The moment the door to Isabella’s chamber closed, Claudia muttered, “I daresay I haven’t missed that bossy old crone.”
Isabella couldn’t help but snort,as she removed her bonnet and tossed it on a nearby chair,for it was such an apt description.
But then, her maid’s expression abruptly bleached of color. “Pardon, my lady. That was out of line.I forgot myself for a moment. I suppose I got too lax at Walmer, but I will be more careful with my opinionsfrom now onto ensure I don’t get reprimanded.”
Isabella sat down and began removing her boots, but now she glanced up. “You are welcome to speak freely in my chamber, Claudia. After everything we’ve been through in the past few weeks, I should think you would feel comfortable with me, at least.”
“I do, my lady,” Claudia said as she gathered up the items Isabella discarded and began putting them away. “But Ashfield Hall is just one step closer to returning to London society. Things must return to order.”
Isabella could hear the sadness in the other girl’s voice, and she couldn’t help but think the same.
***
“You’ve been rather reservedsince your returnto the city. I daresay it isn’t like you.”
Sitting withMillicent in her private parlorthat evening,Ridge glanced up,although he continued to thread his coin through his fingers.
“I suppose a certain lady is to blame for your current reticence,”she continued.
Ridge couldn’t help but snort, but then, he’d never been able to hide anything from the lady. She had known him since birth and it was hard to deceive her afterclose tothree decades.
He’d arrived in London earlier thatdaywith Lord Liverpool andRutherford.There was nolonger anyusefor them to remainat Walmer, for the earl had matters to attend to back at Parliament.Ridge and Pierce had gone to Whitehall to engage in a lengthy inquisition about what had transpired at Gravelines,but while theHome Secretary, Lord Sidmouth,instructedPierce to remain,as the Regentrequestedan audience withhim, Ridge was annoyed when he was dismissed without being assigned a new mission.It was the one thing he’d been looking forward to upon his return—a chance to return things to normal.
Unfortunately, thathadn’t beenthe case.
Lord Sidmouth had leaned back in his chair and regarded him with a considering frown.“It appears thatLord Wistenberryisstill a threat.”
“He is,” Ridge had returnedevenly. “But Montgomery is in charge of his fate now, as well as the wellbeing of Lady Isabella.”
“That may be true,” the other man had replied. “However, I still think it a good idea for you to keep vigil in London should he decide to brazen a return.”
And that was that.
Once he’d been dismissed, Ridge hadnothing left to do but cool his heels and make a few discreet inquiriesamong the docks and a few shady taverns in the East End in his guiseas One-Eye. Otherwise, he hadlittle else but time on his hands. Time,which he didn’t want, nor need, for thatdid nothing butdirect his thoughts toward Isabella.
It was bad enough that the memory of her soft curves and the taste of her sweet lips was enough to drive him mad.Heknewhe’d been an ass to stay away when she’d left the castle.However,to be fair, he hadn’t trusted himself not to plead with her to stay if he hadn’t.
Ridgeblinked, returning to the present toseethat Millicent was still waiting for an answer.He caught the coin between his fingers and gripped it in his palm.“I’m just ready to get back to work,”he said evasively.
“Of course,” his companion returned smoothly.
Thankfully,she didn’t presshimfurther. But it wasn’t as if he would have admitted to some grand love affairanyway.What had happened between him and Isabella had beenpersonal, between the two of them, and it wasn’t anyone else’s damned business.Not even the woman who he considered to be a second mother.
Restless, Ridge got to his feet and tucked the coin back into his pocket. “I think I’m going to head out for a bit.”
Millicent smiled coyly. “Do you want me to send one of the girls up later to keep you company?”
Ridge smirked. “I appreciate your generosity, but not tonight.”
The lady lifted a brow. “I’ve never known you to turn down bed sport before. This really must be serious.”
Instead of replying, Ridgespunon his heel and walked out the door with a dark frown.Without any particular destination in mind,he hailed a hackney and headed for the one place that heknewhe would be welcome, and perhapswhere he mightgain some much needed advice.
Deposited at Hyde Park, Ridge glanced around to make sure he wasn’t being observed before he entered the secret tunnel that led him to the residence of Travell Abernathy, Viscount Curdiff. He was the one who had originally brought Ridge on into the trade of being a spy, so if there was anyone whounderstoodhow conflicted he was at the moment, it would be him.
He passed the secret room where many conspiracy theories had been discussed, and stopped at the end of the passage where he rapped sharply on the wooden panel.
After a moment he heard a click, and then the bookcase popped open to reveal the viscount on the other side. He was dressed casually, with no waistcoat, cravat, or jacket, but his dark brows winged upward when his blue eyes lit onRidge.
