Page 64 of Impossible
“Tonight, perhaps, yes. But I feel confident she’d like to speak with you too. Will you allow me to arrange a meeting?”
“You’d do that?” He nearly smiled. “Of course you would. Is ‘meddlesome’ your middle name?”
“No, actually it’s Constance. That was my mother’s name.”
“That’s an even better fit—you never waver. In anything.”
Ada laughed. “I want to be flattered, but coming from you, I’m not sure that’s the way you mean it.”
“It is a compliment. But only for you.”
A ridiculous flutter passed from her heart to the pit of her stomach. This emotion swirling inside her—thisbesottedness—was most persistent. “Thank you. Once I set up your meeting with Prudence, where shall I send notice?”
He blinked at her.
“Your lodgings here in London,” she prodded.
“Oh, yes. I’m staying here, actually.”
“At the Phoenix Club?” Her voice climbed on the last word, and she hoped he didn’t notice.
“Lucien invited me since I was staying at a hotel.”
Dear sweet temptation! That meant he’d be on the second floor of the club on the men’s side—a short walk through a hidden doorway from her own apartment. Ada wasn’t going to tell him that. She knew what would happen next. Or at least later, after the assembly.
Assuming he still wanted her the way she wanted him. Perhaps he didn’t. There was always the chance that their one night together had been plenty for him. Yes, that would be for the best.
Still, Ada wasn’t taking that chance. Knowing he was so close was bad enough.Tellinghim would be even worse.
Ada glanced toward the club. “I suppose I should go back inside.”
“Does your job require it?”
Did that mean he wanted her to stay? “Not really.”
“It’s good to see you.”
Ada’s entire body flushed with heat along with that incessant emotion. “I’m glad to see you too. How did things go with Mrs. Tallent?”
He frowned. “Not well. I forgot about the meeting. You could have done more to prepare me than leave an impersonal note on my desk. Neither of us knew what we were supposed to discuss.”
“Oh dear, that is entirely my fault. I’m afraid I was rushed. I slept later than I should have for some reason.” Her cheeks flushed, and she avoided his gaze. “In hindsight, I think I should have delayed my departure.”
“Mrs. Tallent and Mrs. Bundle would have appreciated that. I’m afraid I wasn’t my best self.” He blew out a breath. “I was my old self.”
That he thought of himself in terms of old and, hopefully, new made her want to turn circles of joy. “I hope they weren’t too upset. This is a transition for everyone.”
“They’re fine. I think. Og is the one who got worked up. I wanted to leave yesterday, but the new grooms started, and Og was adamant that we couldn’t leave his precious stable with brand-new retainers.”
Ada laughed at the edge of sarcasm in Max’s speech. “Was he horribly put out?”
“You should have seen him stamping about and growling. I believe he was also hissing.”
“Like a snake?” Ada giggled.
“That’s what Archie said—he was there to help.”
“Poor Og.” She realized that Og must have driven him to town. “Where is Og now? Should I fear for London?”
