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A pair of street urchins rushed to her, and she laughed at something they said. She tore one of the pastries into sections and handed pieces to each child. Together with the dirty children, she went to a doorway, where she entered.

The exterior of the building was nondescript. A red-faced woman lugging a heavy bundle exited and motioned for a man with a cart to come closer. Together she and the man loaded what looked to be clothing onto the cart.

“Pardon,” Alex said, nearing. “I am looking for a friend. Are these apartments?”

The woman chuckled without mirth. “Can call ’em that, I suppose.” She gave him a once over. “We may all be poor, but we are honest people ’ere.”

Obviously, she figured that he was seeking someone for illegal matters.

“I seek to employ a servant,” he clarified. “A woman with red hair applied.”

“No one with red hair comes ’ere but Miss Vivian. She don’t be needin’ employment.” The woman cackled. “She’s a saint who comes to spend time and feed the elderly.”

The pair rode off, talking loudly about him. Mostly they’d decided he was not to be trusted. Alex met his own gaze in a dirty window. Perhaps with his hair blown this way and that and the scarf pulled up to his ears, he did seem seedy.

* * *

Upon entering the townhouse, Alexander was immediately directed to get out of the way by William’s wife, Clara.

“If you’re hungry, go to the kitchen, Alex, but please do not ask for food to be prepared. They are extremely busy for our dinner party tonight.” Her eyes shined bright. “My first dinner party. I am so very excited.”

He couldn’t help but smile at her. With vibrant green eyes and red hair matching her sister’s, she was a beauty. However, in his opinion, Vivian was the prettiest of the three sisters, and of a more even temperament.

The three sisters were independent thinkers, which appealed to him. Penelope, the youngest, was the most outspoken, and Clara was the adventurous one. He’d yet to decide what trait was Vivian’s strongest.

“I saw your sister Vivian today,” he remarked, ignoring Clara’s attempt to shoo him away. “She was alone at a bakery not too far from the market near your home.”

Clara didn’t seem surprised. Obviously, much to their parent’s consternation, the sisters often escaped to go out without escort. “Ah yes, she must have gone to visit Mr. and Mrs. Conner. The poor dears. Have no one to look after them. I must remind her we need to hire someone for that task whilst we are away in the country.”

“Why does she go in person?” He followed Clara as she hurried to the dining room.

She turned, a frown on her face. “Why would she not?” Her expression changed when her companion, Molly, entered with a floral arrangement. “Oh, how beautiful.” She looked back to Alex. “Do not mention seeing her alone to my parents tonight.”

Chapter 3

“He walked into the bakery. How very strange.” Penelope was perched on Vivian’s bed, dressed only in her chemise. “Was he as dashing as the other night?” Her sister sighed dramatically. “Mr. Yarnsby is the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.”

“Then perhaps you should strive for a courtship,” Vivian replied.

“Ha,” Penelope exclaimed. “He only has eyes for you. As a matter of fact, we were all surprised he did not try to intercept between you and that dreadful Mr. Jameson.”

“Mr. Jameson is not dreadful.” Vivian held up a mauve gown that she planned to wear that night. The high velvet-trimmed neckline was flattering, and the long sleeves would keep her warm.

After running into Yarnsby at the bakery, she’d thought of nothing else. He had indeed looked dashingly handsome. The cold air had brought color to his cheeks, and his windblown hair had made him seem dangerous. There was something about the man that made her lose her train of thought. It was most annoying.

“Why do you not admit to being attracted to him?” Penelope studied her, then looked to the dress. “That gown is ugly. You never wear it once you try it on. I am not sure what the dressmaker was thinking.”

“I am not in the least attracted to Mr. Yarnsby. He has been nothing by an annoyance. Why would I wish to be with someone who runs off anyone interested in suiting me but does not declare himself? I believe he is playing a game.”

“You should play one back, then,” Penelope quipped. Her younger sister’s eyes rounded, and a wide smile slowly creeped up until her entire face transformed. “I have an amazingly devilish idea.”

“What is it, Pen?” Vivian asked as she pulled a different gown, this time a green one, from the wardrobe.

“What if you seduce Mr. Yarnsby?”

Vivian spun. “Why on earth would I do that?”

Holding her hands out, Penelope made her hesitate. “Pretend to seduce him, string him along, then when he is about to fall, you waltz away. Give him a taste of his own medicine.”