“Because, my dear, I am old enough to not give much consideration to reputation, and young enough that my assets have not wholly sagged.”
“A charming sentiment.”
“I presume you told me for a purpose?” Caroline asked. “What do you need from me? Would you like me to search his room?”
“No, no, I can do that.” With Henry’s help. In fact, she was surprised he hadn’t done it for her already, and relieved that he had not acted against her, stripping her of the autonomy she had already lost so much of. “But I have no faith that he will have left the evidence in his bedchamber.”
Understanding flared in Caroline’s eyes. “And you would like me to ascertain if he has any papers on him?”
“He won’t be carrying the paintings, but there’s a chance he may have the letters on his person.”
“How very scandalous.” She crunched on another nut as she thought. “Very well, darling, but only because those paintings were deliciously shocking, and I am so difficult to shock in my dotage.”
“If five-and-thirty were a dotage, most of our acquaintance have one foot in the grave.”
“You deprive me of my sense of the dramatic.” Caroline ate another candied nut. “What will you do if you find something?”
“Destroy it,” she said immediately. “If it is merely his word against mine, I have nothing to worry about.”
“Very well,” Caroline said. “But be careful, darling. I would truly hate to see you hurt.”
Chapter Sixteen
Louisa resolved to act after dinner. George had planned the reenactment of a play he had penned himself, and it was something that not only could Louisa stand to miss, but that Knight would feel obliged to take part in.
Ideally, once he realised that she was missing, he would have no immediate opportunity to follow her. And if he knew that she had searched his room after the event, what did it matter? So long as she had the evidence.
She really hoped there would be something to find. If not, she was at a loss. Having had no news from London, although she accepted she had not been gone long, this was the only avenue she had open to her.
As she passed Henry on the way to the dining room, she pressed in close, ignoring the way her heart fluttered at the proximity. They were here to do a job, nothing more.
“Follow me later,” she murmured, giving him a look that she hoped conveyed its significance.
“Wherever you go,” he replied in a low voice. His hand brushed hers in what might have been a show of solidarity, but that merely made her nerves fire in helpless anticipation. She gave a brusque nod and gave George and Caroline—who were conveniently together, as they had been for the past few days—a similar warning.
“Be careful,” George said before she left. “I mean it. I can’t protect you if he decides to act against you.”
“I’ll have Henry,” she said simply, and his brow cleared.
“Then you’ll be all right,” he said with such confidence that her stomach twisted. It seemed everyone was certain that Henry could—and would—protect her. Whatever their past. But despite herself, all she could think about was the one time he had failed her.
George took the opportunity to stride to the front of the room and take command of the evening’s entertainment. The drawing room was packed, every sofa and cushion and armchair filled, a few young ladies squashed on footstools in front of their mothers; several gentlemen were standing. In the crush, it was easy for Louisa to slip away unnoticed. The house was quiet as she moved to the back stairs, used less frequently by guests.
There was the sound of footsteps behind her, and when she glanced over her shoulder, it was to see Henry’s tall figure, his face unusually grim.
“I doubt we’ll have long,” he said as he caught her up.
“Did Knight see us leave?”
“If he didn’t, he’ll notice you’re gone soon enough. He’s been watching you near constantly since you arrived.”
She had yet to tell him about the confrontation she’d had with Knight by the pianoforte, and she filled him in now, with quick, terse words as they navigated to the second floor of the west wing where the gentlemen’s rooms were situated.
“So something has happened,” Henry mused.
“I believe so. He’s ready to play his hand too early.”
“Then it must be significant pressure. From what I’ve observed, he’s not a foolish man.”
