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“Er… right.” He paused. “Is he a trustworthy fellow?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Madame trusts him.”

“Do you think she should?” he pressed.

Lisette could hide her thoughts almost as well as her mistress could. “It’s not my place to say, monsieur.”

Nate sighed. “Of course not. I hope Mr. Stafford hasn’t sent him to cause trouble.”

“That is his specialty,” Lisette said under her breath. “Do not worry. Madame is capable of dealing with a great deal of trouble.”

He knew that. It was why he’d let her walk into her room alone; he greatly respected Angelique’s capabilities. Of course, when Ian drew her knife as if he meant to use it, Nate felt it was better to be safe than sorry. He was vastly relieved to hear that Ian was truly no threat, and not just another agent come to do Stafford’s still-unknown bidding.

The trouble was, he could see that Ian’s visit unsettled her. He couldn’t forget what she’d said the other day, that she kept secrets for good reason. Why would Ian’s visit make her uneasy, since the man himself clearly didn’t?

She’d wanted to know what Stafford told him, and if there were additional instructions. Ian had been so focused on watching Nate he might have missed her response to his replies, but Nate saw. Angelique was troubled by something, and she wasn’t telling him about it. He devoutly hoped it was because she saw it as not worth telling him, and not something she feared telling him.

“I know,” Nate belatedly replied to Lisette’s assurance. “But she shouldn’t have to do it alone.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Angelique sent Ian off after persuading him to tell Stafford she had everything well in hand and needed no help. She wasn’t sure he believed it, from the narrow-eyed look he gave her, but he didn’t protest. Lisette fed him and poured him two large mugs of ale, which salved a good deal of his ruffled temper. He took his time eating, but now Angelique was almost shoving him out the door.

“How long do you need me to put him off?” he asked, tugging his cap back on his head.

“A week at least,” she said. “We are at a crucial moment, and I would prefer not to be distracted by his impatience.”

Ian laughed. “Right. Wouldn’t we all? Well, best of luck to you, my dear.” He kissed her cheek. “And mind what I said,” he murmured near her ear.

“Off with you.”

He left, closing the kitchen door behind him. For a moment she stood by the door, thinking. Lisette was cleaning dishes at the sink. “Lisette,” Angelique said. “Has Mr. Avery gone out?”

“Oui, Madame.”

She nodded, and came to stand next to her maid. “What do you think of him?”

Lisette’s brow dipped as she thought. “He is no fool. He is a gentleman, as far as I can see, although loud and much too merry much of the time. He and that man of his are both tidy as well. They left the attics as neat as a pin, even blacked the grate. I admire that in a man, Madame.”

She smiled. “Who does not?” Then she sighed. “But can I trust him?”

Lisette placed her hands on her hips and looked at her. Angelique noticed her maid’s hands were red and cracked from the hot water, and she felt a pang of regret for dragging Lisette into this life with her. A normal lady’s maid didn’t scrub and wash and worry about blacking the grates.

“Monsieur Avery cares for you, Madame,” said Lisette quietly. “I have seen the way he looks at you, like a man who has found a priceless jewel where he expected to see paste. He worries for you, and he does not trust Monsieur Stafford.”

“He told you that?” Angelique was surprised, almost as surprised as she was to hear Lisette speak Stafford’s name.

Lisette nodded. “He worried about Mr. Wallace today, and if he is trustworthy. I do not think he fears Monsieur Wallace for himself, but for you.”

“No, he does not.” Not at all, to guess from the way he’d put a knife to Ian’s neck.

“And if you’ll forgive me, Madame,” Lisette went on, “I suspect he has delayed at finding this man you seek because he wishes to be with you.” Angelique frowned at her and Lisette shrugged. “Lying in bed all day? Walking in the park and returning home without doing anything else? I asked Monsieur Chesterfield how long they expected to be in London. A week or two, he told me, and that was a fortnight ago. And I notice you do not press him to act.”

Angelique closed her eyes. Lisette had noticed. She would never tell, but it was a sign that she was slipping.

“I am not judging, Madame, only remarking. If you are happy with him… I am happy for you.”

She bit her lip to keep from smiling. It fed that ember of hope and happiness in her heart to hear that Lisette approved. “Lisette,” she asked on impulse, “when I retire from this, what will you do?”