Page 11 of Seduced By a Scoundrel

“Everyone here is unceasingly loyal to the king,” Derrek’s informant had told him as they’d parted ways. “There is no chance at all the he could be poisoned as long as he is at home.”

Derrek believed those words. He believed that King William was as protected as could be from Conroy’s, or rather, the Duchess of Kent’s, machinations. He headed back into London with confidence that the king would live as long as he could without nefarious interference, which still might not be long enough to save England from another regency.

That, however, did not mean that Wilkes was no longer in danger.

Once back in London, Derrek chose a coffee shop close to Wilkes’s Jermyn Street shop, then sent word for Wilkes to join him as soon as he could. It made him grin that Wilkes came rushing into the pub less than twenty minutes later.

“Over here,” Derrek called to him, standing from the quiet table in the corner that he’d secured and waving.

The smile that Wilkes sent him in answer warmed Derrek from the inside out. It also made it necessary for him to sit down again, lest the two of them raise suspicions of their natures.

“I came as soon as I could,” Wilkes said, out of breath, as he took the seat opposite Derrek. He had his back to the rest of the shop, but that was as things should be. Derrek was the one who needed the seat that would allow him to watch everything going on in the room around them, everyone who entered and exited, and anyone who glanced suspiciously in their direction. “Have you discovered anything new?” Wilkes went on.

“I took a trip to Windsor today,” Derrek said, keeping his voice low as he caught the eye of the serving girl and called her over. “The king is about as well as could be expected.”

“That is good news,” Wilkes said. “I suppose.”

He leaned back with a start of surprise when the serving girl came over to see what Derrek wanted.

“Two coffees, please,” he told the girl.

“It’s about time,” the girl muttered, then smiled at Wilkes. “Alright, Mr. Wilkes?” she asked, batting her eyelashes at him.

“I’m quite well, Minnie, thank you,” Wilkes smiled graciously back at her.

“I’ll fetch your coffee at once,” she said, then sent Derrek a look as if to tell him that was how a gentleman behaved.

“What did you do to offend her?” Wilkes asked, leaning over the table so he could whisper his question.

“Nothing,” Derrek said with a nod. “I’ve just been sitting here waiting for you and assessing the place.”

Wilkes fell back into his chair with a sigh and shook his head. “How many of her customers have you frightened away with your terrifying expression?”

“I am not terrifying,” Derrek said, frowning even though he was amused.

Wilkes sent him a doubtful look. “You are an absolute terror, Detective Talboys.”

“I am as gentle as a lamb,” Derrek argued. “And call me Derrek.”

Wilkes froze and blinked at him. “You are a scoundrel. I…I could not possibly,” he said, face flushing hot.

Derrek knew the look of a man who was flustered by his own attraction when he saw it. It made him want to puff out his chest and preen. “How are we to appear as friends if you will not address me as a friend,Jeremy?” He added Wilkes’s given name as a tease and to prove his point.

“I…I suppose you are correct,” Wilkes, or rather, Jeremy, said, turning even redder. “I would not want to assume.”

“You may assume anything you’d like, dove,” Derrek said, letting his hunger show clearly in his eyes, even though he knew it was a risk. “I do not mind.”

“I…er…that is to say….” Jeremy was delightfully flustered.

Derrek chuckled low in his throat, making the sound almost like a growl. Jeremy was perfection to play with. Once the man gained a bit more confidence in himself and comfort with him, they might have a delightful time.

The coffee shop’s door opened, letting in a few more patrons and a blast of cold air. Two of the men who had come in took a table that the serving girl had just finished clearing, and the other followed Minnie back to the counter as she swapped out her tray of used cups and saucers for another with fresh drinks that someone in the back had prepared.

“So the king is as well as could be expected,” Jeremy said, moving their conversation on and bringing Derrek’s eyes back to him. “What should we do now?”

“There’s not much that can be done until and unless Conroy makes a move against the king,” Derrek said. “Or against you.”

“I pray that yesterday was all a coincidence and that I have been forgotten entirely,” Jeremy said with a sigh, rubbing a hand over his face.

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