“Are you in danger?” Charlie demanded. “Life-threatening crueltyisgrounds for divorce—”
“I am being dramatic.” Lady Hastings’s smile had a forced quality. “Hastings wouldn’t hurt me.”
“That’s hardly convincing,” Pippa said under her breath.
“You have been of great help, Lady Fayne. Now that I know the extent of my husband’s vices, I will plan for my future accordingly.” Depositing an envelope on the desk, Lady Hastings rose. “The remainder of your fee, with my thanks.”
Charlie got to her feet. “Please wait. Are you certain there is nothing else—”
“When our mutual friend, the dowager duchess, told me that you’d assisted her and were a champion of women, I did not believe her. But now I do.” Lady Hastings gave a graceful nod. “You have listened and taken my concerns seriously, and for that I am most grateful. Now I must ask that you respect my wishes and terminate the case. I shall see myself out. Good day.”
After hearing the front door close, Pippa and the Angels rushed into Charlie’s study. Their mentor was sitting at her desk, tapping a pen against the blotter. Lady Hastings’s distinctive violet, musk, and ambergris fragrance lingered as heavily as the concerns she’d shared.
“What do you think?” Charlie asked pensively.
“I think it is dashed unfair that Lady Hastings is bound to such a cad.” Glory’s pink skirts swished as she paced in front of the hearth, her ferret trotting at her heels.
“Is she safe?” Pippa nibbled on her lip. “Perhaps we should continue surveilling Hastings.”
“Lady Hastings terminated our services. She is an adult, and we must respect her decision…even if we disagree.” Sighing, Charlie tossed the pen into a filigree tray. “Knowing our role and honoring our client’s wishes can be the hardest part of the job.”
“I suppose we did help,” Livy said. “Now she knows what she is dealing with.”
“A pyrrhic victory,” Fi muttered. “To find out that one will forever be haunted by one bad decision.”
Pippa’s throat clenched.I know how that feels.
“On that cheery note, I’d best be on my way,” Livy said. “I am spending the afternoon with Esme since Hadleigh and I have an event this eve.”
“The Westerfield ball?” Fi asked.
“The British Museum. They have a new exhibit of spiders”—Livy lovingly rubbed her thumb over her spider-shaped engagement ring—“and Hadleigh has arranged for a private viewing.”
“I’ll never understand your interest in museums,” Fi said. “Visiting them is such a bore.”
“Not with Hadleigh.” Eyes twinkling, Livy asked, “Shall I drop anyone off on my way?”
Before the Angels could reply, Charlie said, “Pippa, I’d like a word with you in private.”
Unease prickled Pippa. The others gave her sympathetic looks as they left.
Pippa drew a breath. “If this is about last night, I had everything under control—”
“You broke the most sacrosanct rule of the Angels.Sisters first,” Charlie said with emphasis. “You are part of a team, Pippa, not some rogue agent.”
“I know. But Hastings was moving quickly, and I was so close—”
“By putting yourself at risk, you also endanger others. The rest of the team will go after you, no matter the peril. You are fortunate the prince meant no harm last night.”
Guilt swelled. She opened her mouth…and closed it. Because she had no valid excuse for her recklessness.
“Now you will tell me what he wanted from you.” Charlie’s grey eyes were as sharp as a steel blade. “All the details, if you please.”
Faced with her mentor’s scrutiny, Pippa had no choice but to relate her history with Timothy Cullen. She did, however, leave out her inexplicable physical reactions to him, which were as mortifying as they were irrelevant.
At the conclusion of the report, Charlie gave Pippa an assessing look. “When you told Mr. Cullen to steer clear of you, how did he respond?”
I am your friend, sunshine. You have my word that you and your secrets are safe with me.
