Page 19 of Lady of Charade
Wherever her funds came from, she clearly wasn’t spending it on her lodgings.
As Lady Alexander walked away from her, David watched the woman shrewdly. She had married well, he knew, but had been widowed some years ago, with no children to speak of. Miss Jones seemed grateful to her, but David couldn’t help his own bitterness that she would leave Sarah to fend for herself in potential danger when she would have more than enough room in her own home to house her apparent charge.
It was all quite bizarre, he thought, as he tapped a hand against his leg. David had been raised in every sense of propriety, and though he often shirked what he knew to be morally right, he had never strayed far from what was appropriate in the eyes of society.
Miss Jones broke most conventions, though she was rather silent about it, which his own mother would appreciate.
He watched her now look around the room somewhat… furtively, almost, as though determining whether or not she was being watched. Then with a slow swish of her silver silk, she turned and made her way to the corridor leading out of the large drawing room, which tonight was serving as a mock ballroom. Where was she going? She had just arrived.
David knew he was being somewhat obsessive, but he couldn’t help the curiosity this woman created in him. Wherewasshe going? He set his drink down on a side table and followed her, nodding to acquaintances as he made his way through the room, uncaring whether he seemed rude to not stop and have any further discussions, as he didn’t want to lose her. He stepped into the empty corridor just as he saw her ahead of him, noting the shimmering gown and the soft cinnamon of her hair slipping through a door near the end of the hall.
He followed as silently as he could. David hardly wanted to admit it, even to himself, but he was well-versed in the art of stealth from sneaking out of a few homes and establishments in his time.
Miss Jones had left the door to the room she had entered ajar, and David followed behind, peeking in through the crack. This looked to be the Earl’s office, and she was now sitting behind the desk, rifling through loose pieces of paper on the tabletop before opening the top drawer.
David thought back to her story. Was she actually looking for proof that the man might be her father? He had no idea how she thought she might find such a thing by looking through the man’s desk. She bent down, attempting to open one of the solid mahogany drawers, but it must have been locked, for she grunted in her attempt to do so.
He nearly laughed, but then he heard footsteps from behind him — firm footsteps that seemed to be well aware of their destination, and a quick look revealed the Earl himself walking down the hall.
David slipped into the room, shutting the door behind him quietly as he did, but from the gasp that echoed around the room, he had clearly startled Miss Jones. She sat up quickly, bumping her head on the top of the desk as she did so, emitting a quiet yet audible yelp.
Hearing the footsteps approaching on the other side of the door, David lunged toward her. With no time to explain, he grasped her by the waist, picked her up to swing her in front of the desk, and then set her down in front of him, wrapping his arms around her and taking her lips in a passionate kiss, practically bending her backward over the desk.
It was just in time too, for before Miss Jones had any time to react besides grasping the lapels of his jacket in order to help prevent herself from falling over, the door swung open behind him.
“I say!” came the shocked exclamation, and David lifted his head, though he kept his arms around Miss Jones in order to keep her from falling. He turned to look behind his shoulder, allowing a sheepish smile to cross his face.
“Lord Torrington!” he exclaimed. “How are you this evening?”
The Earl lifted an eyebrow. “I am well,” he said slowly. “And just what do you think you are doing in my study, Redmond?”
David looked around him as though he were just realizing where he was.
“My deepest apologies, Torrington,” he said. “I became rather carried away, I’m afraid, and opened the first door I came to. Forgive me? And please,” he lowered his voice, “You’ll keep this between us, I hope? I wouldn’t want the lady’s reputation to be brought into question.”
Torrington stood there for a moment, apparently caught between anger at finding them within his private area and understanding David’s predicament.
Finally he sighed and waved a hand in the air.
“I’m not a gossip, Redmond, and therefore I will not be saying anything. Just keep out of my study, all right? Take your tryst elsewhere.”
David nodded.
“Of course. My apologies once more.”
He took Miss Jones’ hand in his own, then led her out of the office. It was only when they were back in the corridor once more, the door shut behind them, that he risked a look at her face. Her eyes were wide, a hand pressed against her lips as she stared out in front of them.
When she eventually turned up to look at him, he was concerned about how she might react. Would she slap him for taking such liberties, or would she understand that he had only taken such action in order to keep her from being found out?
He waited for a moment, hesitant — typically he had full awareness that his affections were well received, but in this case…
Then she burst out into laughter.
He paused for a moment, surprised at her reaction, but then he began to chuckle himself, for her mirth was contagious.
“Thank you,” she finally said. “That was quite close. Goodness, what would the Earl have thought if he had come into his study to find me going through his desk?”
“He would likely be wondering the same as I am — just why were you studying Lord Torrington’s personal files?”
