Page 21 of With Good Grace
‘What shall we do about it?’
‘You need to come to Grosvenor Square until we get to the bottom of things.’
‘You don’t want to be seen with me, yet you want me to live in your house?’ She shook her head. ‘That makes no sense. I know your servants are discreet but word is still bound to get out.’
Jake stood and ran a hand through his hair, a sure sign that he was discomposed. His reaction frightened Olivia more than the mysterious appearance of the toy ship and the implication that her movements were being observed. Jake was always a tower of calm reasoning in crisis situations, which was what she required him to be now.
‘It would be for the best, Olivia. Please don’t fight me on this.’
He turned and sent her a supplicating smile; the type of smile that found its way into her soul and that almost always made her agree to whatever he asked of her. In spite of her concerns for Tom, a small part of her brain reminded her that if she were to stay with Jake, there would be no impediments to the resumption of their intimacies. He chuckled as he watched her face, probably gauging precisely when that notion occurred to her; the presumptuous devil! She had a good mind to stick to her guns and insist upon remaining in her own dwelling, just to remind him that she was no shrinking violet. But thoughts of Tom being in danger, no matter how indirectly, decided her.
‘Very well,’ she said. ‘But we cannot move until tomorrow.’
‘I will leave Parker here when he returns to collect me later.’
Olivia frowned. ‘Is that necessary?’
‘It would reassure me.’
It would reassure Olivia too, but she was not about to make that admission. ‘What shall we do to try and discover who sent the ship?’
‘I shall add Pollock’s to my list of establishments to visit in the morning,’ he replied. ‘Now come, drink a glass of sherry,’ he said, moving to the sideboard and pouring it for her himself. ‘You look as though you are in need of it.’
Chapter Six
‘Stay alert.’ Jake clenched his jaw, speaking to Parker in an undertone he prepared to leave Cheyne Walk. ‘I have no idea who we are up against or what they are searching for. Whatever it is must be worth a great deal to someone—’
‘Or could destroy them if it fell into the wrong hands?’
‘Quite, and it’s connected to Mrs Grantley’s late husband in some way.’ Jake’s mind whirled with unpalatable thoughts. ‘This establishment is the next logical place for them to look for it and they have already shown that they won’t permit anyone to stand in their way.’
‘Either Finch or I will be awake the entire night. No one will get past us.’
Jake slapped Parker’s solid shoulder. ‘I depend upon it.’
Olivia drifted into the hallway and greeted Parker. ‘His lordship is being over-protective again, Parker. I am sorry if that causes you inconvenience.’
Parker’s lips twitched. ‘Best let him have his way, ma’am. Life is much easier then, I find.’
‘Who’s life?’ Olivia demanded to know.
‘Oblige me by doing as I ask, for once,’ Jake replied.
Olivia’s accusatory scowl bounced harmlessly off Jake’s amused expression. He was delighted that she had recovered her fighting spirit since the visit to her relations, but was still sick with worry about her welfare and wished he could stay himself to watch over her. He trusted Parker with his life, had done so on more than one occasion, but was unsure if he trusted anyone else with Olivia’s.
‘I must leave you,’ he said, taking her hand kissing the back of it.
‘I would like to come with you in the morning when you make your enquiries,’ Olivia said. ‘I might notice something that you do not.’
‘Parker will bring you to Grosvenor Square as soon as you are ready to leave. I shall not venture anywhere until you and Tom are safely installed; then we shall decide.’
‘There is nothing to decide.’ The light of battle glinted in her turquoise eyes. ‘You will not keep me out of this on some misguided pretext of chivalry.’ Jake elevated a brow, unaccustomed to having his chivalry brought into question. ‘I know Hubert and his friends a great deal better than you do. You need my help and we both know it.’
Jake sighed. ‘I hope you are not going to be difficult.’
‘Me?’ Olivia glanced at Parker and shared a smile with him. ‘When did I ever give the slightest trouble?’
Jake shook his head, unsure if he would come out victorious if he chose to continue with this battle of wills. ‘We shall be at leisure to discuss your disobedience in Grosvenor Square tomorrow,’ he said, lowering his voice so that Parker, who had diplomatically stepped away from them, could not overhear.
