Page 14 of A Bluestocking’s Secret Courtship

“I didn’t expect you to retrieve it personally, sir.” Her tone was crisper than before.

He adjusted his grip on the strap. “The other servants are busy preparing for dinner. I only wanted to help.”

They stared at one another. The splash from the fountain in the middle of the courtyard grew louder as the moment stretched. A breeze rustled through the lemon and orange trees.

She exhaled, chuckling softly. “Forgive me. Too much time in my sister’s presence has made me as leery as she is.”

Splendid. With a houseful of suspicious guests, his chance to search Wedmore’s trunk might have slipped through his fingers.

He and Petros followed her into the room and placed the trunk at the foot of the bed. As he stood, Miss Darlington’s eyes widened. Her gaze locked on him as if inspecting an artifact. His shirt had become translucent from splashing himself with water, and the thin fabric molded to his chest.

She was dressed for dinner in a lightweight pale blue gown, her ringlet curls pulled back with silver combs adorned with delicate filigree. A wash of pink stained the apples of her cheeks, but her gaze didn’t waver as she reached for a strand of hair at her temple, twirling it around her finger.

“I, erm…” He reverted to being the awkward antiquarian who didn’t know what to do with his hands—only this time it wasn’t an act. He crossed his arms, then reached to scratch the back of his neck. “I should change before dinner. Is it late? It feels late.”

She dropped her hand at her side. “There is time. We will wait for you before going to the table.”

Jonathan thanked her, though he was the host.

“No, thank you, sir.” She fidgeted with the clasp on her glove and glanced at his chest again.

“I am pleased to be of service.”

Petros stood by silently, smirking. Jonathan narrowed his eyes at him.

“I—I hope your aunt and uncle return soon,” Jonathan said.

“So do I,” she murmured. “In the meantime, they would insist we enjoy Athens. Perhaps over dinner you could recommend sights we shouldn’t miss?”

“I would be honored.” As he slipped outside, he said to Petros in Greek, “Not a word to anyone. You saw nothing.”

Petros nodded. Jonathan strode into the villa and hurried up the stairs to his quarters to change.

Sightseeing, eh?

It was a practical activity when visiting Athens, but her guarded manner suggested she wasn’t being forthcoming. What if Wedmore came out of hiding once he heard his nieces were here? He might approach them at one of the ruins.

Clearly, the earl knew he was being hunted. Otherwise, why would he disguise himself? At every port, Wedmore had been several steps ahead of Jonathan. There was a good chance he might even know Jonathan was his pursuer, which left him in a pickle. He couldn’t accompany Miss Darlington and her family on their outings if he wanted to draw Wedmore out, and he couldn’t follow them without Wedmore’s nieces noticing.

Damnation! He needed Dom’s assistance, but his fellow Regent’s man left the villa early that morning and hadn’t returned. Jonathan had no idea where he had gone, and he wouldn’t ask. They had been trained not to question their colleagues’ mysterious disappearances.

As Dom’s valet helped Jonathan don his jacket and passed a final brush over the fabric to remove lint, it struck him. He could search Wedmore’s trunk while Miss Darlington and her family were sightseeing.

Miss Darlington and Mr. and Mrs. Vistoire were waiting in the seating area that adjoined the dining room when he came downstairs. The table, with dinnerware arranged in the English fashion, was visible through the arched doorway. Candles burned in both tiers of the giltwood chandelier, casting a warm glow over the fine bone china and glinting off the polished silver.

He paused, taking in the unexpected grandeur. Dom had never bothered to have the table properly set when it was just the two of them—not that Jonathan minded. He was often happiest eating from a pot over an open fire while discussing plans for the next day’s dig with the local men he hired.

“Shall we?” Jonathan gestured toward the dining room.

Once everyone was seated, he rang for the first course to be served.

Miss Darlington, who was seated across from him, smiled, putting him at ease. “I understand you and Lady Norwick have known each other since you were children.”

“We have,” he said, tension draining from him. “Her father was the local parson. Lady Audley is from the same county, but we rarely interacted.” Her father had been a duke and his, simply a baronet.

“Did you hear Lady Audley remarried?” Miss Darlington asked. “To the youngest Hillary brother, Jake.”

His jaw twitched. “I had forgotten.”