“Ashburton is looking already,” protested Nell.
“Then he, at least, proves he has some decency. But I wouldn’t trust him to find his own head with his hat.”
Jack stormed from the house, turned left, then right on the pavement. She was defenceless, she was clueless, she was a woman, alone, and upset. He’d get a hackney to where the stage departed—
“Orton,” a voice greeted him. “Just the man I was hoping to see.”
He turned to find the tall, fair-haired form of Captain Sedgewick.
“Sedge.” He nodded in brisk greeting. “Apologies, but I don’t have the time—”
The other man held up a hand. “Don’t worry. I know the mission you’re on. I met George when I was on my way to your apartments.”
“He told you?” George was normally to be trusted.
“He didn’t need to. I knew from his agitated manner, and from finding you abroad before noon.” He smiled. “Clearly an emergency has arisen. And, if I’m not mistaken, it involves Miss Fanshaw.”
Jack stiffened. “How do you—”
“Yes.” Sedgewick gave a small apologetic bow. “I know the story. But I’ll not breathe a word of it, I promise.”
“You’re hardly a friend to Miss Fanshaw. You made that clear enough last night.”
The other man smiled. “Ah, but that’s why I’m here, you see. To make amends for any insult. I’d not have any bad blood between us. We’re friends, yes?”
Friends? On some level. Though both men knew that, other than a superficial interest in the same pleasurable pursuits, the only common thread between them was Miss Sedgewick. The captain was keen to promote the match—or keen, rather, to gain a brotherly access to Jack’s purse. Jack, for ease of access to Miss Sedgewick, had nurtured the friendship.
“Very well. If you seek me out to apologise, it’s unnecessary. I’d like to know how you’re aware of what has happened, but you must tell me on the move. I cannot—”
“Dally, I know. You’re in hot pursuit. But I don’t come to apologise with mere words, but with actions. I know where Miss Fanshaw is, and I’ll take you there myself.”
Seven
“The problem with LordOrton or”—Miss Sedgewick smiled knowingly at Lucy—“Jack, as I think we both call him in the privacy of our heads, at least. The problem is, that for all his undoubtedly fine attributes, he is not very clever.”
“No,” agreed Lucy quietly, betrayed into this disloyal honesty by the confusion of her blush.
“And that is yet another reason why I beg you to stay here with me.”
Herewas the rented house Miss Sedgewick shared with her brother and an elderly female relative, who, Miss Sedgewick had already informed Lucy with her incorrigible smile, was extremely fond of lengthy naps and extremelyunfond of venturing from the house.“In short, the perfect companion! Not that I need one, being nine-and-twenty and quite an old maid, but impoverished women have the most need of diamond reputations.”
That was another thing Lucy had agreed with, albeit silently. The proof of it had just been laid so awfully at her door. Shewas poor, young, and female, therefore shemustbe angling for a husband. But what a husband to accuse her of dangling after! Jack! As if she would everdareconsider it; as if it had ever once entered her mind that he might…that they might… She could die of shame.
“Do your hands still pain you?” Miss Sedgewick asked, noting the way Lucy was fiddling with her gloves.
“Oh. No. Or not much. I’m sorry. It’s a nervous habit.”
“The liniment soothed them?”
“Yes. I thank you.”
She didn’t like the greasy feel of it under the gloves she wore to protect her clothes from its oily marks, but it did smell divine. A strange and tiny beacon to cling to, but the lavender and bergamot scent was about the only point of comfort she’d had in this, one of the worst days of her life.
Miss Sedgewick had met her on the street only a moment after Lucy had erupted from Lady Ashburton’s house, fleeing tearfully, a hastily packed bandbox in one hand, and her similarly laden maid at her heels.
“But whatever is the matter? My dear Miss Fanshaw, you are quite overcome! Let me take that for you—”And the efficient Miss Sedgewick had taken possession of the bandbox with one hand and Lucy’s elbow with her other, then steered her down the street, talking cheerfully of how she’d just been coming to make a morning call in the hopes of pursuing the acquaintance made last night. Talking cheerfully enough to allay the curious suspicions of passing strangers—just two ladies out for a morning walk with their maid! Nothing to see here!—until they reached the safety of Miss Sedgewick’s house and this clean but small and rather worn parlour.
After irrepressible offers of tea, cake, handkerchiefs, and various ointments and balms, Miss Sedgewick had finally teased Lucy’s story from her, although she seemed hardly to needLucy’s mortified explanation at all, able to easily intuit the whole from a few brief, mumbled clues.
