“The aunts were being rather obvious with their matchmaking,” Evie admitted. “I might have mentioned the lists and—”
“Hell,” Jamie muttered. “If anyone asks, make my excuses.”
“I’ll tell them you’ve a weak stomach and the soup didn’t agree with you,” Liberty offered.
He didn’t bother to reply, just turned and strode out before anyone could stop him. Had Alice truly gone already?
Snatching his overcoat and hat from the stand, he pushed out into the night. A quick glance right revealed Ezra on the box seat of a carriage, with reins in hand and ready to depart. Shrugging into his coat, Jamie broke into a run.
“Good evening, Ezra.
“Lord Stafford.” The man nodded his head.
“I need to speak with Lady Alice. Drive the long way to her townhouse.”
Opening the door, he found her preparing to rise, and climbed inside, shutting it behind him.
“Get out of my carriage at once!”
“Hello, Lady Alice. Thank you for offering me a lift home,” Jamie said, ignoring her words and settling himself on the seat opposite hers.
“I didn’t. Now leave at once,” she said as the carriage started moving. “I have no wish to be seen alone in here with you!”
Jamie reached forward and shut both curtains. He then turned up the lamp. Suddenly, they were secluded inside the small space.
“How dare you!”
“Why are you angry with me?” Jamie sat back and looked at her.
She was quivering with rage. Her gloved hands clenched on her thighs, and those beautiful eyes were shooting daggers his way.
“I don’t want you in my carriage,” she gritted the words out. “Leave at once, Lord Stafford, or I shall scream.”
“Please do. I doubt anyone would hear you except maybe Ezra. Do you want him and me to come to blows, my lady?”
Color flushed her cheeks, and if anything, the anger made her more beautiful. Spirited, unlike those vapid women who had fawned all over him this evening. Perhaps an unfair judgment, as it was not their fault they’d been raised with a single thought. Marry, and marry well when the time comes for you to do so.
“Why are you angry with me, my lady?” Jamie said again. “Every time our eyes caught, I could see you wanted to lob something at me. Of course, you were too polite to do so, but the sentiment was there.”
She looked down at her hands.
“Alice—”
“Lady Alice,” she snapped, looking at him once more. “And I know about the Crimson Serpent. I know it was likely you that stole the ledger, and that you are paying two women of the night to be your informants! I also know you didn’t tell me, and it’s clear were unlikely to.”
Surprise held him silent for several seconds. How the hell did she get that information?
“So, from that, I gathered you wish to proceed in your investigation into Kenneth Jackson’s whereabouts solo, which is fine with me, as I shall do the same.” She spat the last words at him in an angry hiss.
“I have so many questions,” Jamie said. “The first is, who told you about the Crimson Serpent?”
“Two women at my clinic,” she snapped.
“Clinic?”
She waved his words away, but Jamie persisted. “What clinic?”
“That is none of your business,” she hissed.
