“I hope I didn’t interrupt anything important,” she said. “I know how busy you are.”
Doing dukely things.
Will pointedly looked away and adjusted his cuffs. “You did, actually.”
He decided not to mention that it had been a carriage ride through Hyde Park with Lady Gwendolyn Fairbanks, the most celebrated debutante of the season and the ideal candidate for his future duchess. This whole courting business was deuced irritating, but as his mother had become so fond of reminding him, he was nearly thirty and it was long past time to find a wife.
If it had been up to Will, they would already be betrothed, but apparently ladies liked to be wooed a little—and Lady Gwendolyn had no shortage of admirers. That meant far too much of Will’s time lately had been spent coordinating the most insipid activities around the young lady’s packed schedule. No doubt Lord Fairbanks would be furious that Will had canceled on his daughter with so little notice, but he couldn’t in good conscience ignore Miss Atkinson’s message, however much he regretted it now.
“I’m sorry.”
The apology sounded genuine enough to faintly tug at a spot in his chest.
That’s your heart, you idiot.
Will cleared his throat as he met her gaze, but he found no trace of the expected contempt.
Yes. Definitely his heart.
“No apologies necessary,” he said curtly. “Just doing what Alex would want.”
Her eyes dimmed. “Right.”
“Now then. Would you mind telling me exactlywhyyou are in police custody?”
But just as Phoebe began to speak, the door opened again. A dark-haired man with a thick mustache and a strong jaw entered. He looked around Will’s age but had several inches and a good thirty pounds on him—all of which appeared to be muscle.
“Afternoon, Your Grace,” the man said with a brief nod while his expression remained stern. “I’m Detective Inspector Holland.”
“A pleasure,” Will replied, shaking his hand. “Miss Atkinson was just about to tell me what grave offense has landed her in your care. Surely there has been some kind of misunderstanding,” he added with an apologetic smile that the inspector did not return.
“I’m afraid not, Your Grace. She was trespassing on private property. The constable who arrested her witnessed it himself.”
Phoebe scoffed, “As I already told you, I was simply trying to locate my student.”
“According to the property’s maintenance man you were causing a disturbance,” the inspector countered. “And refused to leave.”
“I didn’t have the chance to before the constable came! AndI would think the fact that a fifteen-year-old girl has completely vanished would be of far more importance to the police.”
The inspector’s impressive jaw hardened. “There are proper channels for reporting missing persons. You can’t just go around accosting people in their own homes.”
“I did no such thing,” Phoebe said hotly. “I was merely asking the other residents of the building when they had last seen her. And everyone I encountered was happy to share any information they had. Which, I believe, isyourjob.”
Will shifted on his feet. Alex was right. Shewasa menace.
Detective Inspector Holland sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I understand your concerns, Miss Atkinson. Truly, I do. But you were still trespassing and it is myjobto enforce the law.”
Before Phoebe could further antagonize the man, Will intervened.
“Inspector, with all due respect, has Miss Atkinson been charged with a crime?”
The inspector reluctantly shook his head. “It’s up to the building’s owner to press further charges.”
“But until then she is free to go, correct?”
Detective Inspector Holland had a glare to rival Will’s. “As long as her fine is paid.”
“Consider it done.”
