pair,â she admitted once heâd gone around the equipage and boosted himself onto the seat.
His look was nearly comical. âI beg your pardon?â
âThe bays are lovely, perfectly matched,â she expounded further, wondering if the baron had possibly drunk away his afternoon. It wouldnât do well for either of them if she had to explain everything twice. âYou havenât been drinking, have you?â
âIf I have, clearly not enough. Shall we be off?â
âI suppose so. The sooner weâre off, the sooner weâre back, which should please you enormously.â
âHow well you know me, on such a short acquaintance,â Coop said as he set the curricle in motion, his tiger still standing on the flagway.
âI think you forgot someone,â Dany said, watching as the boy, no more than twelve, headed for the alleyway beside the mansion.
âHarry will go to the servantsâ entrance and someone will feed him a cake or something. Itâs all arranged. Weâve no need of a prepubescent chaperone, Miss Foster. Weâll be far from alone in the park.â
âYes, Iâd wondered about that. Weâd look rather silly having to speak across my maid, plopped between us, her hands clapped to her ears. I really must read that book.â
âWhatever book it is, yes, please do tend to the task posthaste. I know youâre fresh from the country, but hasnât your sister explained anything to you?â
âSheâs been rather fully employed weeping into her pillow,â Dany said, at the moment not caring what the baron thought of her, or her sister. It was enough that he was here, apparently still willing to play the hero for them. Why, sheâd nearly forgotten all about his green eyes. Nearly. âWhich brings us to our new problem. The butlerâs wife believes the countess may be increasing.â
He made an expert but not showy turn into Hyde Park, having executed the tricky maneuver of inserting the curricle into the line of various equipages without muss, fuss or banging wheels with anyone. The man was not flamboyant, not in his speech, his dress, his deportment. He was the unlikeliest hero sheâd ever imagined in her daydreams. He was simply a man who stood up when necessary, and did heroic things. Perhaps it was not only his eyes...and blond locks, and strong chin line, and...and all the rest that drew her to him. Sheâd like to think so, or else that would make her no more than one of the giggling, sighing throng of females who probably chased him everywhere. How he must hate that!
âReally. Increasing whatâ Oh. Miss Foster, I donât think this is anything you and I should be addressing. Iâll correct myself. I know it isnât anything we should discuss. But since I have no doubt youâll address it, anyway, is there a problem of...timing?â
âOh, good. I was wondering how I might gracefully get around that part. Yes, I think so. Probably only Mrs. Timmerly knows for sure, since I believe Mari only just figured everything out today. So you see, my lord, it is now doubly important we seek out this blackmailer and recover her letters. Oliver must never know, can never so much as think he may have been, um...â
âUsurped? I can think of other words, although Iâd rather not.â
She refused to blush. âI suppose thatâs as clear as we need make that, thank you. I felt you should know, since we are working together.â
âWe are? I donât believe Iâve agreed to a partnership of any kind.â
Apparently men could be maddeningly thick. âDo you really have a choice?â
âI donât? Please, enlighten me.â
âYes, I should. In the interests of fairness, I feel it only fair to add that I donât like you. I may admire you, and even find you somewhat attractive, but I donât like you. You clearly resent that Iâve come to
Major Dick Winters, Colonel Cole C. Kingseed