“Thank you. It’s good to have the support of someone who’s been managing a business for years.”
Hannah could sense nothing but sincerity in Eoin’s words. A pleased warmth suffused her, and she couldn’t deny that she was being charmed. No other compliment would have melted away her natural defenses so quickly. She never thought a high-and-mighty duke would be the one to recognize her value when so many other men of every class dismissed her intelligence simply because she’d been born female.
Hannah suddenly found herself battling the urge to place her head upon Eoin’s exceedingly broad shoulder. She yearned to just sit in companionable silence, their bodies touching as they each drew quiet strength from the other.
But she wasn’t in his bedchamber for sweet domesticity—or fiery passion. She’d come for a purpose, and the presence of the grenade still soaking in the washbasin was empirical proof of the urgency of the matter.
“Although we certainly cannot dismiss your uncles as suspects, they may not be the persons behind this attack.” Partof Hannah hated breaking their fragile intimacy with talk of attempted murder. But it needed to be said—for more than one reason.
“Do you think we inadvertently stirred something up when we blundered into the Horse and Hen?” Eoin asked.
Hannah nodded. Although Eoin was surprisingly sheltered, he was also exceedingly keen. “The timing is suspicious unless there were other attempts against your life since your grandfather’s death.”
“This was the first,” Eoin confirmed. His voice was back to sounding dull again. Hannah hated that, yet she had no choice but to make these inquiries.
“Are you certain that there weren’t other incidents—more subtle ones that you might have overlooked? A carriage racing in your direction as soon as you started across a street? An object seemingly dropped accidentally from a window just after you passed under it? The sense of someone trailing you?”
Eoin thought for a moment, his eyes focused on a distant spot that only he could see. Finally, he shook his head. “No. Not that I recall anyway.”
“Then we cannot rule out the possibility that we stumbled upon a conspiracy yesterday.” Hannah debated for a moment if she should confess that she suspected his family members of nefarious activities. It seemed unlikely that his uncles had any connection to the Horse and Hen. Although the two obviously frequented disreputable establishments, they would hardly choose places that shabby. Still, that did bring to mind another issue.
“If the attempt was triggered by our visit to the Horse and Hen, it would suggest a more sophisticated operation than the condition of the establishment would indicate.”
“I agree.” Eoin rubbed his temple but the gesture seemed more thoughtful than weary, and at least he wasn’t scraping his hands over his entire countenance. “I should have thought of it myself.”
“Someone threw an explosive through your bedroom window in the middle of the night,” Hannah pointed out. “Of course you’re not thinking properly.”
“But you are,” Eoin pointed out.
“I was most likely an accidental bystander, and besides, this isn’t my first brush with danger.”
“It isn’t?” Eoin glanced at her, his sea-blue eyes filled with palpable concern.
“Daughter of a pirate.” Hannah held up her hand and laughed. But that wasn’t the whole truth. It was her family’s endeavors to save the downtrodden in London that put her in the most peril. But even if she was gradually warming to Eoin, she couldn’t divulge secrets that would jeopardize not just the Black Sheep but Sophia and her friends’ personal safety.
“Ah,” Eoin answered, but Hannah sensed that he knew that she wasn’t telling him everything. “Then what does a piratess recommend for how to proceed?”
Hannah sighed. “First, I suggest we start with the nearest suspects. We should discuss tonight’s incident at breakfast tomorrow with your aunts and uncles. Their reactions might be telling. I’ve also been meaning to talk to your butler. Servants always know more than they let on. As for the Horse and Hen, hopefully one of my friends from the Black Sheep will uncover pertinent information. If not, we may need to pay the tavern another visit.”
“Thank you,” Eoin said, his blue eyes shining in the flickering candlelight.
“For what?” Hannah asked. “My advice?”
“Yes.” Eoin bobbed his chin but didn’t break eye contact. “But more than that, I appreciate the fact you’re here. By my side. It’s nice, novel, I suppose—having someone’s support simply because they wish to help me.”
It felt like the grenade had exploded inside Hannah… except she was being hit with shards of guilt instead of shrapnel. For the first time, Hannah began to realize how betrayed Eoin would feel when he learned the truth behind her less-than-altruistic offer to assist. Because Eoin had ceased being the enemy and was slowly becoming something more. A partner, perhaps? Yet that didn’t fully describe the nascent feelings rattling around in Hannah’s chest.
But even if she hadn’t started this quest for all the right reasons, Hannah was determined to help Eoin locate his family. And now she had the additional duty to protect him from whatever scoundrel wished him dead.
“You’re joining us?” It was obvious that Eoin’s Aunt Joan was attempting to keep her voice neutral. However, it rose just a bit at the end, exposing her displeasure at her nephew’s decision to eat with the family.
“Yes. The lovely Miss Wick has convinced me that a more leisurely breakfast is better for one’s digestion.” Eoin shot Hannah a slight smile, which she found more convincing than if he’d suddenly changed his character and broken into a broad grin. His acting was commendable.
“I am not sure anything would improve his naturally dyspeptic humor,” Lord Hugh whispered to Lord Francis. Hannah assumed that the man had meant to say the words underhis breath, but he’d sorely misjudged his volume. Everyone, including Eoin, could hear him clearly. Eoin, though, never changed his expression. He merely kept shoveling eggs onto his plate from the sideboard.
Hannah decided her best strategy was not to pretend that she hadn’t heard. She wanted Eoin’s relatives shaken.
“Oh, but he has every reason to be upset this morning!” Hannah placed her food down on the dining table and then clasped her hands together in a dramatic sweep.
