She nodded again.
“And the item that you are retrieving is for this man’s . . . mistress.”
She gave one very final, very decisive nod.
“I have all that correct?”
“You do, sir. Now, will you help me?”
Chapter Nine
Never in his twenty-six years of life did Leonard think he would be asked to do something so ridiculous. And for reasons beyond understanding, he was considering helping this woman.
“To be clear,” he began, “you plan to go after this item whether I help you or not.”
“I am afraid I don’t really have a choice.”
Mr. Hind’s muscled men came to the forefront of Leonard’s mind. While he did not enjoy being around Mrs. Gillingham or approve of her actions at all, he still didn’t like the idea of her being injured.
Leonard held out a hand, and Mrs. Gillingham’s eyes lit up. As she reached forward to take it, he pulled back just out of her reach.
“To be clear,” he began again, “I will not do anything illegal. Any help you need from me must be within the parameters of the law.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem.” She reached forward again, but he kept his hand back.
“I need your word.”
Mrs. Gillingham’s hand hung in the air as she deliberated. “On my honor. I will not ask you to do anything illegal.”
Leonard finally took her hand, shaking their agreement. A smile crept across her lips, and she held his hand a moment longer than he was comfortable with. “I am growing on you, aren’t I?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Warts grow on a person, but that doesn’t mean they are wanted.”
Leonard felt a bit of satisfaction when her smile slipped away and her mouth fell open. She had put him through enough trouble that he didn’t feel particularly bad about it.
“I am going home now, Mrs. Gillingham. Summon me when you need me.” He spun on his heel and huffed it back to his horse, a smile of satisfaction forming on his lips.
Walking nervous circles about the townhouse became a frequent occurrence over the next two days. It was possible he was imagining things, but Leonard could swear his pants were fitting looser from the increase in steps.
Every time a carriage rattled by, he rushed to the front window to see if a note was being delivered. When an invitation came to attend dinner at the Seymour’s residence next week, he nearly threw it onto the floor. It would be much more preferable toknowwhat Mrs. Gillingham needed from him and when she needed him to do it. Best to be done with this ugly business, and then he would have the funds to pay his friends and he could go back to—
His thoughts halted, for there was really nothing to return to. Unless one counted avoiding social gatherings as a pastime.
Perhaps his father would allow him to return home for good now that the season was at a close. Leonard could argue that his time spent in London was now a waste of time and resources, and if he were home, he could at least help his father out around the estate.
There. A perfectly logical idea. Once this horrendous affair was over, anyway.
The clock rang six o’clock, and as if an ominous sign, a knock sounded on his door.
Every muscle in his body seized, but he tried to force himself to relax. She was only a woman. There was nothing she could force him to do if he was uncomfortable with it. He was only helping her to keep her safe and to procure funds for the stupid wager, and then this frustrating woman would leave him be, and she would go on with her life—one without crime.
If she could be believed. Andrew said she seemed an honest sort, but honest people didn’t go about thieving.
“Sir,” Fitzroy said, walking into the drawing room, his neck uncharacteristically tight. “A woman is here asking for admittance to speak with you. And she is alone.” When he uttered the last word, it seemed to stretch longer than the others, and his voice dipped lower as if uttering a secret.
Better to get it over with than wear a rut on the floor from all his pacing. “Bring her in, please.” He nearly walked the length of the rug, but forced his feet to be still while he waited. This was what he had wanted. To know his task and be done with it. Soon, he could be free of this. And her.
A moment later, Mrs. Gillingham sauntered into the room wearing a deep blue gown that brought out the same color in her eyes. He hated that he had even noticed such details.
