Page 65 of Irresistible
Dougal stepped toward her. “I wanted to report back to you regarding the conversation we had the other night.”
Her brown eyes widened briefly, and her brows shot up. “Oh! Did you break the code in the letter I gave you?”
“We did.” Dougal glanced toward Jess. “Rather, Mrs. Smythe did. We also found others. They are love letters between the Chesmores.”
Mrs. Farr gaped at them. “Why would they code them?”
Dougal shrugged. “They enjoy literature, and they like to have fun together. It seems most likely this was merely an amusement they devised.”
“That’s so…odd.” Mrs. Farr blinked. “But then nearly everything they do is odd.”
Dougal didn’t disagree, but he also found their activities somehow charming. “We can’t find any evidence to indicate they are spies. Mr. Chesmore is a trifle French-obsessed, but overall, their behavior is best categorized as eccentric rather than suspicious. I do see how you might think it was the latter, however, and the Foreign Office appreciates you drawing our attention to the matter. You can never be too careful.”
“I feel rather foolish for writing now.”
Jess gave her a sympathetic smile. “You mustn’t. I should think finding a coded letter would be reason enough to notify someone. You’ve done very well.”
Mrs. Farr exhaled. “Thank you for saying so.”
“Is there anything else you might have forgotten?” Dougal asked. “We want to be sure we’ve been thorough in our investigation.”
After thinking a moment, Mrs. Farr shook her head. “I don’t believe so. The letter was the most concerning thing. Honestly, I’m ashamed to admit I was uncomfortable working for them. I let my imagination run amok and should have realized there was nothing untoward happening.”
“What made you uncomfortable?” Jess asked gently, noting she spoke in the past tense and hoping that was no longer the case.
“Their eccentric behavior. They’re kind enough—truly. I just…sometimes it’s awkward to be around them, but now I’m wondering if it’s because I was all but certain they were spies. I’d considered leaving, but I think I’ll stay.”
“Well, you must do what’s best for you, but I do think the Chesmores are not only safe employers, but kind ones too,” Jess said with an encouraging smile. Dougal had never appreciated having a partner more. She comforted the housekeeper in a way he never could.
Dougal was about to tell her not to follow her employers onto the beach at night, but Gil sauntered into the dining room.
“Morning, Smythes!” Gil called. “I thought I heard voices in here. Come and join me and Mary in the drawing room.” He looked to Mrs. Farr. “Coffee, if you please.”
“Certainly, Mr. Chesmore.” Mrs. Farr departed without sparing so much as a glance for Dougal or Jess.
“Lead the way,” Dougal said to their host, anticipating the coming conversation. There was something diverting about informing someone who wasn’t a spy that they’d been suspected of being one. Reactions varied from horrified to amused to angry. He wasn’t quite sure how the Chesmores would respond, or whether they would both share the same sentiment.
Dougal offered his arm to Jess. Their eyes met, and he saw the same hunger he felt reflected in her. How on earth were they going to keep their hands off each other?
They must. He’d already overstepped and behaved very poorly. He needed to tell her so. If their expectations were not the same, they needed to set that straight.
Gil preceded them into the drawing room, where Mary was seated on their favorite settee. She looked tired, or at least not quite her usual buoyant self. Still, she smiled brightly upon seeing them.
Mary’s smile turned into a concerned frown as she regarded Jess. “Jessamine, please tell me you’re feeling better this morning. I was so disappointed that you retired early. We played cards quite late. You would have had such a wonderful time.”
Jess perched on the smaller settee, which had become “theirs” during their visit, and Dougal sat close beside her. “I am much better, thank you. Dougal regaled me with tales of the party over breakfast. I am so glad he had a wonderful time.” She clasped his hand and brought it to her lap.
Damn, he was going to miss this. What had started as a performance had become second nature. And he didn’t mind at all. It was rather shocking for a man who hadn’t spent even a moment contemplating marriage or domesticity.
Yet now he must.
“We kept him entertained,” Gil said with a laugh as he put his arm around Mary’s shoulders.
“I think you must return for next month’s party,” Mary said with a firmness that indicated she felt strongly. “Or stay until then!” She glanced at Gil, who nodded enthusiastically.
“That will give us time to train Jessamine into a proper shooter. Isn’t that right, Dougal?”
Dougal squeezed Jess’s hand. “I don’t know that Jessamine wants to shoot again. Let’s not press the issue, if you don’t mind. On that note, I’ve decided I’m not interested in the French pistol.”
