“No,” he spat self-deprecatingly, his stomach roiling. “You had me fooled this entire journey, and I blindly went along.” Anger curled along his nerves, swiftly replacing his self-reproach. “You make a habit of lying as though it comes as naturally to you as breathing air,my lady.”
* * *
Sadnessand righteous pain battled for control of Juliana’s emotions. She wanted to fight Leo, to tell him that she’d genuinely not recognized Miles and had every intention of being honest with him. But her fight was gone. Weariness settled in her bones. She longed for sleep. She longed to finally begin her new position in London and put this entire journey behind her.
With a sigh, she retrieved the spent pistol and sat carefully at the table with the fresh shot and gunpowder, prepared to reload the weapon.
“Why did you accompany me after you learned my true name? You evidently have no regard for me or my fraudulent ways; I see no reason for you to be here.”
Leo blinked, frowning. “I have already told you why.”
Again with his sense ofduty, his wish to see her safely into her brother’s care. She resisted the urge to scoff. It had never been abouther, or any desire to spend time in her company. Indeed, it was foolhardy to imagine that he could come to develop atendrefor her.
Her movements became stiff as she worked. “Perhaps it would be best for you to return home to Miss Notley. I am sure that Mr. Percy is ready to resume his regular duties, and you must be eager to be away.” She kept her gaze carefully focused on her task. “I absolve you of your duties and relieve you of any notion of heroism.”
There was an unyielding silence for several beats of her heart, the thudding an erratic rhythm as she waited for him to leave. Surely he would; his distaste of her character was clear.
“Despite my past,” he began judiciously, “I am a man of my word. I will not leave you to journey alone.”
Lips trembling and throat tight with sadness, Juliana couldn’t utter a response, so she simply dipped her head in a nod.
Thump-thump.
Her head came up as Leo spun toward the bedchamber door. It burst open to reveal the innkeeper and several large stable hands.
“You two need to leave,” the innkeeper announced, glancing warily between them. “We’ve ’ad complaints, and there’ll be no guns firin’ on these premises.”
“Of course, sir.” Leo stepped forward and the man flinched. “We will gather our things and be on our way. Please see our mounts saddled.”
The innkeeper twisted his lips and narrowed his eyes, but nodded before departing.
* * *
London
With a discreet glanceover her shoulder, Maria Roberts closed the door of her unmarked—and entirely unremarkable—personal hack and knocked a knuckle against its side before hurrying down the muddy path of St. James’ Park toward her home. Her movements were routine but entirely condemnable. But only her two best friends knew of her secret, and rather than reproaching her for it, they rather appreciated her clandestine life.
Unfortunately, her secrets would not aid in finding Juliana.
She hurried her steps along the thoroughfare and turned onto her street, feeling a sense of home wash over her as she spotted the familiar front steps.
Days ago, Maria had put out an ad in the fashion magazines and gossip rags, requesting information about a woman matching Juliana’s description. Unfortunately, her plan had gone awry.
A carriage rolled by, the horses clopping on the cobblestone. The wind was biting, and she eagerly darted up the front steps of her home and entered the opened door.
“My goodness,” Maria breathed, her lips gone slightly numb with cold. “I am pleased to be indoors.”
Her familial butler bowed shallowly and accepted her outerwear, a swift frown creasing his brow as he took in the state of her walking shoes and petticoats. “A guest awaits you in the parlour, miss, and this arrived while you were out.”
Maria gasped, and accepted the note, tearing it open. Whoever awaited her could be patient another minute if this was what she hoped.
The direction was written in an unsteady and unfamiliar hand. Anticipation spiked. She scanned the first paragraph, and hope filled her.Juliana.
“Thank you.” She smiled at the butler and turned toward the stairs. She could not very well entertain callers dressed as she was.
The aging man cleared his throat behind her. “I beg your pardon, miss, but your guest was quite insistent that you see him directly upon your return.”
Juliana nodded and redirected to the parlour. The scent of sandalwood touched her senses before she’d reached the door, and she inwardly groaned. She knew what he’d come to say, and she wished that she could avoid it. Instead, she drew her shoulders back, stiffened her spine, and entered with confidence.
