Langdon could see the cogs moving in her sharp mind. She was intent on getting her way, and so was he. Which meant they would have to find some sort of compromise, or the process was dead in the water. “I don’t intend to become incapacitated or injured for that matter. At the first sign of trouble, you will hide where I tell you until I can come find you.”
“What if we’re ambushed? Am I allowed to come to your aide, or must I find a couch and faint?”
He narrowed his eyes at her dripping sarcasm. “I will have your word that you will obey me without question, or my answer is no.”
“We both know that is an empty threat.” She plucked at a small piece of thread on the lace applique, a stray curl brushing her temple. “You can’t go without me. You don’t know what you’re looking for.”
“And you can’t go without me because you don’t know how to get into his office.” Arms crossed, he leaned back in the seat, one leg extended. Two could play at being stubborn.
Silence continued to stretch between them, the pesky bees flying on the breeze ruffling her hair. If he were truly smart, he would get up and leave. Except he had no wish to part from her company. He was a patient man, and he’d call on all his considerable skill in that regard until she conceded to his greater will. There was no other alternative. If something happened to her, he would never forgive himself. “Well? Our outing is contingent on your agreement. Will you give it?”
“It is apparent that we need each other.” She sighed. “Fine, I will do as you wish.”
Arms loosening, he settled his palms on his thighs. Truth be told, he had thought she’d reject his demands. The fact she didn’t rallied his spirits. It was difficult to say no to her. “Meet me at the garden gate at eight,”
Lips downturned, tiny lines formed between her eyebrows. “Eight o’clock seems such a practical hour for what we’re planning.”
“I am a very practical man, Mrs. Adare.” Or so he thought until a week past when he had met this complex woman. Everything about her was a paradox. Either he could embrace the novelty or cut his association.
Chapter Nineteen
Elizabeth followed Langdon down the narrow alley to a rough wooden gate, her heart in her throat. While she was a bundle of nerves, his outward calmness was soothing. She watched with eager eyes as he extracted a knife from his greatcoat pocket. Adventure was afoot, and she planned to heed its call. He slipped the blade through the crack, lifting the latch with a flick of his wrist. With a motion of his hand, he allowed her to enter before him.
Darkness had yet to descend, and the twilight cast the small dirt yard they entered into shadows. He clasped her elbow and the heat of his ungloved hand seeped into the dark farthingale she had donned for the occasion. The soft kiss he had bestowed on her that afternoon still lingered on her lips and she chanced a glance at his strong profile. His jaw was set, stare cast forward. He took his duty very seriously and if she were smart, she would keep her mind on the task at hand. She had to discover if there was more documentation linking Jones and Zander than the invoice she had tucked away in her room.
Once at the back door, he released her arm to withdraw the pick from his pocket. He made quick work of opening the door and she created a mental note to pressure him to show her how to perform the task. The door opened to reveal a silent hallway, dimly lit by a window at the top of the stairs.
She winced at every squeak of the stairs. Silence weighed on her overly sensitive ears and each noise sent her head into places it ought not to be. The invoice still rattled her and would continue to do so, until she could have her solicitor compare it to the records for the Zander Trading Company to prove it was fraudulent. The person who made the invoice was still out there. Until the mysterious third smuggler surfaced, she had to be on her guard.
Langdon placed his hand on the latch of Pike’s office door and tugged. The door swung open on its own with an ominous creak.
Concerned eyes met Elizabeth’s startled stare. Finger to his lips, he shook his head in warning. Her stomach in knots, she stood still, head angled. When no sounds of occupation were forthcoming, he pushed the door wider. She wanted to caution him but bit the words back. Now was not the time to panic. She had to conduct herself like a professional, lest he never wish to invite her on such an adventure again.
He motioned for Elizabeth to stay put and moved further into the office. Although she had given her word to obey his every dictate, she was inexplicably drawn by the drama of the moment. She followed him inside with the expectation that she was overreacting. Pike simply forgot to lock the door.
It was murkier inside the office than in the hallway and she squinted her eyes, trying to adjust them to the darkness. She came up hard against his solid frame. The momentum of the collision forced him to take a step forward. A low curse followed by a loudthunkof flesh against heavy wood reached her ears. She cringed at her inattention and stepped back, her foot sliding on a sheet of paper.
“Sorry.” Elizabeth bent down to pick up the sheet, mortified by her clumsiness. She encountered more than one piece, however. “Langdon, there are papers on the floor.”
He drew back the curtain on the window. Gloomy light cut through the darkness as he inspected the room, fists on his hips. “My guess is somebody else was interested in Pike’s dealings.”
Hand to her chest, Elizabeth scanned the room, horrified to see how the furniture was overturned and the contents of the desk drawers and file cabinets littered every inch of floor. “We will never find anything in this mess,” she said.
“Exactly,” Langdon said, closing the drapes once more.
