Lily smiled. “Yet it would have been vastly preferable to being frowned at.”
“I didn’t frown at you, did I?” he asked curiously.
“Repeatedly. That first evening, I was sure I was about to be dismissed from my post the entire dinner.”
“I didn’t know you. I was suspicious.”
“It’s good to see that some things remain constant, no matter how much time passes,” she said, a sparkle in her eye.
“You cannot blame me for being suspicious now, not when I finally have a right to be,” he grumbled.
“I fear you are going to be disappointed when you find all my answers the same as they were the first time around.”
“They have been the same, haven’t they?”
“Is that it, then? You’ve finished your investigation?” Though she’d asked the question in a teasing tone, suddenly she had the irrational fear that he was going to agree that his inquest was pointless, that he’d leave London and she’d never see him again.
“Certainly not,” he scoffed. “We’ve barely started in on plays and literature, and I won’t leave until I’m quite satisfied. Just because I have no additional questions today doesn’t mean I won’t have more of them tomorrow. Besides, we have that appointment at the theater. Why, this whole process might takemonths.”
Lily hardly knew what to do with how pleased she was by his words.
CHAPTER 15- BRADFORD
The following evening, Bradford’s carriage pulled up to Lord Cavendish’s townhouse at quarter to seven. Light blazed from nearly every front-facing window. Bradford exhaled a laugh. It appeared that rumors of Cavendish’s affluence hadn’t been exaggerated. Though there were many who played at being wealthy, all it took was driving past their dark, cold houses at night to glimpse the truth.
Anticipation had Bradford climbing the stone steps quickly. He supposed that their walk in the park the day before counted as an outing, but this would be the first time Lily accompanied him in public. To his knowledge, she hadn’t honored any other gentleman in such a marked way.
Perhaps he should have felt caution, that she might get the wrong impression with regards to his intentions. But it was difficult to feel anything other than a deep sense of satisfaction andrightness. After all, he knew her better than all the young dandies who darkened her doorstep. Why shouldn’t he take her to the theater even though they were just friends?
A smattering of feminine laughter reached his ears when he crossed the threshold of the house, and when thebutler announced Bradford to the parlor, several faces lifted expectantly at his arrival.
He paid little attention to them, for there was Lily, looking radiant in a peacock-green silk gown, sapphires glimmering in her ears.
“Lily,” he said, bowing in her direction. “You look radiant tonight, as always.”
She shook her head as if she didn’t take his compliment seriously, but her cheeks pinkened ever so slightly. “Bradford, I hate to impose upon you by asking, but were you in earnest when you said you’d secured an entire theater box?”
“Indeed.” He nodded, and Lily seemed to wilt a little.
“I told you so!” a blonde said triumphantly from the corner, jabbing her finger into the air.
Lily gave an apologetic wince of a smile. “Bradford, may I please introduce my sister, Margaret, my sister, Beatrice, as well as Miss Rachel Warrington and Miss Sylvia Barrows.”
Bradford bowed to them each in turn, doing his best to remember who was who. Margaret was blonde and full-figured. Beatrice was slender with Lily’s ash-brown hair. Miss Warrington was blonde with blue eyes, and Miss Barrows had reddish-brown hair.
Bradford might not have been the shrewd investigator Mr. Thornton was, but he couldn’t help but notice all of the young ladies were dressed for the theater.
“Do you quite mind if—” Lily began, twisting her fingers together.
“Of course he doesn’t mind,” Margaret said, insouciantly twirling a set of mother-of-pearl opera glasses.
“He would hardly be able to admit it if he did,” Beatrice added slyly.
Bradford couldn’t help but laugh, even though he was a bit disappointed he and Lily wouldn’t be alone. He gave aflourishing bow. “I would consider myself the luckiest of all gentlemen if you ladies would accompany me to the theater this evening.”
“It’s very forward of you to ask,” Miss Warrington deadpanned. “We’ve only just been introduced.”
“And on such late notice, too,” Beatrice said, grinning.
