Miss Chilton,,
I’ve been called away on a matter of grave importance. I shall call on you as soon as I am able and hope to have some interesting news for you. In any case, we have muchto discuss. In the meantime, be very careful and convince Justin to do the same.
B.
He read it over, then folded and sealed the note. It was awfully bland, considering what had just passed between them, but it would have to do. He forbore to add in writing that the interesting news would also include the acquisition of a special license. That, no doubt, would indeed be a matter of lengthy discussion, given her opinion on the matrimonial state.
The club servant hadn’t budged. Branford paused and pressed the note into his hand, along with a few gold coins.
“Deliver this to Miss Chilton at 30 Half Moon Street without delay.”
“Yes, milord!”
Branford signaled for his greatcoat and left the club.
Hammerton waited a moment then slithered out to where the servant was still staring at the guineas in his hand, not quite believing his good fortune.
“I happened to hear my good friend the Earl of Branford request that you deliver a message for him. As it happens, I am passing that way right now on my way home and would be happy to see it safely into the hands of the right person—as a personal favor to His Lordship.”
The man looked confused. “I don’t know, sir …”
“Nonsense.” Hammerton plucked the paper from the man’s hand and added another coin to his riches. “Why should you have to venture out in the dead of night when I may be of service to a friend?”
The man stared at the coins. “Very well, my lord, if you’re sure …”
“Have no fear. I shall take care of the matter.”
The note went into Hammerton’s pocket.
Fourteen
Alex was not in the best of moods. She surveyed the crowded ballroom and realized there wasn’t a soul with whom she wished to converse. Not even the group of Botanical Society members hashing over the latest lecture on flora of the East Indies held any particular interest for her tonight.
Men, she thought acidly as she made her way to a small settee screened from general view by an arrangement of potted palms. She knew it had been a big mistake letting emotion overcome reason. A sigh slipped from her lips. The trouble was, once the proverbial cat was out of the bag, it was awfully difficult to disengage its claws and stuff it back inside.
Her eyes roamed the room once again. Branford wasn’t here tonight either. It was now five days since … The Kiss.
Her state of mind was not improved by the thought of The Gunshot as well. Any doubt that a real threat to her brother’s life existed had been shattered by the crack of a bullet—but she still had no clue as to why. Or who.
“Is something wrong? If looks could kill, you’d have done away with half thetontonight.”
Alex’s head shot up. “Perhaps it would be no great loss,” she whispered as Justin sat down beside her.
He gave her a searching look. “What has you so upset? You’ve been in a black mood for the past few days now.”
“I—I’m simply tiring of the endless rounds of balls and routs and teas and morning visits,” she replied softly. “I would prefer to be back at home where it is possible to work without all the distractions.”
Justin regarded her with contrition. “I’m sorry. I know you’re tolerating all of this for my sake, but lately I had thought that, well, perhaps you were enjoying yourself as well.”
“The Botanical Society is interesting enough,” she answered neutrally. “But I have been neglecting my own work.”
Justin was silent for a few moments, as he appeared to contemplate the intricate patterns formed by the softly swaying fronds.
“Have you seen Lord Branford?” he asked abruptly. “There is a matter on which I wish to ask his opinion.”
“Has he not been around?” She hoped her voice didn’t sound as brittle to him as it did to her own ear. “I hadn’t noticed.”
Justin’s brows came together a fraction. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then hesitated and let out a deep sigh instead.
