Page 37 of The Lady Glass
Did all captains have such a strong presence in a room? It was hard to pay attention with Rolland just a handspan away. She had to lower her gaze in order to respond. “What of Mr. Hawke? He’s the one with the small nose and thin mouth?”
“Yes, his name does not quite fit his likeness. Fair warning, his manners leave little to be desired. He has obsessive tendencies, too, but they involve money. Like Mr. Haversham’s, his money trails are questionable. We suspect illegal activity, maybe eveninvolving bribery.”
“Is that enough to qualify as your traitor?”
Rolland shook his head. “It could be enough to get him arrested, but we must have proof. We’ve traced funds as far as Prussia but to no known dignitaries. What we really need is a link from one of our guests to the delegates heading to Vienna. Someone with loyalty outside of England. We need a motive to kill.”
“And you expect them to be forthcoming with this sort of information?” Theresia made the mistake of looking up at his captivating eyes again. At least he wasn’t smiling. She had seen such a picture only once, when he had tried to assure her after her arrival, but it was a devastating sight.
“That would be all too easy. No, we expect nothing. We can only hope to catch one word, one clue, one slip that will give them away. The men I work with will not stop until this case is solved.”
Is that what she was doing? Suddenly hoping for one word, one clue, one slip from Rolland to justify her attraction to him? She had one goal, and there was no room for hoping for anything else. She would secure her vase and leave, regardless of whether the traitor was still undiscovered by then. In fact, the idea that her thief and the murderer were connected was seeming more farfetched by the second.
Voices sounded in the entrance hall, but Rolland was slow to pull back. “They’re already gathering for the trip to town. Are you ready for your public debut as Lady Glass? It might not be a London Season, but I hear a summer courtship is all the rage.”
“Courtship? Who said anything about courtship?” Her eyes darted to meet his. She was afraid of what he would say. She hadn’t really believed he liked her, but had her secret wishes betrayed her?
Rolland rotated his injured shoulder and straightened to hisfull height. “Isn’t that what house parties are about?” He held out his arm to her, his gaze teasing. “Forget the specifics about the guests and jump into your role. We cannot risk our suspicions giving us away.”
“Are you telling me to flirt with some of the guests?” That had not been part of their deal. For starters, she hadn’t the first notion about courting, as was apparent by her overreaction to Rolland’s nearness.
“What? No!” His gruffness was back. “I merely meant to try to enjoy yourself and let the clues fall naturally into your lap.”
She couldn’t decide whether she was disappointed or relieved that he was reminding her to step back into her Lady Glass persona. Apparently she was the only one imagining the sparks between them every time their eyes connected. When he offered his arm, she accepted it, but it was with some hesitation. She had to remind herself that she had no interest in Englishmen, not even this one.
And she had no intention of flirting with a murderer.
Chapter 18
Rolland handed Theresia up intothe barouche, the second in a line of carriages, fully expecting her to take the open side across from Mr. Hawke while he handed up Miss Yearsley. Theresia had other ideas. Instead of taking the forward-facing seat, she sat directly beside Mr. Hawke and gave him a friendly smile. Too friendly, if you asked Rolland. Mr. Hawke didn’t even have the manners to insist she take her proper seat. Was this Theresia’s way of seeking retribution after Rolland’s careless remark about courtship? It was her fault—her presence—that had caused the word to slip from his mouth. He’d meant for her to enjoy herself, if possible, but it had come out all wrong. It was a good thing she’d misinterpreted him and thought he’d meant she should flirt with other guests besides him, but it might kill him if she actually attempted it.
He frowned deeply and climbed inside, taking his own seat beside Miss Yearsley. From there, all his plans went south. Miss Yearsley commanded his full attention, and Theresia was left to fend for herself with Mr. Hawke. The carriage bounced, and Mr. Hawke’s knee bumped Theresia’s. Rolland almost leaped across the carriage to push the man back.
What had gotten into him? He was no love-sodden fop. He had a traitor to catch. Ever since he had indulged in their whispered conversation in the library, he couldn’t get Theresia’s sweet smell out of his head—lilies or jasmine or something similar. He’d never been good at identifying any scent but the sea. Whatever it was, it was wonderful, and even the memory of it impaired his judgment.
“Tell me about the sea, Captain.” Miss Yearsley spread her arm out over the edge of the open carriage, relaxing back against it and giving him a coquettish look. “I’ve never been fond of traveling to the Continent, for England has all the comforts Ineed, but I can see how you’d like the thrill of racing through a squall or the satisfaction of killing off the enemy.”
He bit his tongue, glancing at the heads of the ryegrass on the side of the road waving at him to hold his peace. A response needed to be given, but not at the sake of causing offense. “I cannot say I found any satisfaction in killing anyone, Miss Yearsley. My time at sea was not for entertainment but to protect my country and my family.”
Miss Yearsley laughed. “Are you always so serious? Come now, Captain. The war is over, and you can spend the rest of your life at leisure. I, for one, cannot abide any talk of it.”
Theresia interjected. “Forgive me for interrupting, Miss Yearsley. The proximity made it impossible not to overhear. But did you not bring up the war yourself?”
Miss Yearsley laughed again. “I did, didn’t I? Don’t mind me. I have one goal in life, and that is to be as merry as I can.”
Rolland met Theresia’s gaze, amused by her pointed brow. Where Miss Yearsley was pretty enough with a pert nose and too many curls, Theresia was a beauty in a class of her own. Her natural elegance, astute perception, and quiet maturity did her a great favor. Yes, she was also impulsive, privately outspoken, tested his patience, and made him question things he’d never questioned, but in comparison to Miss Yearsley, it was obvious who his choice would be.
He stilled.Ifhe were making a choice, which he was not.
No, it was Miss Shields for him, and he would do well to remember it.
“I like your spirit,” Mr. Hawke said to Miss Yearsley. “A life of leisure or no life at all.” He raised an imaginary glass to her.
Miss Yearsley was unimpressed by Mr. Hawke for one reason or another, and her smile drooped. “Something like that, yes.”
When the stately storefronts lined together with a cobblestone road greeted them out the side of their carriage, Rolland wasall too happy to descend. He’d never been good at small talk, let alone had much endurance for personalities like the one Miss Yearsley possessed. This house party might be the longest month of his life.
Fortunately for him, after he handed Miss Yearsley out, she hurried toward Lewis, whose carriage had arrived only moments before theirs. He put his hand up to assist Theresia next and tucked her hand possessively around his arm. The least he could do was spare her from having to endure Mr. Hawke’s mindless conversation for the entirety of their shopping trip. He guided her a few feet back from the others under the shade of an oak tree while the occupants of Marcus’s carriage descended from their carriage.
