Page 38 of A Bluestocking’s Secret Courtship

“This project has personal significance.” His voice wavered slightly. “I want to finish my father’s work.”

And she had a chance to follow her passion, unlike her mother who had been denied simply for being a woman. If she walked away from this opportunity, it would feel like an insult to her mother.

She sighed. “When would you like to begin?”

Thirteen

Jonathan headed for Dom’s study after parting from Evangeline, his mind preoccupied with their near kiss. When her sweet scent had wafted in the air and her beautiful eyes overflowed with adoration, he forgot for a brief moment what had brought them together.

If Dom had retrieved the journal, Jonathan could end this charade, along with the pretense of them working together. Not that he wanted to cut ties. She was perfectly suited for him, and even though he had only said goodnight a moment ago, he physically ached to see her again.

He hadn’t fully lied about the project. His father had planned to author a book about ancient Greece with an emphasis on the Acropolis. Jonathan simply hadn’t realized he wanted to fulfill his father’s lost dream until now.

Dom was playing a solitary card game when he entered the study.

“Tell me you found it,” Jonathan said without preamble and dragged a chair to the small table that doubled as a desk.

“Bloody Vistoire.” Dom slapped the deck of cards on the tabletop. “He intercepted me before I reached the wing. He asked me about French nationalists while we had a drink.”

Jonathan fought a small smile of satisfaction. The outing with Evangeline tomorrow would go forward. “Did Vistoire suspect anything when he intercepted you?”

“He caught me in the foyer.” Dom smirked, hooking his arm over the back of his chair. “He also requested I question my wealthy contacts about Wedmore to determine if he approached any of them about sponsoring an excavation.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That I would do it. I had a thought while we were discussing Wedmore. What if he isn’t hiding? What if someone has gotten to him first?”

“Bandits?” Jonathan asked.

Dom shrugged. “Banditti have been known to carry off gentlemen of means, but the hostages are released after a ransom is paid.”

“But he is pretending to be a woman.”

“They don't discriminate. If a tourist appears wealthy, there is a chance a ransom will be paid.”

Jonathan frowned. He hadn’t known the risks, or he wouldn’t have been comfortable with Evangeline and her family setting off alone, even with Dom following them.

“Wedmore wouldn’t be easy prey,” Jonathan said, “even if he was outnumbered.”

“He would not.”

Dom and Jonathan had undergone vigorous training on survival, weaponry, and defense as recruits. Every man did. Charles Wedmore was acknowledged as an expert in hand-to-hand combat. Hell, Jonathan heard rumors that Wedmore had created the training program.

“Every man has moments of weakness,” Dom said. “When he is deep in his cups… When he lies with a woman… And he has no defense against a sneak. For a few piastres, some servants will slip a sleeping potion into a foreigner's wine.”

“Very well,” Jonathan said, “let’s assume in a moment of vulnerability Wedmore was kidnapped. His family has been in Athens for a week. How long before word reaches the bandits?"

“Most are locals, and word has spread about the Frenchman and English ladies boarding at the villa.”

“Vistoire isn’t French.”

Dom curled his lip. “Either way, I expect Wedmore’s nieces would have received demands by now.”

Jonathan had guessed as much. “That eliminates kidnapping.”

“There is another possibility.” Dom wrapped his knuckles against the table. “Have you considered you are not the only Regent’s man Farrin sent to kill him? What if we are searching for a body at this point?”

An icy knot began to form in Jonathan’s gut. He had left England to protect his former betrothed. When Farrin insinuated that Miss Thorne's life would be in danger unless Jonathan complied with orders, he had rushed to make travel arrangements. Miss Thorne believed Jonathan was choosing a dig over her, so she had broken their engagement and married her first love before Jonathan’s ship set sail.