“I’ll go get it.”
“That would be grand, thank you.”
Rhys was out of the room and down the hallway before Louisa could say another word. In all honesty, he was itching to be out of her presence for a moment so that he might stop staring so much.
He knocked on Bessie’s door three distinct times and waited.
The door opened to reveal the young, pretty face of one of Bessie’s private secretaries. Rhys believed her name was Hermia.
“Yes?” she asked evenly.
“Er, I’m here to collect Miss Babcock’s things.”
“One moment, please.”
The door shut for a moment and Rhys waited patiently. A few minutes later, the door opened wide again, and the young woman stood back to reveal a perfectly composed Bessie, sitting behind her desk, writing something. She appeared just as she had the night before, except that she was wearing a black muslin morning dress. Her hair had been restyled and her veil had changed from Chantilly lace to black crepe fabric.
“Ah, Rhys. How was your evening?” she asked, her tone of voice suggestive.
“Her gown. Where is it?” he asked, walking into the room.
“My, wha a mnr t wa up oo.”
He turned to face her.
“What?”
“I said,” she began, her mouth moving slowly. “My, what a manner to wake up to. Did you not have a pleasant evening?”
“I slept on the floor.”
Bessie cocked her head.
“The floor? Why?”
“Because despite all your trickery, she’s still an innocent, unwed lady.”
“And you must be one of those true gentlemen I hear so much about,” she said, nodding to the corner of the room. “Her gown is over there.”
Rhys went to retrieve it, but Hermia was quick to get it and hand it over to him. He nodded his thanks when Bessie spoke.
“You know, the archbishop will not be awake for another few hours. You don’t need to rush from this place.”
“On the contrary, I was set to leave London tonight and I plan to keep my schedule. So, I will bid you goodbye now—”
“Now?”
“It’s been, as always, an adventure visiting you, Bessie. But the state of Fenwick Park is dire, and I was only in town for a brief time.”
“Very well, then. Take care of her, Rhys. She’s a good one.”
“You don’t even know her.”
“I can tell. Goodbye, Rhys. Safe travels.”
He nodded and left, eager to return to the room and quit this place. But when he opened the door, he was met with a shriek.
“I found your—”
