Alex shifted a bit, but didn’t say anything.
She nudged Harriet, who started in surprise. Using her eyes only, Emily told her maid to say something.
“Ah, sir. Would you mind telling us where we are going?”
Emily nodded her approval and turned to look at Alex. He was staring at her with his arms crossed and eyebrow raised. How she wished she could do that.
“You needn’t bother Harriet, the poor girl. We are going to a nearby brewery that I know of. There are dozens in and around London. I know of only three or four in the local area, however. I thought we could inquire as to the employment of Mr. Young.”
“Oh,” Emily said in surprise. “I had the same thought. I am glad we are on the same page.”
“About some things, anyway.”
She could not argue with that. But still, it was nice to see she could have a working relationship of sorts with Alex. Perhaps that is what they were. Colleagues. That was a definable relationship that she could deal with. And to that end…
“I feel I must apologize for my comment about your brother. It was unprofessional of me.”
If Alex was at all surprised by her apology, he did not show it.
“And I am sorry for implying you are vain.”
Blushing a bit, Emily replied, “Sometimes I can be, I suppose. With you anyway. Why are we so rude to each other?”
“I can’t say for you, but for me it is because an impressionable boy’s memory is long,” Alex said in all honesty.
“I don’t understand.”
Alex shrugged. “You once laughed at me and told me I was ‘no more a man than a child in swaddling.’ Or something like that.”
“I did?” Emily replied, before the full memory of that day came back to her. “Oh, I did, didn’t I. That was very rude of me.”
“I don’t know that I was much better. I believe I insulted all womankind.”
“When you say it out loud, it does seem rather silly to have harbored you such ill will for so long.”
“As I said. We were impressionable at that age.”
“I suppose so.”
What Alex said made a lot of sense actually, but Emily still wasn’t ready to become fast friends. Yes, he had said some hurtful things when he was a boy and she was a girl, but he had also said plenty when he was an adult. Was it really all just a show for her? Emily had her doubts.
She kept her thoughts to herself, however. They had a job to do and really, she wanted to talk about it all with John. He was her voice of reason, and only he could tell her one way or the other if it was possible to carry on a charade that was so convincing for so long.
Emily and Alex went to four different breweries over the course of the next few hours. She had no idea how difficult it was to get information out of a person when you were dressed as a common person, and pretending to need a job, but she and Alex were finally able to extract the knowledge they were seeking.
She was exhausted, but at least they had found out Mr. Young hadn’t worked for any of the establishments they had gone to and also that many of the smaller companies they visited had been bought up by a bigger operation called the Horseshoe.
By mutual agreement, they decided it was too late in the day to visit the Horseshoe that afternoon and not dressed as they were. It had to be easier to get the people running the breweries to talk dressed as one of the aristocracy.
The ride home was quiet. Despite their talk, Emily could still feel tension coming off Alexander. He had been a big help today. The men seemed much more willing to talk to him than to her. One fellow had actually offered him a job. The memory made her smile.
As she did so, Emily looked up and found Alex staring at her. She ducked her head shyly.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Alex said, his gaze not wavering.
“Oh, I was just thinking about your new job. Are you excited about your new path in life?” Emily teased.
Alex laughed. “Well, I suppose I could do worse than to earn an honest wage, but I think I will pass on this particular opportunity.”
“Probably a good idea. You have your estate to think of.”
“That’s right,” Alex said, looking surprised. “I didn’t realize you knew about that.”
It was Emily’s turn to laugh. “Nothing remains a secret for long with our friends. I assume you have heard that you are going to be an uncle.”
“I have, indeed. I have even recommended the name Alexander if they have a boy.”
“And Alexandra if it’s a girl?” Emily guessed.
“Of course,” Alex said, his chest puffing up. “It’s a lot for my namesake to live up to, but I will be there to act as guide.”
“Naturally,” Emily agreed in mock seriousness. “Honestly, though, the child could do worse than have you as an uncle.”
“Why Emily Moss, I do believe that is the nicest thing you have ever said to me.”
“Well, don’t let it go to your head. I just meant you are so much like a child yourself…”
“Oh, I see,” Alex chuckled good-naturedly. “I’m still taking it as a compliment.”
Emily just shook her head as she felt the hack come to a halt.
“Looks like we’re home,” Alex announced, opening the door and jumping out. He turned to help Emily and Harriet down from the hired cab.
“How can you possibly have this much energy after today?” Emily wondered aloud.
It had gotten dark during the ride back to Mayfair, and she found that the darkness just served to make her even more tired.
“I guess a compliment from Emily Moss is more powerful than you think.” Alex replied as he paid the cabbie. When he was done, he offered an arm to both ladies.
Laughing, Harriet and Emily slipped their hands into the crook of their proffered elbow. They had gone only a few steps when a figure in black burst out of the front door and down the front steps. He barreled into Emily, knocking them both to the ground. He scrambled to his feet immediately and ran off.
