For the moment, at least.
If Sebastian had been a better man, he might feel guilty trying to cheat an innocent. But he was not a better man. There was barely any good in him at all. So he poured a bit of milk into his tea and began to speak.
The next afternoon, Cassie arrived at the Tower of London just at one, excited for the adventure ahead. Paging through the guidebook in her hand, she smiled at Bessie. ‘I have always heard of the place but never thought I would be able to visit. When I was a girl in the country, I would read myself to sleep on the descriptions of the animals.’
‘I have been many a time,’ the maid said, smiling. ‘It is quite grand. Even better when you can see it with a beau.’
‘Well, yes. I suppose.’ Would it be wrong to admit that she was much more excited to see a live tiger than she was to see Tobias Blake? There was nothing really wrong with him. But neither was there anything very right.
That was being unfair. He had many good qualities. He was honourable. Unlike Mr Rutland he was never going to be the topic of conversation at a party.
No one would talk about him at all. Ever. Even she was struggling to find something to say.
Unless it was to announce that he wasn’t punctual. He had said he would meet her at one, but there was no sign of him outside. In case he was waiting inside, they walked through thecourtyard and up the stairs towards the place where the animals were kept.
But when she reached the arch painted with a lion, a man’s hand reached past her and rang the bell to summon the keeper.
She turned with a smile, expecting Mr Blake. She was surprised to see the Duke of Westbridge smiling back at her. ‘Miss Fisk,’ he said, offering a bow. ‘How delightful to see you again.’
‘What are you doing here?’ she said trying not to gasp. ‘How did you find me?’
‘Your little friend the cleric mentioned that he would be meeting you today,’ he said. ‘I thought I might join you.’
‘You spoke to him?’ she said, her eyes narrowing.
‘Just yesterday. We had a lovely conversation. Most informative.’
‘What about?’ she said, with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
‘His plans for the future,’ he said, looking up towards the ceiling as if he could see heaven and all its angels were dancing on the roof.
‘What did you do to him?’ she said, hands on hips and stepping forward to block his way. It was quite all right that he’d found a way to get rid of Andrew Rutland. But Mr Blake had done nothing wrong.
Not yet, at least.
‘Do? To him?’ He pointed to himself and looked around. ‘You think I would interfere with the man’s goals?’
‘If it suited you? Or if he’d crossed you in some way?’ Which he certainly would have, if Sebastian was intent on courting her. ‘In fact,’ she said with a look of even deeper suspicion, ‘I think you would torture the poor man, just because it amused you to do so.’
His eyes widened, and he laid a hand on his heart as if ready to swear. ‘You seriously think so little of me?’
‘In a word? Yes. Now, where is he?’
He checked his watch. ‘Several miles out to sea by now, I should think. The ship left at nine this morning.’
She stared at him in horror. ‘Get him back. Return him here, immediately, or I shall…’ What should she do? She had no idea. A thought occurred to her. ‘I shall talk to someone in the navy and tell them they have press-ganged an innocent citizen.’
He laughed long and hard, reaching into his pocket for a handkerchief to wipe his streaming eyes. ‘You think I have waylaid him? Sent him to the Americas, perhaps? Oh, my dear, you have a lurid imagination. Mr Blake is in the finest cabin available and on his way to the Holy Lands on a pilgrimage of faith.’
‘He is what?’
‘He expressed a desire to see Jerusalem before he died. I told him that life was short and there was no time like the present. Then I supplied him with the necessary funds and put him on a boat and with a promise of a living on my lands upon his return.’
‘On your lands?’
‘The church in the village has been unoccupied for some time.’ He blinked innocently. ‘I admit that I have been somewhat remiss in seeing to that.’
‘Because you are a blackguard and a villain,’ she said, glaring at him.
