Caroline turned her back to her sister, who unlaced her day dress with efficient fingers. Once Caroline was in her night-rail, she sat at the vanity, where Melanie took the pins out of Caroline’s hair and, using the brush, untangled the long strands so she could braid them.
“You know, it might not be a bad thing—Maxwell Black courting you.”
Caroline spun around. “He isn’t courting me!”
“He danced with you at the Darlingtons’ ball.”
“Yes. But only because he felt sorry for me.”
“Goldie says you were the only lady he spoke to at Lady Mann’s daughters’ recital. He must have developed an attachment. Why else would he subject himself to such a painful evening?”
“How do you know it was painful?”
“Unlike you, I listen to the conversations going on around me…”
“I listen.” Caroline glared at her sister. “As for why Mr. Black was there, it was to ensure I did my job right.”
Melanie raised her brows and Caroline sent her sister a warning look in the mirror. “Just don’t tell anyone I’m working for him. I’ve enough difficulties as it is learning the latest gossip. Furthermore, he is not attached to me. At. All.”
“Lady Westcott thought he was. So did the Duchess of Crossings.”
“When did you hear this?”
“Mother dragged me to Bond Street this afternoon. When we met up with the duchess, they talked for hours.”
Caroline winced but a rare smile flitted across Melanie’s mouth. “If you can’t dig up any good gossip to write about, you could always make something up about yourself.”
“Ha!”
The comment was a joke, but Caroline filed it away regardless. It reminded her that Reed had married Goldie to deflect the negative attention he’d received right after the fire. With this new investigation, it wasn’t unthinkable that she might have to resort to such drastic measures.
Melanie tied off the end of the braid and took a step back. This time when she met Caroline’s gaze in the mirror, the younger woman’s eyes were filled with concern. “Be careful, Carrie. Promise?”
“Reed’s innocent. That’s all that matters.”
“Just promise me that you’ll be careful. It’s good of you to try to protect Reed, but don’t do anything to stir things up too much, all right?” Melanie pressed. Caroline experienced another pang of guilt—because her sister had already been through too much. They all had.
“I promise.”
But long after her sister returned to her own chamber, Caroline lie awake—her mind leaping from one problem to another—ultimately returning to any one of the occasions she’d spent in the company of Maxwell Black.
And she realized she noticed things about him that she wouldn’t normally notice about a person. Such as the smattering of dark hairs on his arms, just enough on the backs of his hands to make her wonder…
She wasn’t as naïve as most girls, she had brothers, after all—or she’d had brothers. Now she only had one. But growing up, they’d spent many a summer afternoon swimming in the creek that ran across her father’s estate. And although Caroline, Melanie, and Josephine never swam in anything less than their shifts, the boys weren’t as proper. And one summer just a few years back, Caroline had stumbled on Reed, Randolph, and their cousin Rupert, as well as a few of the neighborhood boys. All of their clothing had been left on the shore.
Rather than be scandalized, Caroline and Melanie had hidden behind some bushes and… watched. They ignored their family members, of course, in favor of the other boys. It had been an excellent opportunity to learn something about the opposite sex, and such an opportunity might never have presented itself again! They’d had one favorite in particular: Trent Smithy, the blacksmith’s oldest son. With golden blond hair, wide shoulders, legs as thick as trees, and the ability to charm people without saying a word, he’d managed to secure the affections of every young lady from miles around.
His hair had glistened in the sun, on his chest, his legs, and… in far more interesting places.
Caroline allowed herself just a few seconds to imagine Mr. Black’s much darker hair before bringing herself up short.
But, oh dear, she’d been disappointed when he hadn’t kissed her. Even if it was for the best.
And yet she allowed her hand to drift downward, between her legs, touching herself in a manner that ought to leave her feeling ashamed. Imagining… the texture of his skin, the way his hair sprang out in all directions when he ran his hand through it, and his scent, which reminded her of leather and soap, in the best of ways.
She even liked his spectacles.
Caroline flipped over. She absolutely could not think of him like this! She’d only been legitimately employed for one day. If she wanted to keep her job, she was going to need to come up with new stories for the next edition. Which meant she was going to need to speak to Goldie first thing in the morning.
