Page 30 of The Lady and the Footballer
“Yes, well…” She shrugged. “I needed to speak to Mr. Pritchard, and neither of my parents would ever have allowed it.”
“Are you usually so rebellious?”
“Never, actually.” She shook her head. “But I am also no longer a young girl, which should afford me more freedom.”
“I cannot imagine having my every movement under scrutiny,” he said, seeming surprised by himself.
“It does become rather trying, although that is all I know,” she said. “Emmaline is provided much more freedom, which is rather enlightening.”
“I can imagine,” he said as he walked her to the door, holding it open for her, both of them blinking at the sunlight that greetedthem. “I completely forgot to speak to you about something else.”
“Yes?”
She looked up at him, her heart beating rapidly as she realized she hoped he would request to call upon her, which was ludicrous. He would never be interested in a woman like her, nor would he likely follow the same protocols for calling upon a woman.
“There is something suspicious going on here,” he said, oblivious to the spirals her mind was going around upon. “If we work together to exchange information and investigate, we might find some answers.”
“I agree,” she breathed as she came back to the moment. He considered that her involvement might be important and was crediting her abilities.
No one else had ever placed such importance on her contributions to anything before. Even her father was only allowing her to help with the club for his greater purpose.
“We need to come to the offices when they are empty,” he said. “The team usually goes to The King’s Head for a meal and a drink after practices. I can try to slip up to the club’s offices if I can find a way to unlock them.”
“My father would have a key,” Lily said, her features set in determination. “If I can find it, I could meet you there one evening.”
“Are you sure you could get away? And that you could stay safe?” he asked, and it thrilled her a bit that he would be so considerate of her well-being.
“Not to worry. I can make it work,” she said, tapping a finger against her chin. “My parents have a function on Thursday evening that I am not expected to attend. I could sneak out and make my way here.”
“Alone?”
“I will find someone to accompany me,” she said, though she could only promise to try. Trust was a rare commodity—perhaps only Emmaline had earned it — but leaning on her too heavily might have drawn unwanted attention. More than anything, she longed to help him.
“Very well,” he said. “Thursday night it is. I will watch for you, and we will go up together. In the meantime, if you need anything, you can find me here or send a note to my residence.”
He gave her the address, and she nodded, looking forward to this Thursday more than any other.
Colin was rushing through his drills.
He was muttering to himself on focusing when he ran right into Tommy.
“What was that for?” Tommy asked, pushing himself up onto his elbow. For once, the field was dry, as they hadn’t had rain for the past couple of days, although that did not mean perfect field conditions.
“Sorry, Tommy,” Colin said, reaching down to help his friend to his feet. “My mind was wandering.”
“To a beautiful woman who could destroy everything you love?” Tommy asked, raising a brow. Colin tried to frown but then couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Where do you get all of your information? I swear you gossip more than ladies at tea after church on Sunday.”
“I don’t gossip,” Tommy protested. “People like to talk to me. I can’t help it. I have one of those faces.”
Colin rolled his eyes as they jogged down the field, passing a ball between them. It was almost second nature, as they hadbeen doing this since childhood, racing down the middle of the street.
“So, what did you hear, then?”
“That you were having a most cozy luncheon with Miss Evans in The King’s Head the other day – when you were supposed to be working in her father’s mill!”
“Milton,” Colin muttered as he picked up the ball, and they walked off the field to change. “It’s a long story.”