Alex lunged out to grab the assailant as he ran by, but missed. Only his concern for Emily kept him from pursuing the man. He tuned back and knelt beside her.
“My lady,” Harriet screamed as she hurried to her side.
Alex said, “No Harriet. I have her. You run ahead and get a wet cloth and start a kettle.”
Harriet ran off to do as she was ordered while Alex picked up Emily and carried her inside.
“I am perfectly fine, Alex. Carrying me is not necessary.” Emily insisted, although a cup of tea did sound nice.
“I just want you inside quickly. We can’t be sure he won’t be back.”
The butler waved a fire poker agilely. “He will not be back, I can assure you.”
Alex nodded his approval, but he didn’t put Emily down until they had safely reached the same sitting room to which he had taken Emily just the day before. He set her down on the small couch.
“Are you sure you are all right?”
“Perfectly so. I just had the wind knocked out of me. I have a feeling he got much worse than that.” She looked at her butler curiously.
“I found the scoundrel rummaging through your desk there. I grabbed the poker and hit him soundly across the back.”
“Did he take anything?”
“It doesn’t appear so.”
“Very well, then. You may go. Oh and…” Emily said warmly, “thank you. You have acquitted yourself well tonight, and I appreciate it.”
“Of course, milady,”
Emily waited until they were alone, then she turned to Alex.
“I don’t suppose it is an accident a man dressed in black was rummaging through my desk?”
The look of worry etched all over Alexander’s face answered her question as well as his words.
“No. I am certain that was the same man I saw listening at the Youngs’ door. With the shoddy construction of that entire building, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was able to overhear you and Emily talking about the documents y
ou found.”
“But there was nothing of any real value in those drawings. I can’t imagine they were worth stealing,”
Running his hand through his hair, Alex stood up and went to the window.
“There is no way our thief could know what you actually found. It was enough that you did find them. I’m guessing he couldn’t take the chance. This confirms he followed us home and has been watching us.”
“Well, we did suspect as much,” Emily replied, glancing over at the desk. It was in a state of such disarray, it would probably take her days to sort through it all.
Suddenly she remembered her letters. All the letters she had received from John were kept in one of the drawers. Jumping to her feet, Emily ran over to the desk. The drawer in question was slightly open, but on brief inspection it didn’t look as if the pages inside had been touched.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Emily suddenly felt silly. They were just notes from a man she had never even met. Besides, she had most of the content burned into her memory already. The real concern should be the fact her house had been broken into in the first place.
It was then that the reality of the situation sunk in. She felt her knees go a little weak.
In an instant, Alex was there to help her back to the couch.
“Are you all right?”
Emily smiled reassuringly, “Yes, yes, I am fine. It has just been a long day, and I think the idea of someone going through all my personal belongings finally hit me. It’s a strange feeling. Almost like I have been violated, but that’s ridiculous. It was just a desk.”
“It’s more than just the desk, Emily dear. A stranger was in your home. A place where you should always feel safe. That safety has been desecrated. It is no wonder you feel as you do. Had you used that desk recently?”
“It is where I do most of my correspondence. I haven’t written anything there in the last two days, but I did reread some letters I keep in there.”
“Perhaps the man saw you there and thought that was the most likely place to find Mr. Young’s documents. It is a good thing you left them with Lady Lancaster.”
Emily sat up stock straight. “Lady Lancaster! We have to warn her. What if the man goes there next?”
“He could have gone there first, Emily. There is no way to know and nothing we can do about it in any case. Besides, Lady Lancaster’s staff is at least as vigilant as your own,” Alex said reassuringly, trying to pull her back down on the couch. “I am quite sure she is fine.”
Alex was right. Lady Lancaster had a most unusual staff; nothing seemed to affect them. Emily was half convinced they had all been spies for the War Office just like the duchess had been.
She allowed herself to relax, and Alex took her into his arms. She had half a mind to push him away, but she felt so warm and safe. Perhaps it would be all right to remain there for a few moments. Just until her full complement of wits returned.
She turned to tell Alex just that when she found herself looking directly into his deep brown eyes. There was something in the depths that she didn’t recognize, but she felt a strange heat spread through her body. She could hardly move as she felt Alex lean in even closer.
“Alex?” she whispered. “What are you doing?”
…
Alexander had no idea what he was doing. It was as if he were possessed by some other man. A man with no control over his own actions and emotions. Ever since he had swept Emily up into his arms and carried her into the house, a need he had never felt before took over him. It had started as a simple desire to keep her safe, but now as he looked deep into her eyes, he found he was powerless to stop what was about to happen.
“Your eyes are actually more green than brown, aren’t they?”
Emily seemed to be too confused to reply.
“They are the perfect mossy green seen only in the deepest part of the forest. God must have known you were to be born Emily Moss.”
From her eyes, Alexander’s gaze moved to Emily’s mouth. Her perfect bow-shaped lips were gloriously pink and seemingly in a constant pucker.
They just begged to be kissed.
And so he did.
