“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?” The unexpected gentle and almost apologetic question from her friend sent the tears spilling down her cheek.
“What am I going to do, Becs?”
“Tell him.”
Gabby backed away, shaking her head so emphatically, a coil of her coiffed hair came loose. “No. No, I couldn’t possibly.”
Rebecca’s lips curved in a knowing smile. “It’s all right, Gabs. You’ll know the right time when it presents itself.” She tapped a finger on her cheek. “I believe we are the most fortunate women in the beau monde with our choice of husbands.”
Watching her stiff and proper brother’s affection for her friend gave Gabby hope. “I believe our shelter will be highly successful with their help,” she said suddenly cheerful and lighting the solemness of the room.
Rebecca grinned. “We’re not likely to get in much trouble with Sebastian and Huntley watching over us.” She hugged Gabby. “Come. This calls for champagne to toast the occasion. Just one last thing, Gabs. No more blackmailing.” A frown marred her friend’s forehead. “At least not without discussing it first.”
That shouldn’t be too difficult. “Things will sail smoothly from here, Rebecca. What could go wrong?”
~~~
“Huntley.” The duke of Ryleigh stood off to one side of the hearth. He held out a small glass which James gladly accepted.
“Ah, many thanks.”
“Heard you had dinner with the Prime Minister and his wife last night,” Ryleigh said.
“Yes.”
“Did you happen to ask him about his interest in the missing actress?”
“I did indeed.”
“And?”
“He was quite evasive. Wouldn’t give her name at first. Said he didn’t—and I quote—‘give a rat’s ass about the missing woman. She got herself tangled up with the wrong man,’ end quote. Her name is Dinah Darby. Apparently, she is now in Doncaster under my employ as a scullery maid.”
The duke grinned. “What did I tell you about strays?”
James ignored him. “Liverpool also told me that if Gabriella was caught up in this mess, it could spell disaster for the Crown itself. Then took his wife and left.” James swirled the glass, coating the inside with gold liquid. “I’ve racked my brain, but I can’t come up with anything that would be so disastrous for the Crown with Gabriella involved.” He took a healthy swallow.
“Quite the conundrum,” Ryleigh agreed. “There’s something you should be aware of.”
James eyed the duke with a wary gaze.
“Rebecca obtained a house on Hope Street.”
“Er, yes, about that.” James shifted from one foot to the other.
“Ah, you’re already aware.”
It took James only a moment to decide to come clean with the duke. After all, if they were to help one another… “Yes, and you were right regarding the philanthropic nature.” He glanced around, then indicated they move away from the others. “Gabriella confided to me it’s a shelter.”
The duke nodded. “Yes, a shelter for children.”
James choked on another sip. “Children?”
Ryleigh speared him with that ducal gaze. “So, not children, then.”
“Er, not quite,” he confessed.
“Hmm.”
