He began to shave. She suspected he had no idea.
“You’ll want to look your best,” he said at last.
Nora sputtered indignantly. “I certainly don’t need to put on airs for some worthless aristocrat. Do you think I have a splendid afternoon gown hidden away? I don’t waste my days sipping tea in fancy drawing rooms. What’s good enough for Isabella and Mother Margarita is good enough for the Count di Castellimonte.”
“You will want to rehearse your answers,” he went on as if she hadn’t spoken.
Nora glowered at the man’s back. He ran a towel over his face and turned back to her.
“Fine,” he said, “you stay here, then. Let the count’s spies make what they want of it.”
Anger drained out of her. “Do you think they followed me here?”
“Perhaps. I didn’t see them, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t out there.”
She sank into his rickety chair. “I don’t know what to do,” she said.
His chin jerked up as if at a sudden thought. “Do you feel at risk at your own premises?”
“How could I? That ruffian you had me hire sticks like glue. I left him in the piazza.”
Jamie glared down at her.
“That ‘ruffian’ knows his work. Wat Jones is a good English soldier come on bad times,” he told her.I was damned lucky to find him.
“He refuses to come in,” she mumbled.
The thought of Wat Jones, former sergeant and current miscreant taking tea at Nora’s table distracted Jamie briefly.Of course the man wouldn’t come in. The fool woman should realize putting a guard at her door had put a stop to lurking strangers.
“Are you frightened?” he repeated.
Nora puffed up indignantly. “Of course I’m not frightened! I just…” She couldn’t cover her bluff.
He had to get her out of here.Five hours gives her too damned much time to anticipate disaster. How can I keep her busy?
“As I said, stay here if you wish. Let the Ferret judge you as a light skirt.” He ran right over her gasp of outrage. “Or go back to your rooms as you choose. Wat is there.”
“I told you he is in the piazza. He followed me here,” she said.
He combed his hair swiftly and walked to the door just as swiftly. “Good,” he said. “I have some appointments to keep.”
“Appointments?” she squeaked.
“I have a life, Mrs. Haley,” he said.
Let her think I have business to conduct. I need to run as far from this count as I can. But where?Nothing came to him.
The wren’s eyes flitted around Jamie’s pathetic little room with desperation, seeking an argument to hold him, and his defenses began to crumble.Damn it to Hell.
“I could accompany you,” she said.
He caught her eye, warning her.
“No, I don’t suppose I could,” she agreed. “I can’t very well stay here. My reputation, Major,” she said, as if it was her own idea. “I’ll visit Robert and meet you by the fountain in the hospital piazza at 1:30.”
Excellent choice. She would be both occupied and not alone. He nodded agreement.
Jamie glared over at his image in the mirror, astonished to find that he actually planned to meet the count. He choked on the thought. He was in no condition for it. He barely had time to visit the barber around the corner, and could do nothing with his only coat. He pictured his dress uniform, long gone to pay for meals and more wine than he cared to admit.I can’t do it.
