“What else could you possibly be worrying about after what I told you?”
Lucy finally found a genuine smile and a laugh. “I can understand your surprise. I am beginning to think I might have lost my mind.”
“Is it your search for a husband that has you concerned? I apologize for that too. We were supposed to help each other with our lists and were interrupted by my brother.”
Lucy was about to deny that too, but there was no point. They didn’t have hours on end to discuss everything in their minds at this moment. She lifted the hand that was firmly on his shoulder in a slight gesture of dismissal.
“Never mind all that, it can keep, I’m sure. Surely you know I’m near to perishing from needing to know what you and Gilbert discussed and what you heard in the park.”
“Of course,” Roderick agreed immediately with a smile. “But I promise we’ll come back to the other.”
“Later,” Lucy insisted with firm impatience.
“Apparently the French think to rid us of Mr. Percival.”
“Mr. Percival,” Lucy repeated blankly with a frown. “Do you mean our prime minister? What on earth could they have against him?”
“Well, he quite opposes their views on nearly everything, so it isn’t quite conducive to maintaining the tenuous peace.”
Lucy tried not to allow her mouth to hang open with her surprise. “And we were eavesdropping on someone involved?” she nearly whispered the words.
“So it would seem.” Roderick nodded before his face tightened. “They were talking about where and when and who was involved. The part that has me furious, though, is that Gilbert knew that was the direction things were taking and merely needed confirmation. But he knew it was likely to be dangerous characters we’d be listening to, and yet he still sent us there. I’m not certain I’ll ever be able to forgive him.”
Despite her discomfort, Roderick’s words made her laugh. “You know, you Northcotts are thicker than thieves. You could never stay angry with any of your brothers. Even when you have cause. But, in this case, while I can understand and even enter into your feelings of disquiet over his involving us, you know he said he felt he had no choice. And surely the prime minister’s life is sufficiently valuable that we should be willing to help keep it safe.”
Lucy sighed and glanced around the ballroom.
“But I can’t see my brother appreciating the finer details where I’m concerned. So we can’t allow him to find out. He’ll send me back to the country, and I can’t have another interrupted Season. Especially without a death to explain my absence. There would surely be talk that there was something amiss with me, and my chances would be ruined.”
She couldn’t quite interpret the expression on Roderick’s face but she was determined in her course. She would do what she could to help, now that she was involved, but they had to make sure her family didn’t find out about it or she would surely be bundled back to the country before she could even yelp a protest.
Finally Roderick sighed and nodded. “I can see your point, but I don’t want you any further involved in this, Lucy. It’s far too dangerous now, and if you don’t want Lord Simmons to know about it, then how will you be protected?”
“If you think I really need protection, can’t you do it? Or Gilbert? It wouldn’t be unusual for me to require a footman to escort me, as you said only yesterday. And really, how could anyone consider I’m involved in anything? I’m certain there is no danger directed at me.”
“There will be if you remain involved. So I don’t think you ought to be.”
Lucy knew he was trying to sound reasonable, but Roderick’s tone sounded condescending to her ears. There was a possibility she was being oversensitive, but she couldn’t help her reaction.
“Roderick Northcott, you aren’t about to tell me what I can or can’t do, are you? What makes you think you could possibly have such a right?”
She didn’t mean to sound harsh and she certainly didn’t intend to sever their association, but fear and frustration made her tone snappy. She could sense a slight withdrawal from him. Lucy had to firm her chin not to pursue the topic. The waltz was still playing. They continued to circle the room in each other’s arms. It probably looked romantic or scandalous. Lucy couldn’t be certain. But whatever an onlooker might think, it certainly wasn’t either of those.
Somehow they had managed to enclose each other in ice. Lucy wasn’t sure how it had happened. They were friends. They were also involved in a rather scary situation. They ought to be cooperating not catfighting. She had brothers. She ought to know how to speak to a gentleman in such a way as to not cause him to freeze her out. Lucy tried to think back over what she had said that had caused the rift.
She sighed and then she tightened her grip on Roderick’s hand.
“I’m sorry, Roddy. Don’t be mad at me. I couldn’t bear it.”
It was true. But it was also, apparently, the right thing to say. Roderick’s arms lost their stiffness and he pulled her imperceptibly, almost scandalously, closer. A thrill shivered through her that was not in keeping with the seriousness of the moment.
“There’s absolutely nothing for you to be apologizing for, Lucy. I’m being unsufferable. You were right to remind me that I have no authority over you. But I do beg of you to take care. You have no experience with these sorts of things and are far too trusting to know how to keep yourself safe in the face of criminal activity. I cannot be completely certain, but I thought I saw one of them watching us in the Park today. You must have a care. You haven’t any more experience than a newborn in such matters.”
Lucy grinned and her smile widened further when she saw a blush touch Roderick’s cheeks.
“And you have so much experience in these matters?” she demanded with a touch of incredulous sarcasm sounding in her voice.
“My brother, who does have said experience, knows about my involvement,” he pointed out a little sanctimoniously. “Also, though, as a man, I’m in a slightly better position to protect myself than you would be.”
