Page 82 of Irresistible
They made their way back to the Wexfords, and a short while later, Jess parted from them near Cumberland Gate, saying she could walk the rest of the way by herself. She wanted a few moments of solitude.
As she passed through the gate, she heard her name. Turning to the left, she saw a familiar face smiling at her from farther down the pavement.
Mr. Torrance waved. “Good afternoon, Miss Goodfellow!”
Jess was surprised to see him, but she supposed she shouldn’t have been. She’d been wondering when—or if—the Foreign Office would make contact with her, particularly since she hadn’t delivered a report about Dougal despite the expectation that she would.
She walked slowly to where he stood. “Good afternoon, Mr. Torrance. I began to think I wouldn’t hear from the Foreign Office.”
“You put that together, then,” he said with a smile.
“It wasn’t difficult.”
“Definitely not for someone of your intellect. Why would you think you wouldn’t hear from us? It hasn’t even been a week since you returned from Dorset. You’ll find that time is relative, especially in the Foreign Office. You may hear from us quite often, or it may be months until you are called upon to serve.”
“I see.” She wasn’t sure she liked that sort of uncertainty. She made a mental note to ask Dougal when she saw him next. Hopefully, shewouldsee him.
“I take it this means you are ready to be of assistance in the future?”
“I don’t know.” She’d liked the financial benefit of working for the Foreign Office, but if the work wasn’t reliable, how could she depend on it to support her? It seemed she would need to secure her unspent dowry after all.
His expression drooped. “Did you not enjoy your mission?”
“I’m just not certain I’m right for that sort of work. I found it…stressful.”
“Ah. I can see we asked too much when we tasked you with investigating your partner.”
Jess riveted her gaze to him. “You knew about that?” Clearly, he did. “I still can’t understand why you would think thatI—a novice in this work—could possibly investigate anyone without assistance, especially someone as experienced as my partner.”
“It was all for naught since it seems he is as loyal as ever.”
“How would you know that? I didn’t include anything in my report because I wasn’t sure if I should. Honestly, one of the primary reasons I’m not interested in this work is because it’s bloody confusing.”
Torrance chuckled. “That’s fair. We thought you were the right person to note anything odd about MacNair because youwereinexperienced and acting as his partner. He’s never had to deal with that before, and if there was ever a time for his guard to be shaky, we supposed that would be it.”
“Well, he is a consummate professional and an asset to the Foreign Office. He would never act against the Crown.” She spoke with absolute confidence.
“I believe so too,” he said. “I have a way you can prove that. If you wouldn’t mind solving another cipher?” He smiled hopefully.
“I do enjoy deciphering, and I’d do anything to ensure Dougal is held blameless.”
“Brilliant.” Torrance slipped a piece of folded parchment from his coat and handed it to her. “Tuck that into your pocket, if you wouldn’t mind.” He glanced toward Oxford Street.
Was someone watching them, or was he merely being cautious? She slid the paper into the pocket of her gown as her body thrummed with anticipation. She’d hated having to investigate Dougal and relished the chance to prove he was loyal. “What should I do when I break it? Besides burn the parchment, I mean.”
“In this case, you must keep the document as it is. I’ll need to have it along with your deciphering. Put a candle in your window when you’ve finished.”
“Is someone watching our house?” A bead of unease worked its way down her suddenly chilled spine.
“Don’t concern yourself. It’s all quite safe and above reproach. Your country needs your expertise, my dear. Don’t let us down!” He turned abruptly and walked swiftly away from her.
Jess stared after him. She wanted to yell for him to stop, to explain how this cipher would prove Dougal’s loyalty. But then she supposed she’d find out when she deciphered it.
She could hardly wait to get started—and hoped it would go quickly.
Dougal sat brooding in the corner of the library at the Phoenix Club. Sunday nights were the quietest of the week, and he typically enjoyed the silence. However, his thoughts were rather loud this evening. Between his father’s letter asking when he would return to Scotland and his impending departure from the Foreign Office, as well as the slightly unfinished business of the missions that had gone badly, he felt overwhelmed.
And that didn’t take into account his obsession with Jess. Perhaps obsession was too strong a word. He closed his eyes and saw her—the stirring blue of her eyes, the sleek column of her neck, the lush curve of her breast.
