Daniel’s smile widened. “Right you are, missus.” He heaved the potatoes onto his shoulder and marched out of the kitchen and down the hall.
I dropped my knife with a clatter and sped after him, catching up to him as he entered the larder. “Just there,” I pointed to a corner deep in the shadows, followed him into the cool room, and shut the door.
Daniel turned from dumping the sack onto the floor where I indicated. Before he could take a step, I flung my arms around the wretched man and held on tight.
“Damn you,” I croaked. “Damn you.”
“Kat.” Daniel’s voice held tenderness and wonderment. “Forgive me for springing myself on you like this. I didn’t like to send a message.”
I abandoned all pride and clung to him, sobbing into his shoulder. He held me, gently caressing my back.
“I was so worried,” I choked out. “I thought they’d catch you and kill you, like they did Mr.Howard.”
“No.” Daniel’s voice was warm in my ear. “They never tumbled. Thought I was a competent but dim impoverished gentleman from the moment I entered the house to the moment I left it late this afternoon.”
I spent a while longer letting my pent-up emotion pour out of me, then I pried myself from Daniel’s embrace. I kept hold of his shoulders, as though fearing that if I released him, he’d evaporate.
“Why did you leave them?” My face must be a mess, streaked with tears and flour. “Why did they let you go?”
“They rather insisted.” Daniel’s smile returned as he brushed a thumb across my cheek. “Lord Peyton sacked me.Actually, he had his housekeeper do it. His lordship keeps himself distant from sordid domestic business.”
“Sacked?” I wiped my eyes and stared at him. “What for, if they didn’t suspect you?”
Daniel shrugged in his characteristic way. “Interfering with something not my affair. I was surprised his lordship took on so—I’d think he was grateful to me for not letting his manservant get into trouble, but he believed Fagan could do no wrong.”
I barely stopped myself shaking him. “What are you talking about? Tell me what happened before I have apoplexy.”
Daniel looked me up and down. “You appear in no danger of that. It was a trifle, which is why I say I’m surprised. Fagan, the manservant, got into a scuffle with a groom who works for the lordship next door to Lord Peyton. Came to blows, blood flying, stable boys cheering them on. I pulled them apart and gave them a lecture, as a stiff-necked, too-prim secretary would. The neighbor’s groom seemed ashamed, but Fagan was furious with me. I thought he’d lift me and throw me across the mews. Lord Peyton dotes on him, so when he complained, Lord Peyton decided to give me the sack.” Daniel grimaced. “Most unfortunately. I spent a few hours being dressed down by Monaghan for being so careless.”
“Monaghan ought to be grateful you are in one piece, blast the man.” I’d have much to say to Mr.Monaghan when I saw him again. “Was the man Fagan fought the groom Mr.Fielding sent in?”
Daniel’s mouth popped open before he groaned and stepped back. “I ought to have known no one would be able to keep out of this. Do you know the name of everyone in the house, and all the staff next door?”
I planted my fists on my hips. “Did you think I’d stay in mykitchen baking bread while you were in such danger? If so, you do not know me as well as you thought.”
“I certainly didn’t want you found in the Thames like my predecessor,” Daniel growled, then he went thoughtful. “The groom was Errol’s man? I thought he was another copper Monaghan had put in to make certain I didn’t make a muck of it. The groom did always manage to be in the mews whenever anyone emerged from the house.”
“Did Fagan know? Is that why he attacked him?”
“Fagan was not at fault,” Daniel said quickly. “Or at least, Fagan didn’t throw the first blow. I heard words exchanged between him and the groom. Peeked out the window of my office above the mews to see them sizing each other up. I was worried about the groom, in case he was a copper about to be revealed, and I went down to persuade Fagan back inside. However, one doesn’t order Fagan to do anything, not even Lord Peyton. I reached the mews in time to see the groom swing a punch at Fagan. After that, it became a brawl between the two. I inserted myself in it, pretending to be brave enough and foolish enough to try to separate them. No wonder the groom looked daggers at me instead of being grateful. Errol’s friends are hard men.”
“What was he thinking, fighting Fagan like that?” I demanded in exasperation.
“I didn’t have the chance to find out. Either Fagan truly provoked him or the groom decided it would be odd for his character if he didn’t strike out. A spy can be unmasked if they don’t react the way an ordinary person would.”
I regarded him sternly. “I suppose you pulling them apart was what an ordinary secretary would do?”
“The persona I’d been cultivating would. Thomas Delamarre—which is what I’d been calling myself—is a prigand a know-all. He’d certainly try to keep the peace and be quite self-righteous about it.” Daniel sobered. “But also, I knew Fagan was a killer. I don’t think he murdered the previous secretary himself, but in his past, he’s done others. I didn’t want him to forget himself and beat the groom to death. That would bring in the police, which might have exposed Lord Peyton and his friends, but I wasn’t willing to sacrifice the groom so Monaghan could get a result.” Daniel’s last words held bitterness.
I knew then why I loved Daniel. He’d been willing to risk his job, his life, and his chance to be free of Monaghan to keep a man he didn’t know from being hurt. He hadn’t even had to think much about it before he acted.
Love.
I realized I’d just thought the word, and for a moment, I froze in stunned awareness.
Yes, I did love Daniel. The knowledge filled me like flame. I had done for some time, but I’d not let myself fully admit it.
“Are you all right, Kat?” Daniel studied me in concern. “As I say, I apologize for springing myself upon you—”
