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“Are you going in?” Fairfax asked with one raised brow. “Or shall we continue to my townhouse?”

That was probably the wisest choice, but I couldn’t ignore the challenge that had been issued this afternoon with Miss Sullivan’s visit.

She’d seemed innocent enough on the few occasions we’d crossed paths at the school. I’d made it a point to learn about everyone connected with Millworth and had already known she came once a week. She liked to read to the children and had started helping some of them learn to read. I’d been impressed that she’d devoted that effort to the ones who were finding the task particularly challenging.

But seeing her at King’s today had me reassessing what little I knew about her. Had she known who I was all along? Was all this some ruse to gain my notice? I shook my head to clear it of those thoughts. I was going to find out soon enough.

“I hate how suspicious of everyone I’m becoming,” I said.

Fairfax was watching me carefully. “It is wise to be cautious. It’s those fools who don’t know others are out to get them who find themselves ensnared.”

“It’s not as though most of those men don’t deserve it,” I said. “They would have no problem ruining a young woman and walking away if they didn’t fear for their reputations.”

“But you don’t fear for yours,” Fairfax said.

I shook my head. “No, I don’t. If someone is foolish enough to ruin themselves, I don’t think I should be obliged to tie myself to them for the rest of my life.”

“But?” Fairfax raised a brow.

I let out a harsh breath “It appears that I have a conscience. And while I wouldn’t ruin my life because some silly chit tried to force me into offering for her, that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t bother me to know their lives would be forever ruined once scandal touched them. I’d rather avoid that if I could.”

Fairfax nodded. “Let’s get this over with.”

He exited the carriage first, and I followed. A quick glance up and down the street showed me that I might just be safe here. No young women leapt out at me. I winced, remembering how often that had happened over the last month.

We strode into the hotel. My valet was sitting at the far end of the lobby. Myles rose and made his way over to us.

He bowed. “Everything is in order, my lord. I’ve secured your room and unpacked your bags.”

I nodded. “Shall we?” I took a step toward the stairs, expecting him to follow. Fairfax stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. I took a moment to look around the lobby. “Have you spotted anyone?”

Fairfax shook his head. “No. But perhaps you should send your valet up to the room first to ensure it’s still empty.”

I shook my head, but when it came to subterfuge, I trusted Fairfax’s instincts. “I suppose we can wait.” I turned to Myles. “Would you mind?”

The man inclined his head. Shorter than me by a few inches, he was slim and fair-haired. No one would ever confuse the two of us.

“Of course, my lord,” he said before striding to the stairs with a skip to his step that told me he was looking forward to this.

I shook my head. “I am beginning to understand how foxes feel during a hunt, when all the hounds are in pursuit. I’ll never be able to engage in another hunt again.”

Fairfax laughed. “When was the last time you engaged in that sport?”

I shrugged. “It’s been a number of years. My father enjoys it and used to insist I accompany him.”

Fairfax made his way to the far end of the lobby. He settled into the chair my valet had abandoned while I took the seat opposite. “Perhaps we should take you to a ballroom and take bets on which young lady will catch you.”

I glared at him. “It is going to bring me so much pleasure when the tides turn and everyone has decided to chase you instead.”

Fairfax shrugged. “Your problem is that you are giving them a target to chase.” He spread his arms wide. “While I am available for anyone to catch. Anyone who wants to spend the night with me is more than welcome.”

I grunted. “You have no conscience.”

He smiled widely. “I have a conscience. I just don’t let it interfere when it doesn’t suit me.”

Fairfax was watching the stairs over my shoulder, and his eyes narrowed. He shifted his head to one side, and I turned to see a woman about twice my age escorting someone I presumed to be her daughter. Both their faces were mottled with red, the older woman’s with anger and the younger woman’s with embarrassment. I watched them storm from the hotel.

Moments later, Myles sauntered down the stairs. He glanced around the lobby and came our way when he spotted us.