Owen didn’t answer the question. Did he love Diana? He certainly adored her, was in fact infatuated with her, but love? It would certainly explain the ache in his chest at the mere thought of being separated from her should the duke find out about their relationship.
“Perhaps,” Owen said, avoiding his friend’s gaze as he looked down at the desk. “This isn’t just about my position or keeping what I have with … the duchess.” He was careful to use her title instead of addressing her as Diana as he so often did these days. “This is about making sure she is not thrown out of her own home thanks to the machinations of Jessie. How do I appeal to Jessie’s good sense to stop this from happening?”
“Well, you could bring up what you discovered the other day? About all these fires in the duke’s tenants’ houses?” Tommie said, leaning so far forward that he was on the very edge of his seat. “It certainly sounds as dodgy as the day is long.”
“Maybe.” Owen scratched his jaw in thought, feeling an uncertainty with it. “She might not believe me, though. It would be hard work to persuade her that the man she loves is up to no good.”
“Then you should go back to the other matter we were just discussing.” Tommie alighted on an idea and sat taller in his chair.
“What do you mean?” Owen asked, staring at his friend.
“You and I both know the duke has had many maids in his bed. We wonder if he made them all fall in love with him too. Surely that is the way to persuade Jessie not to reveal your secret, persuade her that the man she loves does not love her back. Curdle her love to hate; it might do the trick. She will not tell him then of your secret.”
Owen shifted in his seat for a minute in thought, staring at Tommie.
“What? Startled I had a good idea?”
“No,” Owen said with a chuckle. “Not exactly.”
“You were!”
“I came to you for advice, didn’t I?” he said. “You’re right, though. The only way to stop this could be to get Jessie to see the man the duke really is.”
“It’s a good thing too,” Tommie said as he slowly stood to his feet. “We’ve seen enough maids disappear from these corridors, hiding bumps under their skirts. I’d hate to see another vanish too without a word.”
“As would I.” Owen moved to stand as well, thinking long and hard on these words. “I need to see Diana tonight; tell her of this plan, but …”
“Let me guess, Jessie will be watching for you leaving for above stairs? If you’re gone for any length of time, she is sure to notice.”
“Unless someone was to distract her for me?” Owen said, motioning towards Tommie.
“Me? What am I supposed to do?”
“Create some cooking catastrophe.”
“You think my kitchen ever has catastrophes! I am truly hurt at the idea,” Tommie said, with mock offence as he held a palm to his chest.
“You know what I mean. Just invent some ruse to keep her focus away so she doesn’t see me go upstairs.” Owen was desperate, looking at his friend with such pleading eyes that he felt rather like a dog, begging for food.
“You owe me a lot someday; I hope you realize that,” Tommie said, pointing at Owen.
“If you ever find a woman like Diana, I’ll do whatever you ask of me. I promise you that.”
“Good Lord, Owen.”
“What?”
“You should hear the way you talk of her.” Tommie walked back towards the door, still shaking his head, but this time in a kind of amusement.
“What of it?” Owen asked with a shrug.
“I wish I could talk of a woman in that way,” Tommie said with full seriousness as he hovered with his hand on the door. “It might make me take the kind of risks you are willing to do then. I kind of like the idea.”
“I never thought I’d be like this,” Owen said with full honesty. “I used to keep myself to myself.”
“I know that,” Tommie said with a nod. “I was pretty much the only one you confided in. If I can make one other observation, though …”
“Of me?”
