Bell talks. Everyone talks eventually. The shore after midnight. The matter will have to be moved.
She repeated the fragments of conversation silently, memorizing them. She didn’t have enough yet, but she knew they mattered.
The door opened and Anna jerked back.
Nathaniel stepped into the morning room, the sound of music and laughter behind him.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“Apparently, risking my reputation with Mrs. Wexford,” he said with a grin.
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
He smiled. “No, I probably shouldn’t have.”
She glanced at the door and back. “You were drawing attention.”
“I drew it away.” He reached out and steadied the edge of the tray. “You were about to drop this.”
Her eyes narrowed in annoyance. “I didn’t need your help.”
“Yes,” he said quietly, “you did.”
She looked away, furious because he was right. But… why was he pointing it out?
From the parlor came a burst of laughter, followed by the scrape of chairs and Captain Whitby calling for the next dance. Somewhere down the hall, Mercy squeaked. Mrs. Fenwick hissed a warning, and a glass clinked dangerously against another.
Nathaniel’s voice softened. “Rothborne is looking for a leak.”
Anna’s heart stopped. “A leak?”
He bent closer. “Information has moved faster than it should. Men have been stopped, a wagon turned back. Someone named Bell has been taken.”
“I… I don’t know anyone named Bell,” she stammered.
“Good.”
Her breathing picked up. “Why are you telling me this?”
He stepped closer still. “Because crowded rooms make people careless, and you cannot afford to be careless tonight.”
She looked him in the eyes. “You speak as though I have some reason to be afraid.”
“You do,” he said, his voice lowered.
Anna swallowed. “Are you threatening me, Mr. Reed?”
His eyes swept over her. “No.”
“Warning me, then?”
He gave her a tiny smile. “Yes.”
“On whose behalf?” she asked.
His gaze held hers, and for one wild moment, she thought he might answer. Either that or kiss her, considering how close he was.
Footsteps sounded at the far end of the hall, and he stepped back.
