She wore a light green gown that was tight under her breasts and flowed down her body in billowy softness. Her décolletage—highlighting the pale, silken rises of her breasts—made his throat go dry, so he concentrated on her arresting face. Her features looked crafted from alabaster. Clear skin, pink cheeks, red lips, bright blue eyes with black brows softly winged above them. She never failed to have an intelligent demeanor, as if she were sizing up everything and everyone around her. At the same time she had a fun-loving air about her, a twinkle in her eye, as if she didn’t take herself too seriously. He liked that about her. Probably too much.
Daffin stood silently as Regina crossed the expansive foyer in his direction. Her dark hair was piled atop her head and she carried herself gracefully, her face perfectly calm as if she were coming to greet any other guest. He couldn’t help but wonder what she would say when she reached him. The woman had arrived at his office and made him an indecent proposal. She was unpredictable. She kept him guessing. He liked that, too.
He could tell what most women, most people, were thinking before they said it. With Regina, he never had any ideawhat she would say next. He was on perpetual tenterhooks waiting to hear.
Daffin had accepted this position for two reasons: Nicole and Mark. The purse didn’t tempt him. He didn’t need it. He wanted to help his friends. The fact that Regina would be there after their awkward encounter was a fact he’dtriednot to give much thought. Tried and failed, which was especially dangerous given that Grim had all but warned him to keep his hands to himself. Daffin had promised Regina he would not tell his friends about her proposal, and he intended to keep that promise. Wouldshe?
If he were truly being honest with himself, he’d also admit taking this assignment would keep his thoughts from the ghosts that haunted him at Christmastide. That particular thought was inaccurate. He’d be spending Christmas with a happy family… the last thing he wanted. Nevertheless, he’d agreed to help his friends, and help them he would. He would simply make himself scarce during their holiday celebrations. That shouldn’t prove too difficult.
“Ah, Regina, there you are,” Nicole called as Regina joined them in the foyer. “You remember Daffin Oakleaf?”
Daffin didn’t mistake Nicole’s slightly dry tone.
“Yes, of course. Mr. Oakleaf, a pleasure to see you again.” Regina’s voice was light and airy. Her lips uttered the niceties any respectable lady would when greeting a guest in her cousins’ home. She obviously intended to act as if the encounter in his office hadn’t happened. Fine. He would, too. He respected her discretion.
Nicole reached out and pulled Regina closer into their circle. Was it his imagination, or did Nicole give him a knowing glance? Bloody hell. If she knew, this assignment wascertain to be more uncomfortable than he suspected. Nicole wasn’t the type to pretend away awkwardness. She was more likely to point it out and discuss it. He could only hope Regina had asked Nicole to keep her silence.
“Lady Regina,” Daffin intoned, bowing at the waist to acknowledge her presence. “The last time we met, the circumstances were… unfortunate.”
He’d meant their meeting in the country when they’d tracked down her cousin’s murderer, but the startled look in her eye told him she thought he was referring to their encounter on Bow Street. “Your cousin’s memorial,” he clarified quickly.
Her face settled into calm again, and Nicole clasped her hand. “Yes, Regina’s been a dear the last few months. She’s come to London to stay with me during my confinement. Only, I haven’t quite begun the confinement part yet,” Nicole finished with a laugh.
Grimaldi cleared his throat. “Shall we retire to the study to discuss everything more comfortably?”
Daffin followed the three of them across the foyer and down the corridor to the study. He tried not to notice the graceful sway of Regina’s hips as she walked in front of him. Or the mouthwatering aroma of apples coming from her hair.
Nicole ushered them into the room before turning to the butler and prettily requesting a tea tray. She shut the door behind their group. Daffin and Grimaldi waited for the ladies to take seats first, of course. Regina lowered herself into a chair next to the settee that occupied the center of the room. Nicole sat on the settee and her husband joined her, leaving Daffin to take the chair on the other side of the settee, directly facing Regina.
“We all know why you’re here,” Grimaldi began, givinghim a solemn stare. “I’ve asked the footmen to patrol the house round the clock. We aren’t taking any chances.” Grimaldi laid a protective hand over his wife’s much smaller one.
The butler interrupted them by returning with the tea tray. “Thank you, Abbott.” Nicole motioned for him to set it on the table in front of them.
Daffin waited for the servant to leave the room before he spoke. “Do the servants know what’s going on?” He leaned forward and braced his forearms on his thighs, his head bent.
“Some of them do, of course,” Grimaldi replied. “The coachmen and the groomsmen for certain. I suspect the gossip has spread to the other servants.”
“I’ve mentioned it to Susanna,” Nicole admitted, pouring tea for each of them.
“I haven’t said anything to Genevieve,” Regina offered. She took her teacup from Nicole and sipped it. What must be going through that gorgeous head of hers? Was she embarrassed? Hoping he wouldn’t say anything? He couldn’t help but wonder if she would renew her offer. He cleared his throat and forced himself to return his thoughts to the matter at hand.
“Good,” Daffin replied. “We should keep talk to a minimum until we have a better idea what’s going on.”
“I agree,” Grimaldi added. “I’ll speak to the housekeeper and the butler about managing gossip.”
“Excellent. Now…” Daffin’s gaze scanned the ladies’ faces. “Do either of you have any idea who might want to hurt you?”
Nicole handed Daffin a cup of tea. “I’ve been thinking about that. It seems to me that Regina may be the target. She’s the one who was in the coach the second time, not me.”
Daffin met Regina’s gaze. “You had the feeling you were being watched as well, correct?”
Regina nodded and took another sip of tea. “Yes, but I cannot think of anyone who would want to do me harm.”
“You didn’t recognize the coach?” Daffin asked.
“Neither time,” Regina replied.
“The coachman told me he didn’t recognize it, either,” Grimaldi added. “And he couldn’t be certain it was the same one both times.”
