilhelmina said, but her expression was just a little too smug. ‘You know, if you wish to get to know a gentleman, you must make an effort to spend more time in his company. Phin is concerned that Mr Stedman might ask for repayment of your father’s debts at any moment, particularly if he is made to wait too long for your answer.’ She shook her head sadly. ‘If only your father hadn’t left the estate in such a mess, we wouldn’t be in this position. You do understand, do you not?’
A pang of guilt twisted in Tess’s chest. Until after his death, she’d had no idea Papa had borrowed a large sum money from Mr Stedman. Perhaps she could have helped him avoid such a thing if only she had known. Perhaps he would have avoided the accident with his gun.
Her blood ran cold. ‘Yes, Wilhelmina. I do understand.’
A sly look crossed the other woman’s face. ‘Who was that gentlemen dressed as the grim reaper at the masquerade the other night? You never did say. You wasted a good deal of the evening in his company.’
Her stomach sank. ‘I have no idea. I thought you knew him. He left before the unmasking. And it was only one dance.’
‘You did go outside with him.’
‘I also went outside with Mr Stedman.’
Wilhelmina pressed her lips tightly together for a moment. ‘Well, I am glad we have had this little talk. I am sure you will do your utmost to assist your family. I will see you at dinner.’
Accepting her dismissal, Tess tidied up her needlework and traipsed up to her chamber. Now she was really in trouble. How was it Phin had recalled her mother’s bracelet when he had not mentioned it once in the past year? If she was going to avoid marriage to Stedman, she needed to find Grey quickly.
* * *
‘There is a person to see you, my lord.’
‘A person?’ Jaimie looked up from his paperwork and recoiled at the odd look on Rider’s face. One of shocked indignation.
He frowned. Some of the men he employed at the agency were of the rough-and-ready sort, but none of them would come here to visit him. They would go to Growler by way of the back door. Growler was ostensibly his secretary and lived in. The butler no longer took any notice of Growler’s comings and goings, much as he disapproved of the erstwhile bruiser.
‘Did he give his name, Rider?’
‘It is not a he, my lord.’
Jaimie pushed to his feet. ‘A woman?’
Rider sniffed. ‘A female, my lord, who refuses to state her business either to Growler or to me and refuses to leave without seeing you.’ He coughed behind his hand. ‘Growler thinks you will want to see her, but I can have a footman—’
‘Growler thought...’ It must be an informant. Jaimie raised a hand. ‘I had best see her. Bring tea, would you, Rider?’ He might as well take a proper break from what he was doing, now he had been interrupted, rather than continue to sit staring into space. ‘Make sure you put biscuits on the tray.’ Nothing like one of cook’s biscuits to loosen an unwilling tongue.
‘Very well, my lord.’ He stepped back.
An oddly rotund figure in an old black woollen cloak, its hood drawn low so as to hide the wearer’s face, sidled around the butler and into the room.
‘Hey, you!’ Rider said. ‘I told you to wait.’
Jaimie let out a shocked laugh. ‘It’s all right, Rider. Fetch the tea, please.’
With a huff of annoyance, Rider departed, his whole demeanour imparting the silent news that if this sort of thing continued, a man of his dignity would be handing in his notice.
She pushed the hood back to reveal a floppy mobcap. The only thing that looked the least bit like her was her face.
‘Who are you supposed to be now, Lady Tess? I must say, I prefer Artemis.’
‘Hah,’ she said, but there was a smile in her eyes he had never seen before. A naughty smile that hit him low and tightened his body in places a gentleman was required to ignore in the presence of a lady.
She threw off the cloak and untied the sash holding two pillows, one at her front and the other in the small of her back. ‘It’s not funny. I am dashed hot.’
He tamped down the urge to smile. Fought the allure of her lush body. His first wife had been tall, elegant and slender, while Lady Tess was all soft curves and tempting dimples. But it seemed in temperament, the ladies were much the same. The last thing he wanted was to be drawn into Lady Tess’s orbit.
He retreated into studied indifference. ‘This really is beyond the pale, you know,’ he said in bored tones.
‘It was the only way to escape the house unnoticed.’
He frowned. ‘That is not what I meant and you know it. No lady should visit a gentleman’s abode in the middle of the night.’ He glanced at the clock. ‘Good heavens, girl, it’s gone one in the morning.’
‘I had to wait until everyone was asleep.’ She grinned and he had to stop himself from grinning back. ‘Also I thought I might be more likely to catch you at home after midnight.’
Naive child. In his wilder days, he’d rarely come home before three in the morning, and if he was home, she might have caught him at home with a houseful of guests enjoying themselves in ways no respectable lady should be aware of. These days, he preferred to spend his time in the conservatory, with his plants. He narrowed his eyes. ‘Do you do this sort of thing often?’
‘Not any more. When I was at school in Bath, I and some of the other girls used to sneak out to get decent food, like cake and ice cream.’
‘Good Lord! What a hoyden you are.’
She waved a dismissive hand. ‘That is not important. Have you found Freeps?’
‘As promised, I sent a man to Kent the moment I came back from our drive.’
‘When do you expect his return?’
‘Tomorrow or the day after. I had some other errands for him to perform while he was there.’
She shook her head and paced to his desk, picking up the silver letter opener and putting it down again. ‘He will be too late.’
‘What is the urgency?’
