Her unladylike snort of laughter caught the attention of couples around them. “Ha! You mature?”
He slid a hand back to her waist and gave a playful squeeze. “Shush, you. You’re one to talk, you naughty thing.”
Lucy’s lips turned up into a small smile, which meant she was secretly pleased by his comment. Her gaze caught his as they moved across the parquet floor, and Hart recognized the flirtatious gleam in her eyes. She was incorrigible. He was far from immune to her beauty. But Lucy was under his protection and, by honor, off limits, not to mention that he was far too old for a girl so fresh-faced. The ten years between them made him feel positively lecherous. So much so that a year ago, he had sent Aunt Trudy and Lucy off to the continent on a grand tour just to have her out of his hair and off his mind.
“He is a terrible bore, and he looks at my person as though I am a present he can’t wait to unwrap.” She fluttered her eyelashes. “Perhaps you can scare him off for me with one of your stern ducal glares.”
Hart frowned. Despite her light tone, a tightness around her eyes spoke volumes to her discomfort. “I have something important I must attend to tonight, but I will have some words with the Colonel next time I see him at the club. He is far too old for you. What is Trudy thinking?”
“Perhaps she is tired of me.” Then Lucy shook her head, her sapphire earrings catching the candlelight as they swayed. “No, that’s not it. I am a delight.”
Hart laughed as Lucy intended. But as the music stopped, he lifted her chin with one finger, so she was forced to look at him. “I know that you think you no longer need someone to watch out for you, but if you ever need help, I want you to know you can count on me. I will always protect you.”
Her expression softened. “I know.” She turned and laid her hand on his arm as they headed back to where Aunt Trudy stood chatting with Lady Hathaway. “Where are you off to? You know Aunt Trudy will not approve of you slinking away to meet one of your mistresses during the party.”
“One of my mistresses?” He raised an eyebrow. “How many do I have?”
She shrugged. “I imagine a small harem perhaps?”
“As enticing as having my own harem sounds, tonight’s outing is strictly business.”
*
The night wasthick with fog as Hart stepped down from his carriage. The mist wrapped around the light poles across the street and covered the trees in the park like a ghostly blanket.
His coachman, Thomas Kent, tilted his head toward the only other conveyance on the quiet street. “That is Lord Galey’s coach down there. I recognize Jack Davies, his coachman.”
“Thank you, Thomas. Just wait here.” Hart walked the fifty yards down to the other town coach.
Galey’s driver scrambled down from the box. “Good evening, Your Grace.” He pulled open the door.
Hart climbed into the carriage. Two matching oil lamps illuminated the interior and the tense features of the older man seated on the velvet squabs. Hart settled himself across from Galey and nodded. “Galey.”
“I’m glad you agreed to come, Hartwick.” He turned to his coachman. “Take a walk, Davies.”
The man nodded and shut the carriage door. Hart sat back and folded his hands in his lap. This was Galey’s show; he was here to listen. Galey took out a handkerchief and blotted his brow. The silence stretched. Hart wished to shake the man, to demand he tell him everything he knew about his father and brother’s deaths. Was Galey toying with him? Would he demand something first in payment for the information?
“Thank you for meeting me.” Galey cleared his throat. “What I am going to tell you has long weighed on my conscience.”
Hart again waited silently.
“But you must understand… what I mean is that the people who are responsible for the murder of your family are very powerful.”
He sat forward. “Murder? Do you know that it was not a random robbery?”
Galey nodded. “Your father’s betrayal was not taken well. He chose to support your brother instead of sticking to the agreement.” He shook his head. “I never thought that was so wrong. We all are just trying to protect our own, aren’t we?”
“I don’t understand. What are you getting at? Who did he betray?” Hart shook his head. None of this made sense.
The older man straightened, and his gaze snapped back to Hart. “They have ears everywhere. That’s why no one could see us meet tonight. But I can’t live with this guilt anymore. It’s not right. Henry was always a good friend.” His handkerchief came out again. He mopped his brow once more.
Hart was losing patience with the man. “Galey, what happened to my father and brother?”
“They were killed. For not following the plan—”
Next to him, the window shattered.
“They know!” Galey gasped.
