“Do not see him again.”
“You are ordering me?” She raised delicate eyebrows. “Aren’t you being a trifle hasty? You said you don’t know him.”
“It’s not an order,” he said evenly, aware that commanding Joanna to do anything was unwise. “I am appealing to your commonsense. That fellow is obviously not who he says he is.”
“But he described his father and his home so vividly! Even his brother, Julian, who is away in the navy. Do you suspect Mr. Ollerton to be a fortune hunter? I believe you are mistaken. He has expressed a desire for a quiet life in the country and is about to purchase a small property with money inherited from his mother. He is very polite. Aunt Mary is most impressed with him.”
“Then it appears he is a consummate liar.” Reade gripped the reins. Had she succumbed to a scoundrel’s charm? Damn it. He disliked being taken by surprise, and this was an unexpected and alarming occurrence.
“You accuse him of deceit. Yet you don’t know him.”
Reade clamped his lips on a curse. “We have your friend to concern us, until then, will you heed my advice?”
“But Mr. Ollerton will wonder at the change in me. He was to drive me to the park today, but I had to refuse him so I might meet you.”
He tightened his jaw. “It can’t be helped.”
“Yes, I quite see that. I just want to find Charlotte safe and well.”
Had he convinced Jo? She must obey him. If anything happened to her… He wrestled with unsettling emotions as he assisted the two women down from the horses.
They left the stables, and leading Ash by the reins, he walked with them up the road. Reade had wanted an uncomplicated life devoid of emotion, but he’d begun to wonder if that were true. His feelings deepened every time he saw Joanna. He couldn’t deal with it now. Emotions had no place here.
“Will you promise me not to go anywhere with Ollerton?” Outside her home, Reade mounted Ash and gazed down at her, noting the distress in her eyes and the determined shape of her mouth.
“I have no interest in seeing Mr. Ollerton. It’s Charlotte I care about. Please send word the minute you hear anything.”
With a bob, Sally disappeared down the steps to the servants’ quarters.
Charlotte had fallen foul of Virden. They had him under surveillance, so Black would know if the scoundrel left her safely outside her chaperone’s house. If Virden had whisked the girl away, they would know where he took her. But something was amiss. Reade would have received word about it by now.
He hadn’t been about to risk revealing any of this to Joanna. She was so concerned for her friend he wasn’t confident she would leave the matter in his hands and go off tracing the maid’s journey, which might lead her into danger. The thought of losing her sent a bolt of fear through him. It pulled him up short. She was coming to mean too much to him.
Chapter Twelve
Reade’s eyes searchedhers. “Joanna, promise me you won’t take any risks. I want nothing to happen to you.”
Her name on his lips made Jo weak at the knees. She wanted to run into his arms and have him carry her away. She wasn’t practical Jo from the country who knew what she wanted from life. Oh, God, she wanted him. His voice was low, husky, and imploring. Her pulse thrummed. She searched his eyes, which could look like brown velvet or hard as granite, depending on his mood. Was it concern or something more he felt for her? Or would she spend her life comparing every other man she met unfavorably to him?
His dark eyebrows lowered. “Promise?” he asked again, leaning forward in the saddle.
“I promise. Just find her, Reade,” she repeated. It wasn’t a lie. She wouldn’t be reckless.
“Shall I send you another feather if I hear anything more?” she called after him.
He shook his head, but a reluctant smile teased his lips. “A note will suffice. I pray there is no necessity for it.”
He urged his horse into a trot and left her.
A little giddy, she turned and climbed the steps. The parlor curtain twitched. With a sigh, she entered through the door held open by the butler.
“Mr. Ollerton has called, Miss Dalrymple,” Spears announced in a disapproving tone.
Alarm, like a cool breeze, crept up the back of her neck and brought her down with a thud. “Did my aunt speak to him, Spears?”
“He is with your aunt. They are in the parlor.”
Jo straightened her shoulders and entered the parlor.
