He couldn’t restrain his grin despite how serious the subject was. Ellen was always impatient for information. It was part of the reason why he knew he would have to speak to her after he saw that she had noticed him in the Park. He wished he could just tell her a half truth and keep her out of this business, but he was sure she would be able to sense any prevarication on his part.
“When you saw me speaking with Gilbert Northcott, it had nothing to do with you,” he began, surprised when her watchful gaze barely changed expression. He supposed she hadn’t truly believed that he was that underhanded to attempt to sabotage a potential relationship for her. He carried on his explanation.
“I have been working for the Home Office for just over four years now.”
This statement finally caused a change in the woman’s expression as her brows drew together and her chin dropped down in surprise. But she still didn’t say anything. She continued watching him carefully, as though not wanting to interrupt and trying to understand what he was saying to her.
“My first big mission or investigation was the last time I saw you. Or rather when I left Hanley Hall, I went straight into it.”
Her face softened at this, but she still said nothing, so Hugh continued.
“Some would consider it underhanded what I do. But I have become convinced that knowledge is power for our country. And that power and knowledge can prevent wars and therefore save countless lives. So I don’t care what anyone thinks. I know I have been doing my duty.”
Now her head tilted and a frown formed on her brow. “Why would anyone think less of you for seeking knowledge?”
“I would be considered a spy,” he stated baldly, but her expression didn’t change. In fact, she shrugged.
“I suppose it all depends on the perspective with which you look at the situation,” she finally said with a grin. “Whoever you are spying upon might not appreciate it, but if, as you say, war can be averted, everyone should seek this outcome, I would think. But isn’t it dreadfully dangerous, Hugh?”
Hugh’s heart felt as though it had rolled over in his chest. He hadn’t truly felt anyone had cared about the outcome to his own person in years. And to have this slip of a girl, the same one he had actually wronged so long ago, express this first concern made him wish he wasn’t too much of a gentleman to pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless once more.
Heat swept through him. Was this why he had come to speak to her? Because he hoped to regain his place in her life? He had risked his mission as well as her safety just because he allowed his feelings to get involved? What a ridiculous notion. He would have to think about this at another time. Now was certainly not the time nor the place. He had to finish this matter first.
Being the experienced agent that he was, he managed to get his mind straightened out in the blink of an eye. Perhaps a long blink, but he managed it. He would castigate himself for the fool he was later.
Finally he mustered a shrug.
“Yes, there has been some danger involved. But that matters little now. Unfortunately, my responsibilities to Richmond now require that I leave the service. So the worst danger I shall be facing in the future is whether or not I ought to fence in the bull separately or together with the herd.”
This produced the chuckle he had hoped for from the watchful woman before him.
“But why did you make me swear, Hugh? What are you not telling me? And what prompted you to tell me this little bit now?”
“Ah yes,” Hugh said with a grin, appreciating the young woman’s quick mind. “I saw you in the Park. It was evident you were trying to hide your watchfulness, but I know that you saw me there.”
His eyebrows rose as colour stained her cheeks.
“I did see you, and I didn’t want the lady I was with to notice. I cannot even tell you why; it felt instinctive. But are you about to tell me that there was a reason why I didn’t want Lady Constance to notice you? A reason that makes more sense than just a feeling I had?”
Hugh grinned, a sense of well-being washing over him for the first time in years, perhaps since the last time he’d seen her. He didn’t want to feel that way about her, as he wasn’t in a position to be able to do anything about that at the moment. But he would accept and enjoy the sense of well-being for as long as it might last. He knew enough about life to realize that such a sensation ought to be cherished as long as it was available.
“Yes, I am trying to finalize my last assignment for the Home Office. I feel duty bound to ensure it is properly cared for. I cannot fulfill it myself, of course, now that I have become Richmond.”
“I’m sorry, Hugh.” Her softly uttered words of comfort went straight to his midsection. Fluttering began around his heart, and his stomach turned over in an almost pleasant way. He shoved those feelings away. A sense of well-being was welcome. Anything warmer was not.
He cleared his throat and carried on. “Yes, well, of course, inheriting was a surprise, and I now have to change everything. But I cannot allow my last assignment to go unfulfilled. I also cannot allow you to involve yourself in it.”
Ellen frowned. “I hadn’t realized I had done so,” she said in a slightly frosty tone.
“You were watching us so attentively, Ellen. Do recall that I’ve known you since you were still wearing your hair down and your skirts weren’t so long.”
“You might have known me as a child, Hugh, but you chose to cut off all association for the past four years. I am no longer that little girl who could not contain her curiosity.” She made as though to rise to her feet but then quelled the impulse. Hugh smiled. She had always loved to pace when she was upset or thinking through a matter. “I was curious. That was all. I wasn’t about to interfere with any matters of national importance, I can assure you. I am in Town to participate in the Marriage Mart. It is as simple and as complicated as that. There was nothing for you to be concerned about, I can assure you quite absolutely.”
There was a brief moment of silence between them that felt quite fraught, but then Ellen lightened it with a smile.
“Now, having said that, I can no longer stick with that statement. You have come here and explained how serious and important your assignment is. Now I do want to be involved. I hadn’t intended to involve myself, but you have now made it impossible for me to ignore what has taken place.”
Hugh stared at her and then groaned. He could never admit his own foolishness to the lovely young woman before him. He still needed to gain her forgiveness. How likely was she to offer it if she knew he was a simpleton? “For a man experienced in subterfuge, I didn’t do this very well, did I?”
