Cecily looked up at him and opened her eyes wide. “I would never dissemble with you,Mr. Nottingham.” And in his eyes, she could see that he knew she was lying. And she could also see that he knew that she knew that he knew.
“I will find out eventually, Cecily. And when I do, all bets are off.” Suddenly he didn’t look like the safe and serious Stephen she’d known up until now. He looked a little dangerous. And with his hair disheveled, his appearance had taken on a bit of rakishness.
“I’ve given you my word. And what do you mean bybets?Are you referring to our bargain?” Oh, dear lord, their bargain! That was why he had kissed her in the park! Not because he’d been overcome with affection for her. He’d done so to further their efforts in angering Flavion. The thought was rather deflating.
Stephen leaned back and rested one muddied boot atop his other knee, not quite crossing his legs. His breeches, which were as wet as Cecily’s dress, clung tantalizingly to his rather muscularly impressive thighs.
Just then, the carriage pulled up in front of Nottinghouse and lurched as the driver and footmen jumped off.
“You know what I mean,” he said. And then the door opened, and she was being helped down to the pavement with Stephen emerging behind her. She rushed inside without any further assistance. She needed to get cleaned up and then go to Nile’s office.
Before anything else happened to Flave.
Niles Waverly barelyglanced up as Cecily let herself into his rather run-of-the-mill office a few blocks off Fleet Street. He really was a very ordinary-looking man. He’d appeared to be somewhere between the age of forty and sixty for as long as she’d known him. He’d worked for her father forever, it seemed, and her father trusted him unquestioningly.
He had set up her personal accounts and investments in a fashion that they were not accessible to anyone but Niles, her father, and herself. Niles was right-hand man to her father. If Papa had left instructions for Sixtus and Brutus, Niles would know of it.
Cecily closed the door to the office behind her and waited for Niles to realize she’d entered. It would take a moment. She knew this from experience. She’d luckily managed to slip out of the townhouse without Salaam’s escort since he’d taken Chadwick into the back gardens for a quick canine bath. That had given her just enough time to make a hasty visit with Niles before Emily and Rhoda arrived to dine with them. Hopefully, she would not be delayed. She would want to have plenty of time upon her return to dress in something elegant for the theatre. If not, oh, well. Women were allowed, nay, expected to be late.
Not that she ever felt comfortable with this, but it came in handy on this day.
After he finally set down his pencil and looked up, a smile broke out on Nigel’s normally somber features. It was very quickly replaced by a concerned frown. “Is everything well with you, my lady?” he asked formally as he rose to his feet.
“That’s Cece to you, Niles,” she said, coming around the desk to place a buss upon his cheek.
“No, I won’t have it, my lady. You being the only person of quality of whom I have the benefit of an acquaintance, I will give you all of the respect that is due.”
Cecily clucked her tongue before taking a seat. “I need to know if Papa left any instructions for Sixtus and Brutus regarding Lord Kensington.” Seeing Nigel’s features shutter and his lips tighten, Cecily was certain that he knew something. “I must know, Nigel. All is not as it seems. I do not wish for Lord Kensington to be harmed any further.”
“The earl could have been set upon by anyone!” He confirmed her suspicions. “
“But it was not just anyone last night. As much as I appreciate the sentiment, you must call them off for me. Tell them I have sent word to Papa, and he will be very angry if they do not do as I wish.”
Nigel pushed his spectacles up from where they’d slipped down on his nose. “Are you quite certain of this, Ce— my lady?”
“I am,” she said, and then for effect added, “quite.” Feeling grateful and a little melancholy, she rose to take her leave. She really must hurry!
Before she would return to her Kensington world, however, she slipped around the desk and placed another kiss on Nigel’s cheek. “I haven’t time to stay and chat, but please, please contact them immediately. Promise me that?”
“Very well, my lady,” he said with a frown. “But I’m not at all pleased with what I’ve been hearing. Is there anything else I can do to be of assistance to you?”
With one hand on the doorknob, Cecily scrunched up her nose. “Would you mind having them keep an eye on Miss Daphne Cunnington? I think she’s been up to some mischief, but I haven’t any evidence. Anyhow, the lady does not hold a favorable disposition toward me, and I wouldn’t put it past her to act upon her feelings.” Perhaps the lady’s threats had merely been all bluster, but what with the strange happenings over the last couple of days along with the suspicions Stephen had managed to plant in her mind, she thought having Sixtus and Brutus keep an eye out couldn’t hurt.
“Very well, my lady.” Niles stood up from the desk and now made a small bow in her direction. Charmed, Cecily could not help but grin. Even if all of thetondid not recognize her rise in society, the people she had known all of her life did. And they were the ones she loved. They were the ones who deservedherloyalty. Just as she didn’t want her father’s employers to harm Flavion any further, she did not wish for Stephen to catch wind of their actions and bring any harm to them.
There were considerable penalties for attacking a member of the aristocracy. She did not wish to see any of the people she’d depended upon for most of her life find themselves in trouble with the law.
She left the office hurriedly to return home and change. She had an absolutely gorgeous new emerald dress made up of chiffon that she wished to wear this evening. She’d likely need another bath as well.
Back in the carriage, she mulled over the events of the past few days. So much had happened that she could hardly make sense of it all.
She was taking matters into her own hands hoping to compel Flavion to divorce her.
Someone was attempting to harm her, or possibly Flavion, or even Stephen, and that person had had access to the kitchens at Nottinghouse.
Miss Cunnington was not only without scruples where married men were concerned, but she was also somewhat deranged.
And…
