“You truly think I would leave you here alone? Eloise, you must return home.”
“Absolutely not. If you think I have any fears with Mr. Gilley standing watch and Lucy in my corner, you are mistaken. If you leave, most will assume the office is empty. No one will disturb me.”
“I had planned to exit through Bill’s private entrance.”
“Then they will think we are here alone, and no one would dare disturb us.”
“Eloise—”
“Are you going to Haverton Ball on Friday night?”
He blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
She gave his forearm a quick squeeze then headed for the desk. “You should. I know Lydia will expect you to escort her there.”
“I sincerely doubt that. The news has already spread about Robbie Green—and once the news breaks of my recent inheritance, I suspect public appearances with me will be discouraged.”
She smiled, then opened one of the ledgers. “Is there any particular system of organization with this, or have you just piled everything willy-nilly?”
“We’ve been moving things in from Bill’s study at his home.” Robert moved in beside her, closing the ledger. “You need to go home.”
Eloise opened the ledger again. “You just told me that you are leaving. Do we really have to pretend that I’m going home, only to wait outside until you depart, then come back in?”
He stared at her. “You would not.”
“You do not believe that statement. We have not known each other long, but our time together has been rather exceptionally revealing and intense. I’m going to be at the Haverton Ball. If you go, then I can observe and listen to what people are saying.”
“Eavesdrop.”
“One can learn a great deal by sipping diluted lemonade behind potted palms. Judith, Mother, and I also have vouchers for Almack’s next Wednesday. By that time, the fervor will be dying down or building to a fever pitch.”
“Have you ever considered becoming one of His Majesty’s spies?”
“Only in my most peculiar dreams.”
Robert laughed, then pulled her into an embrace that made her look up at him, almost dislodging her cap. Eloise steadied it with one hand as the other rested against his chest. He kissed her cheek, then released her, knowing all too well that if he held her too long, all his plans for the evening would go quite awry. “I acquiesce.” He strolled back to the window and sought out Jeremy Shank, who had now taken a place at avingt-et-untable—and was losing. “I assume you are spending the night with Madame Adrienne again tonight?”
“Only if my father comes home and demands to know where I am. Otherwise, I will not be missed. My mother spends most of her days in laudanum fog.”
Concern plucked at the back of Robert’s mind as he looked at her again. “Your father has not returned?”
She shook her head, peering down at the ledger a moment, then flipping it around. “He only went to Eton to talk to one of the boy’s tutors, but perhaps he had difficulty locating him. Itissummer.”
Hm. “Which tutor?”
“I am not sure. A vicar, I think. Odd name.”
Robert froze, a spear of ice pinning him in place. “A vicar? Yeatman?”
She looked up. “Yes. That’s it. Why?”
You cannot tell her this. Not now. Not yet.
Not ever.
Robert crossed his arms. “He was there when I was still in school. I am merely surprised he’s still there.”And alive. Surely someone would have killed him by now.
“He seems to be quite the popular tutor.”
