Surprised, and a little amused, he looked into her pretty face. “What is this urgent matter, Lady Diana?”
She shook her head and put a finger to her lips.
He sighed and took her arm, drawing her farther down the corridor. Reaching the library, he opened the door. As it wasempty, he led her inside. Shutting them in, he turned to her. “Now, please, what this is all about?”
She quickly related what she had overheard. “I felt it was necessary to inform you. But my interpretation could be wrong, I only…”
He gazed at her uneasily, resisting the urge to rub the prickles on his neck. “Tell me what you can.” Could these be the men he sought? If so, they had him in their sights and would stop at nothing or no one who got in their way. Not even a duke’s daughter should they become aware of her. Dear Lord, she must not become involved in this. He tightened his jaw. “Was any other name mentioned apart from mine?”
Her anxious eyes roamed his face. “I don’t know. I heard only bits of their conversation. It was very breezy, and with Grandmama beside me…”
“Describe them.”
She clasped her hands together. “I didn’t see them. They stood somewhere above us on the top of the monument. If I’d stood up to look for them, Grandmama would have unwittingly given us away.” She firmed her lips and glared at him. “I hope you don’t think I’m being overly dramatic. I can assure you…”
“How long ago was this?”
“Less than an hour. We came straight back here to the drawing room.”
He felt tempted to dismiss her news as unimportant, to provoke her into getting upset with him, and make her lose interest. But dash it all, that wouldn’t work. He suspected Lady Diana was a determined woman, and right now, she looked as keen as mustard to become involved. Of course, he couldn’t let her.
“Where is your grandmother now? Did she also overhear these men?”
“No. Grandmama is a little hard of hearing. She’s taking tea in the drawing room.”
“Good. Join her there and leave the matter to me. Don’t make so much of this. I’m sure it is nothing.”
“Nothing? Surely, you don’t believe that?” She shivered. “Could they mean to hurt you?”
He chuckled. “It would be foolish to jump to conclusions after overhearing a couple of words, Lady Diana. And they were not, as you have said, mentioned in the same sentence.”
“There’s more should you wish to hear it.” She crossed her arms across her full bosom and waited with an ironic expression.
Her feminine scent drifted across to him. Damian looked into her eyes, feeling decidedly off kilter. “There’s more?”
“At least one man was undoubtedly English. Although he was certainty fluent in the French language.” She tilted her head. “One would suspect he might have lived for a time in France, perhaps?”
“That is quite a leap. Many English people speak fluent French, as you obviously do yourself.”
“There was a distinct difference in the rhythm of his speech. And his accent is different too.”
This was interesting. Damian would advise Scovell and await his instructions. In the meantime, he would do a little digging of his own. “You are most observant, Lady Diana,” he said. “Don’t think that I’m not appreciative.” He waved toward the door. “Allow me to escort you back to the drawing room.”
She made no move to leave the library, her big eyes searching his and continuing to distract him. “Why are these people talking about you in such clandestine circumstances, Lord Ballantine?”
“Perhaps someone has taken a set against me,” he said, touched by her concern and fighting the urge to take her by theshoulders and kiss her. She cared enough to come find him and tell him about it, after all. “Maybe I bettered them at card play.”
She scowled at him. “Surely, this is not a laughing matter. What if you are in danger?”
“All the more reason for you to forget what you heard. You have told me. I shall deal with it, should it require any action on my part. But I would much prefer you to enjoy your stay here.”
“How patronizing. Don’t worry your little head about it, in other words.” With a look of disgust, she turned toward the door.
He stepped closer and caught her arm to stop her. “I would never patronize a lady, especially not one as smart as you.”
At his words, Lady Diana looked faintly mollified for a moment. “Does that mean that you will…?”
“No!”