Alexander leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. He was surprised by how warm and soft they were. A shot of electricity ran through him, and a familiar warmth began to pool in his midsection. After a leisurely exploration, Alex pulled away reluctantly.
Who would have thought kissing Emily Moss would be so pleasurable?
He looked down at the woman wrapped in his arms. Her lips were still slightly parted, and her cheeks were flushed. She looked as lovely as he had ever seen her. It hadn’t been part of his plan to kiss Emily so soon—earlier in the day it was more likely that he would have left her on the side of the road—but he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
“Emily dear, I think it might be time for me to go,” he said softly, because if she kept looking at him like that he was afraid he would never leave.
Shaking her head slightly, Emily glanced around as if she had never been in that room before.
“Yes, of course,” she said absently. “Thank you for coming.”
She stood up as if to escort him to the door and swayed unsteadily on her feet. Alex wasn’t sure if it was his kiss or exhaustion, but he reached out to help her regardless.
“I can show myself out, my dear. Perhaps it is time for you to retire.”
At that moment, Harriet entered the room with a tea service and wet washcloth.
“Perfect timing,” Alex announced, taking the tray from the maid. “I think our lady, here, is ready for some much needed sleep. I will take care of this.”
To her credit, Harriet didn’t even hesitate before taking her mistress’s arm and leading her away.
Alex had to chuckle as he found a servant to take the tea. It looked like convincing Emily to like him would be much easier than he had intended. It also appeared as if it would be a hell of a lot more fun than he had originally thought.
With a happy heart, Alex left the Moss manse and headed home. He wasn’t sure what the next day would bring, but for now he had a letter to write.
Chapter Ten
The blessings of good friends is that you can be an idiot and they will still remain on your side.
~The Duke of Lancaster
Emily’s thoughts were still consumed with Alexander and the kiss they shared yesterday. What had the man been thinking? What had she been thinking to let it happen? And then to say nothing afterward? It was as if she had been in shock or something. Which would not be surprising.
She had been kissed for the first time, and it was by Alexander Bredon!
She should be furious—she was furious, blast it—but she was also, well, confused.
The kiss wasn’t entirely unpleasant, and that surprised her. Shouldn’t such an intimate act, by someone she had recently despised, no less, be distasteful to her?
Yes, confused was as good a word as any. She simply hadn’t enough experience to decipher all that had happened when she came home yesterday. She needed to talk to someone about the entire affair.
Luckily she and her maid were on their way to meet Sarah and Rose to do a little shopping for Hannah and the baby.
Rose had arranged it all the previous evening, according to the note she had sent inviting Emily to join them. Emily had had half a mind to cancel—her emotions still being in a very tumultuous state—but she had finally decided she needed to talk about everything, or her racing thoughts would ultimately drive her crazy. And considering how badly she had slept again last night, she knew she was already well on the way.
“You must be very excited for your friend, my lady.”
Emily glanced over at her companion. “Hmm? Oh yes, Harriet, very excited.”
The two continued on in silence for a while.
“She is the first of your friends to be with child, is she not?”
It took a few seconds for the question to register in Emily’s consciousness.
“That is true. I remember all the excitement surrounding her engagement. With that Collicott fellow. What a horrible…”
Harriet continued to chatter away, but Emily missed most of what she was saying. Under normal circumstances she would feel awful about ignoring her maid, but she couldn’t stop playing the kiss over and over again in her mind. And every time she thought about it, her stomach flipped over. Much like it had the moment his lips touched hers.
And his lips…she could remember very clearly how firm and yet pliable they were. His breath on her face just seconds before their lips met was so sweet. She could almost taste it now thinking about it.
“My lady? My lady, are you listening?”
Emily looked over at Harriet absently. Then remorse washed over her.
“Oh Harriet, I am so sorry. My mind is just somewhere else today.”
“Is everything all right? You have been distracted all morning.”
“Yes, dear, I am well enough. Thank you for asking. I-I didn’t sleep well.”
“Shall I prepare a sleep tonic with your tea tonight?”
“That would be lovely, Harriet. Thank you.”
Harriet smiled broadly, and any concern she had left her eyes. Emily was glad she was able to ease her friend’s anxiety so easily. She only hoped Rose and Sarah could do the same for her.
As it happened, she caught a glimpse of the two ladies in question just rounding the corner ahead.
“Rose! Sarah!” Emily called out as she quickened her step.
Apparently they heard her, because Rose stepped gracefully to one side and turned around to wave at Emily. Sarah, on the other hand, stopped in her tracks and spun around wildly, nearly knocking down two ladies and a small child in her vicinity. Rose pulled Sarah out of the busy path, and they both apologized to those she had almost toppled.
“Oh Sarah,” Emily laughed when she was close enough to be heard. “Are you all right?”
“The more important question is,” Sarah replied ruefully, “is everyone else unscathed? And yes, it appears we are all still in one piece.”
“You must try to be more careful,” Rose cautioned kindly.
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