Page 110 of The Moonstone Pirate
After a moment, his expression softened.
“You look like a little gnome in that cloak,” he said with a light chuckle, and took it off her to hang it on a peg beside the hearth. He then took the sketchbook out of her hands and set it atop the bureau for now. “Keep away from the windows. Securely latch the door once I’ve gone downstairs. Stick that book in a bureau drawer or under the mattress, anywhere it is not immediately visible should anyone break in… No, just put it in a drawer. That mattress cannot be very clean.”
Imogen had just sat down on the bed and immediately leaped up and began to brush off the backside of her gown. “I’m sure you are only saying this to rile me. William Angel runs a proper establishment.”
“Yes, for the most part. But these rooms are not only used to accommodate guests who wish to sleep.”
“What do you mean?”
He strode to the window, opened it a crack to allow in some air, and then drew the drapes closed so that only minimal light came in. “Sometimes these rooms are let by the hour. Do you understand what I am saying?”
She put a hand to her cheeks because her face was suddenly on fire. “Yes, I understand. How long did you secure use of this room for?”
“Six hours.”
She gasped. “Six! I cannot possibly stay here that long!”
“Hush, keep your voice down. Yes, six it is, and I am not changing it. I do not want you sticking your nose out of thisroom until my meeting is over and the Irishman has sailed away. Have a seat on that stool beside the hearth. Make yourself comfortable. You are not going anywhere for a while.”
She spread her handkerchief over the stool and sank down on it with a huff. “Does William know it is me you’ve brought up here?”
“Not yet, but he knows it is not one of the usual doxies who frequent his establishment. He’ll figure it out fairly soon, I suppose. Probably within five minutes, I’ll wager. Who else knows you are in town?”
“Thaddius is the only one I approached,” she said, now feeling quite miserable about this idea of hers. “Others may have seen me. It matters little now that Mr. Matchett is aware and telling everyone about me.”
Draco stared at her. “I have to get word to your uncle before he tears this village apart looking for you. Blast that idiot Matchett. He does not know how to keep his mouth shut. Nor does Thaddius, for that matter.”
“Yes, um…everyone gossips around here. Perhaps get word to Mrs. Halsey’s husband. He’ll be making his deliveries and can let my uncle know I am safely tucked away and he should not worry.”
“Not worry?” Draco laughed. “Oh, yes. He’ll be in excellent humor when he hears I have you locked in a room at the Three Lions tavern. No matter what we do, everyone will know it was me who brought you up here and kept you entertained for six hours.”
“Good grief. Surely everyone will realize it was all an innocent misunderstanding and nothing improper occurred. You’ll be seen downstairs talking to the Irishman. They cannot think… They cannot possibly imagine we were doingthatall the while. In broad daylight, no less.”
“Does it matter whether the deed is done in day or night?”
“It feels more decadent in daylight. I’ll be ruined either way, I suppose.”
“Who’s fault is that?” He came to her side and knelt beside her. “Butterfly, you know I intend to marry you. I do not need to have you compromised to offer for your hand.”
She threw her arms around him and gave him a fierce hug. “You would still marry me after this?”
“There’s no one else for me, sweetheart.” His arms closed around her, wrapping her in his protective warmth for a long moment before he released her.
She sighed. “Uncle Cormac will be so disappointed in me. By the time I am returned home, he will have heard some completely distorted version of the facts, of course.”
“I will straighten out any misunderstanding. I’ve warned William that I will break his nose if he lets slip I have a woman up here. I’ll break his leg if he dares come up here to find out who I’ve smuggled in.”
He looked fierce enough to be believed. But Imogen knew he would never harm William. Besides, William was a smart young man and would figure out she was the woman without need of ever coming up here.
“He’s not the one you need to worry about.” As the tavern’s proprietor, he knew to keep his mouth shut about his patrons. “It’s too late now that Thaddius and Mr. Matchett have been telling anyone who will listen.” She groaned, buried her face in her hands for a moment, and then looked up at him again. “I only meant to warn you about Lord Eldridge and his connection to Healey and Burke, then be on my way. You needed a name to shock McTavish into giving up these rebels. Lord Eldridge’s name will do the trick.”
He merely stared at her, obviously not convinced.
“Draco, does it not make sense that Eldridge is one of the rebel plotters? Perhaps their top man.”
“Imogen, it is too far-fetched. More likely, they are mere acquaintances greeting each other in passing, because thetonis a fairly closed establishment and everyone knows everyone else. Family connections. Old school chums. Members of the same elite clubs. Horse enthusiasts. Your discovery could have waited, Imogen.”
“But don’t you see? Now you can mention the stolen chestnut Friesian to the Irishman and see his reaction. Your recovering the horse is the perfect way to mention Lord Eldridge without raising suspicion. If McTavish does not react, then no harm done and you move on to speak of something else.”
