Page 12 of A Bluestocking’s Secret Courtship

“You flatter me, sir.”

“Only because you impress me.”

“How so?”

“I think you are clever. You quickly figured out your aunt posted your uncle’s letter from her address.”

She shrugged. “It was a simple deduction.”

“I do not believe for a moment there is anything simple about you, Miss Darlington.” He raised her hand to his lips and grazed a kiss across her knuckles. “I would love for you and your family to join me for dinner. We sit down at eight.”

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, her fingers tingling even after he released her. “Thank you for the lovely invitation, sir. I accept on behalf of my family.”

When Evangeline retreated to the guest quarters, Regina was pacing the wide corridor outside the private sitting room. The windows lining the left side of the passage had been shuttered, and wall-mounted oil lamps washed the walls in golden light, shimmering off the marble floor. Evangeline’s sister pounced the moment she reached the arched doorway.

“Where is Uncle Charles? Why is he pretending to be⁠—?”

“Shush!” Evangeline darted a look over her shoulder to ensure they were alone. “Not here.”

She led her sister into the private sitting room where Xavier was reading. He abandoned the book on a side table and stood to help Regina lower herself onto the settee.

“I tried to calm her, but she needed to move,” he said to Evangeline. “She will wear herself out.”

She understood the futility of trying to stop Regina, even on a calm day.

“I want to understand,” Regina said, jabbing the air with her hands and revealing her agitation. “Where is Uncle Charles? Mrs. Bellini said he has been missing for weeks.”

“She didn’t say missing. He simply hasn’t been back to the lodging house.”

Regina opened her mouth, and Evangeline shook her head.

“I know the difference is subtle, but think about it. He is on the verge of an amazing discovery. He will be at the dig site.”

“But where is it?”

“I don’t know.” Evangeline sighed. “We must be patient until he returns. Mrs. Bellini will tell him we came looking for him and where we are staying.”

“Thank you for bringing up another point,” her sister said. “Why is he pretending to be Fanny Flibberquick?”

“Who is this Mrs. Flibberquick?” Xavier asked.

Regina promised to explain later.

“You know how secretive Uncle Charles is about his work,” Evangeline said. “And we know men want to steal his latest discovery. That is why Xavier was forced to break into Wedmore House.”

Her brother-in-law shuddered, and she regretted reminding him of his captivity. At least the danger had passed. The man who had falsely reported Xavier as a French spy was dead, and Farrin, Xavier’s captor, had drowned in the Thames.

“For now,” Evangeline said, “let’s keep Uncle Charles’s research to ourselves. Sir Jonathan’s studies do not overlap, but proving the Black Death existed might be tempting for any antiquarian.”

“If he is untrustworthy,” Xavier said, “we should find somewhere else to stay.”

“I’m not saying he cannot be trusted. I simply want to keep him at a distance when it comes to Uncle Charles’s work. I think we should behave as tourists while we are waiting for Uncle Charles to return from the field. If we cross paths with any Englishmen, we can inquire if they have heard anything about him.”

“If there are French nationals in Athens, I will question them, too,” Xavier said.

Regina’s knee was bouncing, but she agreed to the plan. “What if he doesn’t come back?”

“Then we will go to him.” Evangeline wasn’t sure how to find their uncle yet, but she would search his trunk for clues as soon as Lord Dominic’s servants retrieved it tomorrow.