“Good. Now, I have another small charge of a similar nature. Do you think you and the others can handle both?”
Vincent grinned. “I think the lads are enjoying being out and about in the summer nights. They vie for the duty since it is so different and they get to sleep in the morning.”
“This one is not all night, or even part of it. There is a woman who works for Lady Farnsworth. Dark hair, perhaps twenty-three or so. I have reason to think that she walks home alone. We know it is unwise for a woman to be out on the streets on her own.”
“Not wise at all, sir.”
“I want you to follow her when she leaves the lady’s house to make sure no one interferes with her. In the morning, you are to arrive at her home before seven o’clock and again follow while she makes her way back to Mayfair. You are not to let her see you. I cannot make that clear enough. She is not to know.”
Vincent assumed a serious expression. “And if someone does interfere?”
“I expect you to discourage him from ever trying again.”
“It will be a pleasure, sir.”
“Don’t get carried away.”
“Of course not, sir. A mild discouragement should work well enough. I will make sure the lads understand that.”
“See to it, then. Every day until I tell you otherwise.”
Vincent left. Gabriel attached his pocket watch, then went down to the study to get a portfolio. Amanda would object if she knew he had set footmen to watching her. She would probably say she had taken care of herself long enough not to need them.
Perhaps she was right, but he felt the need to protect her now. He had a responsibility where she was concerned, whether she liked it or not.
* * *
Gabriel paced through the modest drawing room. He supposed it was not as small as it had appeared to him at first. His experience did not give him a fair point of comparison.
“It will need new furniture, but she will see to that.”
He turned to where Stratton spoke while he peered through windows at the prospects.
“She will not live here, Stratton. Why would she want new furniture?”
Stratton pushed aside a drape and peered out another window. “It is not the plan that she live here, but eventually she will.”
Gabriel began to regret bringing Stratton along. He had seen him riding and invited him on impulse. The duchess expected lady callers and the baby’s nurse had barred the door to intrusion so Stratton had nothing to do this afternoon.
“It will just happen,” Stratton added. “She will find it inconvenient to leave her home for assignations. You will find it inconvenient to have to plan every meeting.Why don’t you just live here, you will suggest one day.Or, if you are thoroughly smitten, it will beWhy don’t I buy you this house and you can live here?”
“It would be more convenient, but she will never agree to being kept.”
“Not yet. She will change her mind, though.” Stratton looked around critically, hands on his hips. “With that eventuality in mind, you should start with a better house. One that will suit you in the longer term. This one is fine, but you will find it poorly apportioned if you have it as a second home.”
A second home was not the plan. He merely sought a house in a quiet neighborhood for having rendezvous with Amanda. Stratton may have given voice to why this drawing room seemed unsatisfactory, however. He did picture himself spending more than the occasional night in it.
Would it ever come to that? A house in her name, a carriage, an account for her to use as she pleased? Stratton assumed Amanda would eventually want that. Gabriel tried to envision whether he would too.
“The last one was far superior,” Stratton said. “More discreet too, being another street away from the square.”
“Your expertise in this clearly exceeds mine. Personal experience? In France, perhaps?”
“I have only watched the progress of such things often. Yes, in France. It is more common there than here. A man might have a mistress for decades. No one even comments on those second households and the families that live in them. Of course we have our king as an example here, but he flaunted his decision. It is not commonplace here as it is in France.”
Gabriel did not expect matters to develop the way Stratton predicted, but he decided this house would not suit him even for a few hours at a time. “I will let the last one, as you advise.”
“Then we are done.”
