Harry shook his head. “Has Jackclaimed another scalp?”
“How prettily you put it.”She scowled. “I was merely curious.”
“He said I would be luckyto marry you.”
“Oh.” Erin smiled.“Wouldn’t Jack keep our secret? He could tell the Butterworths I’myour cousin and you’re escorting me home to Ireland.”
Harry snorted. “I’d trust Jack with mylife. In fact, I have done on occasion. But fooling theButterworths might be more difficult. Will you leave a letter foryour father?”
“I plan to.” Her faceheated. “I don’t want to upset him.”
“And this won’t ofcourse.”
It would, she knew. She was lettingher father down most dreadfully. But he did want her to give up herlife. It wasn’t fair. When he learned the reason, he might forgiveher although she wasn’t confident of it. “I’ll explain that I’mwith you. He won’t worry.”
“Not initially perhaps.Then again, he might send someone after us.”
“I don’t think he will,because after all, I am of age.” She’d given it some thought.“Father will be more concerned for my reputation.”
He frowned. “That is something I amalso concerned about. And I’m surprised that you arenot.”
She couldn’t afford to be. Her fatherwas not to learn about Cathleen until she stood before him. Thenshe was sure his good heart would triumph. “But no one will knowexcept our parents.”
She gazed into his serious brown eyes.Did he consider her very bad? He surely wouldn’t want to marry sucha dreadful person. A very tall dreadful person. Well the answer tothat was he didn’t.
He cocked an eyebrow. “Sometimes rashactions can come back and bite us.”
“And sometimes they canchange one’s life for the better.”
He drew in a breath. “Right. I seeyour mind is made up. I shall wait in the lane behind your housetomorrow at nine o’clock.”
She grinned at him. “I’ll be there.Thank you, Harry.”
When her maid arrived clutching abunch of violets, he stood and saluted. “Always happy to please alady.”
Chapter Seven
In the salon after a sumptuous dinnerthat only Jack seemed to enjoy, he had questioned Lady Butterstonein as gentle a manner as he could. She clamped her lips and refusedto discuss her husband’s work in France. Despite his dyingdeclaration Lord Butterstone was incapable of error in her eyes.“Butterstone was an exemplary diplomat,” she insisted. She fingeredthe black pearls at her throat, her dove gray eyes cold. “Mydaughter believes you can help us, Captain Ryder. I am yet to beconvinced of it.”
“You might consideremploying a Bow Street runner, my lady,” Jack said, moving hisshoulders uncomfortably in a coat too small for him. It would be agood outcome for them both.
Her eyes would once have been asbeautiful as her daughters. Uncertainty filled them. “I prefer notto.”
Lady Ashley patted her mother’s hand.“I should like Captain Ryder to stay, Mama.” She turned to him. “Ifhe could spare us a few more days.”
“I’d be happy to.” Jackwished she didn’t look so beautiful in blue satin. The gown wasmolded to the curves of her body in such a way that…. He swalloweda mouthful of cognac and put down the snifter. “But withoutanything to go on, I’m not sure that I can be of help toyou.”
Lady Ashley looked imploringly at hermother.
Lady Butterstone drew a lacy shawlaround her shoulders, her face ravaged by grief. “My husband’scorrespondence has arrived with his luggage. Perhaps his lettersmight reveal something important.”
Her daughter stood. “Then we shall goto the library and peruse them.”
“Should your mother wishit,” Jack said.
“I… I’m… not sure thatButterstone would approve of you reading his letters, CaptainRyder,” her ladyship stuttered.
Her daughter was already walking tothe door. “Father has gone, Mama. And he did ask for CaptainRyder’s help.”
