Page 15 of Most Sought-After Scoundrel in London
“Three days is all you have remaining before we return to London.I suggest you focus and do what is right.”
Right?Was Hadfield implying he had done wrong?
Cameron narrowed his gaze and studied the man before him, Landon Neale—a barrister by trade prior to becoming the Head PORF and inheriting the Hadfield earldom.Word choice had been one of the heavily debated topics that Cameron and Violet had revisited many times over the past ten days as they attempted to devise new methods of mass dissemination of messages.He found himself becoming more and more acutely discriminatory when simple terms that sounded straightforward were phrased in a certain manner that could convey multiple meanings.
Lord Hadfield placed a hand upon Cameron’s shoulder.“We all live by a code that we…”
The scamper of small feet preceded the entrance of Lord Hadfield’s son, David, the middle child, who ran up to them and, between heaving breaths, said, “We…we…need…”
Lord Hadfield knelt on one knee and placed his hands on his son’s shoulders.“Take your time.”The Neale’s had a family history of shortness of breath with heavy exertion.
Eyes closed, David followed his father’s advice and managed to regain control over his breathing.When the young lad opened his eyes once more, his gaze fell upon Cameron.“We need your help, Lord Hurlington.”
“Is something the matter?”
“We…we were playing hide and seek, but now we can’t find Lady Violet.”David looked out the window.“Mama is helping us, but Lady Violet is the best among us all at hiding.”The young boy tugged at Cameron’s hand but he didn’t need any further prompting.
Cameron picked up the lad and ran through the house and out into the gardens.When he didn’t hear Hadfield following him, he looked back over his shoulder.Where in the blazes was Hadfield?Violet was bloody missing, and as host, Hadfield should be out here searching for his guest.
Cameron looked down at the boy still clinging to his side and asked, “Where did you last see Lady Violet?”
David pointed in the direction of the path that Cameron had last seen Lady Hadfield and Violet.
When Lady Hadfield emerged from behind a tree, led by her youngest child, Sarah-Eloise, David wiggled until Camron set him down.“I’ll go see if Mama has found her.”Before he set off in the direction of his mother, he pointed to the east and said, “We haven’t looked over there.”
Cameron shook his head at the young boy’s clear and authoritative tone.David was a Neale, and a PORF, through and through.His initial panic that something had happened to Violet had relented the moment he realized he had overreacted.If Violet was in real danger, Hadfield would have been hot on his heels.After all, the ladies had been playing a children’s game, and perhaps Violet was putting her training to the test, to see how long she could remain undetected.He stared in the direction David had pointed to and noted the position of the sun.The east would be the most shadowed.Clever woman.It was gratifying that Violet had been paying attention.
He crept forward, navigating through the tree line, careful not to make a sound.When he heard whispers, he stopped to confirm that he was indeed headed in the correct direction.
“Lady Violet, shouldn’t we return to the house?”The soft, no-nonsense voice of Hadfield’s oldest daughter, Abigail, wafted through the trees.
Unable to hear Violet’s response, Cameron continued.The idea of sneaking up on Violet had him grinning, but when a twig behind him snapped, he turned about and almost knocked the lady he’d hoped to surprise down.
“Violet!”He hadn’t meant to raise his voice, but her name came out a shout.He caught her as she jumped backward and hauled her close to him.The hollow feeling that had been grating on him vanished and was replaced with a balminess.Hadfield’s words came to mind, “...what isright.”Violet in his arms feltright.
Violet’s heart raced as it tended to do whenever Cameron was in her vicinity.She had attempted to ignore the man’s effect on her but in his constant company, it was extremely difficult.With his arm wrapped around her, her body wanted to sink into his while her mind warned her to keep her distance.
“L-lord Hurlington.”She flattened her palms against his chest, and the twitch of muscles beneath had her again tempted to kiss the man.The soft touch of his lips against hers plagued her mind all through the night and into the day.
“Oh, I know that look,” Abigail mumbled from behind her.
Violet righted herself.What a terrible example she was setting.
Cheeks ablaze, Violet turned to face the little girl, who was twisting from side-to-side at the waist.“Don’t worry, Lady Violet, Lord Hurlington is a man of honor.He’ll do therightthing.”Abigail delivered her message with a maturity that was far beyond her years.Violet had no doubt she would be a PORF worthy of the protection of the Network.
Violet flickered her gaze up to Cameron and caught the man giving Abigail a wink.Scoundrel.
Abigail reached out both her hands, one for Violet to take and the other for Cameron.Like her mother, Abigail had the natural ability to lead others, and Violet was more than happy to follow the girl's lead.With Abigail between her and Cameron, she might be able to achieve what she intended, and that was to share her ideas of how to best accomplish their task.When alone with Cameron, her mind was pulled in too many directions, and she had sought the counsel of Lady Bronwyn as to how best handle her rioting emotions and thoughts.
Over the past few days, with the aid of Lady Bronwyn’s strategies on how to remain focused rather than be distracted by the man’s charms, Violet had finally managed to master the art of walking without detection and masking her facial expressions.
Cameron glanced over at Violet.“Your ability to go undetected had David worried.”
What a peculiar statement.Lady Bronwyn had sent the boy to find Cameron.Was this another test?
Careful to ensure her features appeared relaxed so as not to give away her confusion, Violet replied, “You have taught me well.”
Abigail squeezed her hand tightly.When Violet looked down, the girl was smiling brightly up at Cameron.“Lord Hurlington, did you know Lady Violet can play the pianoforte?”
