It was a good start. But not enough.
After the men left—Dr. Fox gesturing to the chess set and promising to meet him later for a game—Frederick gathered up his papers. At the back, Lady Fitzhoward slept on, undisturbed.
Finally, a soft snore of her own making roused her awake. She sniffed and looked around.
Thomas walked over and offered her a hand in rising. Frederick thought the woman might rebuff him, but she took his hand and allowed him to help her to her feet. “Thank you, young man.”
Thomas grinned. “Sorry my brother put you to sleep. He seems to have that effect on people. Women especially.”
Frederick shook his head, lips pursed. “Very funny.”
She glanced with mild surprise from her empty plate to the empty chairs. “Sweets, a warm room, and a dull talk does it to me every time. Capacity and tonnage, rises and locks...” She yawned for effect. “If some apothecary could bottle the combination, he’d make a fortune selling it as a sleeping draught.”
Thomas chuckled. “Now,thatI would invest in.”
“If your tailor did not pocket your every farthing.” Frederick could not resist adding a jab of his own.
The woman eyed him and asked, “Did you raise the needed capital?”
“Not by a long chalk,” Thomas replied for him. “We’re done for.”
Frederick sent him a chastising look. “Not as bad as all that.A few have asked for time to consider the matter further before giving an answer.”
“Which means they will turn us down eventually,” Thomas said, “but they’d rather not do it in person.”
Frederick sighed. “Probably right.”
Lady Fitzhoward looked from one brother to the other and observed, “You two have an ... interesting ... relationship. Sparring and roasting each other one minute, then supporting each other the next.”
Was that disapproval or admiration in her expression? Difficult to tell.
“Can’t argue there.” Thomas slung an arm around Frederick’s shoulder. “But down deep,very deep, we really do like each other. At least, I like Freddy. Can’t speak for him.”
Frederick said acidly, “Yet you try to at every turn.”
“True,” Thomas allowed. “I hope you don’t think us barbarians, my lady.”
She studied them for another long moment, something unfathomable glistening in her eyes. “Not at all. It is how siblings ought to be, I think. At least brothers.”
“Have you brothers, my lady?”
She stared off into her thoughts, then seemed to recall herself to the present. With a raised chin and tart voice, she said, “Heavens, no. And after seeing you two tease and provoke one another, I am glad I have not!”
Thomas chuckled again, but Frederick watched the woman with curiosity. He guessed that beneath her curt reply and haughty expression lay buried deep,very deep, quite an opposite emotion.
Realizing it would be difficult to speak privately with Mr. Oliver when he came down only for dinner, Rebecca decided to go to his room and try to speak to him there.
So after luncheon she slipped the manuscript into a large envelope and walked around the hotel’s upper story toward room three. Palms damp and pulse pounding, Rebecca wondered if she looked as self-conscious as she felt.
Turning the corner, she saw the same man sitting on a chair beside the door, sunshine from a nearby window casting his face in half light, half shadow. Had the publisher truly hired a guard to protect the popular author?
The man raised his head at her approach, and she noticed razor stubble darkened his jaw although it was still early afternoon.
When she hesitated near the top of the main stairs, he waved a hand. “Move along, miss. Nothing to see here. Tour’s over.”
“Ah yes. I saw you here then.” Rebecca adopted a friendly, casual manner. “You must be bored sitting out here all hours. Is there really so much danger in Swanford?”
“More’n you know, miss.”
