“Tomorrow is for me.” I returned to stacking the perfect column of papers. “Thackery’s desk needs to look untouched, even if I want to set it on fire.”
“He’d notice char.”
Floorboards creaked. Someone stood in the hall.
Patience dashed out the window to the ropes and into the tree.
There was no time to follow.
I blew out the candles, closed the window, and hid behind the sofa.
CHAPTER 8
DANIEL—BREAKING ANDENTERTAINING
Outside the door to his shared office in the Lincoln’s Inn, his overly affectionate companion for the evening, Lady Lavinia Nell, stood behind Daniel with her arms draped about his chest like a fine tailcoat, an expensive one.
He patted away her hands and went into his coat pocket for a key. “This is my office, Lady Lavinia. You’ll see it, then I’ll return you to your carriage.”
“Your mood is still fouled from that solicitor harassing you before the dinner.”
“Mr. Mosey did work for my uncle. The man is a worm.” Both men were.
Daniel dropped his key but snatched it up before Lavinia became more hands on. “Yes, Mosey took the shine off my evening. His Tonbridge firm represents those with unsavory holdings.” Slavers, intercolonial transporters of people—unsavory, evil.
She brushed at Daniel’s shoulder, fingering lines in his formal ebony tailcoat. “Let me polish you and make your eyes sparkle.”
“Lavinia, go home. I’m not in the mood for amusement.”
“You’re in the mood for something, why else am I here?”
It would be bad form to say he needed a distraction, that he was bothered seeing Mrs. St. Maur’s new suitor, Mr. Willingham, hovering about her.
“Open the door, Lord Ashbrook. I want to see where the scales of justice are made right.”
“That would be the Old Bailey court. Not here. Stop by Tuesday. I have a trial where I’m the barrister for the Crown.”
“Let me in again, Daniel.” She snuggled closer almost pressing him into the knob. “Looks a little small.”
He pried free, putting more space between them. “It’s large enough.”
“You seem nervous, sir. Brandy or a port will do you good. Or maybe we can do something to make you more relaxed?”
Daniel didn’t drink, nothing more than a social sip to not upset his hostess or colleagues. “No, my dear. I am fretting. Trying a new nanny for my household. It’s the first night in a long time I didn’t put my little girl to bed.”
“I’ve heard it’s been a long time since you put a big one to bed too.”
He dropped the key again. “Don’t pay attention to gossip. You should know better.”
Searching, he found the key near the woman’s white silk slipper. Daniel forwent the offer of her long leg moving closer to his face and sprung up fast. “Lavinia, no. Down, my lady.”
“I’m not your puppy, Daniel. But I do orders very well.”
“Then maybe I could give you Max for a week. My pug is still a belligerent dog.”
“That’s not what I want.”
He pressed the key into the lock. The door opened with a screech, and he lit the wall sconces. “See, nothing fancy. Go home. Your tour is complete.”
