She leaned even closer toward him.
As she did, Gabriel pivoted and his other hand stole around her waist and pulled her tight. The warmth of him, the strength of him, weakened Ella’s defenses and paralyzed every rational and calm thought she had.
“It’s not like you not to have a quick response,” he teased, his face inches from her own.
The door flung open as the bell chimed.
Startled at the interruption, Ella jumped back. She whirled toward the door.
There in the office threshold stood Mr. Clancy.
Embarrassment overcame her.
Mr. Clancy had the ability to affect her reputation perhaps more than anyone else in all of London. He knew everyone. One word from him could destroy a woman’s entire future.
What on earth had she been thinking to let her guard down in such a manner?
“Oh dear. I’m interrupting,” announced Mr. Clancy. “Timing never was my strong suit, I’m afraid.”
“No, no.” Gabriel dropped her hand and motioned for the larger man to step farther in, completely calm and nonchalant, as if the moment had had no effect on him. “Come in.”
“What’s all this?” Mr. Clancy’s round face scrunched in curiosity as he stepped toward the desk and lifted a stack of letters. “What a mess!”
“Remember this morning when I told you I obtained Bauer’s address? We paid it a visit today. This is what we found.”
“We?” he asked, raising a brow. “Am I to understand you have taken up this cause as well, Miss Wilde?”
At the refocus of attention on the letters and papers, Ella’s pulse began to resume a normal pace. “Of course. This man robbed my friends and made a mockery of my family. I will help however I can.”
“I see.” Mr. Clancy nodded, and as he dropped the letters back to the table, he grinned. Was he amused by her? Intrigued? Did he think her ridiculous?
He returned his attention to Gabriel. “I’ve been doing a little probing of my own. I really do think I have a knack for this line of work, Rowe.”
Gabriel chuckled and leaned casually against his desk. “Do you, now?”
“Indeed. And I think you will be very impressed with what I’ve found. Or, rather,whoI’ve found.”
Gabriel sobered and exchanged a glance with Ella. “I’m listening.”
“Oh no. No, no, no. I’ve been working too hard at this all day to simply tell you. The anticipation must build. You may be the master of this profession, but in mine, presentation is the truest art form. My special guest is in my office, so please, join me there. I’ll need you to be quick, though. He’s agreed to talk with you, but I’m not sure how long I can convince him to stay.”
Gabriel straightened eagerly. “We’ll be right over.”
Once Mr. Clancy departed and silence once again descended on the chamber, an odd sense of urgency fell over them.
Gabriel raked his fingers through his hair. “What do you think of that?”
“I don’t know Mr. Clancy well enough to have an opinion. Do you have any idea who it is?”
“It’s hard to tell. Clancy knows everyone.” Gabriel reached for his coat and shoved his hands through the sleeves before adjusting it on his broad shoulders. “We’d best go see who it is. Clancy can get quite testy if he feels he isn’t appreciated, but he can also be overbearing. Unless you’d be more comfortable going to Hawthorne House instead. It is starting to get dark.”
The earnestness in his tone touched her. Her head instructed her to follow convention. She’d already opened herself up to scandal, should word get out of her going to Gabriel’s office and spending the day with him. Her heart, however, cried out louder. “That would probably be best, but you and I both know I will never get a moment’s rest until I learn who this visitor is.”
Convention and propriety were one thing. Pride, passion, and conviction were another.
He smiled as he offered her his arm. “Well then, let’s go.”
Chapter 42
