I sipped at my tea, letting the sharp cinnamon and orange taste calm my racing heart. Everyone waited in tense silence while I scanned the pictures. The pressure in the room deflated as I shook my head. “He isn’t here.”
“Then we need to find him before he tries anything else,” Charles said.
“Or hurts anyone else.” Darcy looked at me. “If today was any proof, as long as we’re connected, you’re in as much danger as I am.”
I swallowed, the taste of my tea turning bitter. My stomach twisted at the idea of someone trying to kill Darcy. Even more than saving my story, I wanted to save him the way he’d saved me. “Out of the three times I’ve seen you in town, he’s been following you twice that I’ve noticed. He was at the club and at the festival.”
“He hasn’t tried to approach, or Darcy’s security detail would’ve caught him.” Charles’s brow furrowed. “So what’s he after?”
“If we want to find out, maybe we need to give him an opportunity to get closer,” Darcy mused.
“That’s too dangerous.” Charles’s voice was firmer than I’d ever heard it. “Did you already forget what just happened?”
Darcy glanced at me and sighed, his jaw clenching again. “Trust me, I haven’t forgotten.”
His violent tone released butterflies in my stomach, but I didn’t give myself time to think about them. “What if we glamoured a guard to look like you?” I asked. “ThenDarcy and I could stay behind and stalk the killer while he’s stalking the fake-Darcy. That’s probably best anyway, since I’m the only one who knows what he looks like.”
“If anyone is going to act as bait, I’ll do it.” Charles’s jaw was tight. “I won’t see another of my men get hurt.”
Admiration glimmered in Jane’s eyes. “If you’re going to help, I want to too,” she said. “After all, someone needs to play Lizzy’s part since she and Darcy have been stuck together.”
“It’s too dangerous.” Charles frowned.
“I think it’ll be okay if we stay in crowded areas,” I said. “If I’m right, he won’t try to hurt anyone in public. I’m guessing he won’t act anywhere with too many witnesses. Even today, he waited until we were alone on the street.”
“True.” Darcy drummed his fingers on the table.
"Plus, we’ll catch him before anything can happen,” I said.
“See?” Jane gave him a brilliant smile. “It’ll be more believable this way. Our chances will go up.”
If Mom and Dad found out that I’d encouraged Jane’s participation, they’d be furious, but Charles would never let anything happen to her.
Darcy ran a hand through his curls. “I hate being on the sidelines, but we have to do something before anyone else gets dragged into this mess. Is everyone okay with this plan?”
Jane and I nodded, and after a few moments, Charles did too.
“How will we capture him?” I asked.
Charles smiled grimly. “Leave that to my men.”
“And who will do the glamours?” Jane asked.
“Let’s ask Caroline,” Charles said. “She’s the best in the family.”
“Let’s talk to her in the morning,” Darcy said. “For now, let’s nail down the rest of the details so we can catch this guy tomorrow.”
Early the next evening, Darcy and I strolled down a meandering path at Regency Meadows Park. The gurgle of the nearby stream somewhat drowned out the crunch ofour footsteps on the fiery carpet of leaves. Thanks to Caroline’s glamours, Darcy and I looked like two nondescript lovers walking through the park.
I covered a yawn with my free hand.
“Is a sting operation not exciting enough for you?” Darcy flashed a small smile.
Was he joking again? Before last night, I wasn’t sure he even knew how to recognize a joke, let alone tell one.
“Of course it is. I just didn’t sleep well.” At his look, I flushed and added, “Because I was thinking about today.” I didn’t want him to think I’d had trouble sleeping because he was next to me. Obviously, it had nothing to do with the fact that I could hear his breathing all night, feel his warmth next to me, or hear the rustle of sheets each time he moved. The second night hadn’t been any easier than the first.
“Do you think everything will go smoothly today?” I stepped into dappled shadows on the path ahead.
