Page 80 of Love Wasn’t Built in a Day

Thomas, who was looking about with interest, shook his head. “If it’s no trouble, might I take a look about?”

Hetty glanced at Gideon, who nodded his approval.

“Certainly,” she said with relief. “Only don’t cause any trouble or we shall both be in the basket. I won’t be long though, so don’t go too far.”

Thomas grinned at her. “I won’t, my lady. Thank you.”

He strode off and Hetty turned back as Gideon offered her his hand. She took it with a smile, feeling suddenly a little shy as he helped her up the steps into the hut. This man would be her husband in a few short days. It was both remarkable and a little hard to believe.

She stepped inside, hearing Jenkins give a little sniff, which might have been approval at finding the space immaculately clean and well ordered. Gideon drew out a chair for her and one for Jenkins, further endearing himself to her, the clever fellow.

“Mr Ridley, may I make known to you my fiancée, Lady Henrietta Cleveland.”

Hetty turned her most dazzling smile upon Mr Ridley, aware he was Gideon’s chief suspect. “Mr Ridley, a pleasure. Mr Bramwell has told me what a help you are to him, always dotting those i’s and crossing those t’s.”

Mr Ridley preened a little in the light of her praise. “Why, thank you, my lady. I do my best to see that everything runs smoothly,” he replied, giving the impression that the site would fall to pieces if not for his hand on the tiller.

Hetty growled inwardly but kept the smile fixed upon her face as she turned back to Gideon. “Mrs King asked me to look in upon the ironmongery, my love, to check it was just as she specified. The date for the grand ball is fast approaching, and she does not want any last-minute errors.”

“No, indeed.” Gideon nodded gravely and led her to a large box beside his desk. It was made of pine and nailed shut, but Gideon reached for a small crowbar and prised up the lid, just as they had discussed.

Hetty moved closer, reaching into the box and taking away several layers of tissue paper, laying them carefully on Gideon’s desk. Then she took a heavy object out, likewise wrapped, and carefully undid it. She held the solid brass doorknob up with an exclamation of pleasure.

“Oh, how smart they are,” she said with approval, turning it this way and that in the light.

“Five shillings apiece,” Gideon said with a sigh. “And that box is full of them. Then there are boxes of finger plates and escutcheons. It’s quite an investment.”

Hetty nodded. The box contained two hundred such items, each worth five shillings. Mr Ridley earned twenty-five shillings a week, which meant that the box represented a significant amount of money.

“Well, they look splendid. Mrs King will be pleased.”

Gideon nodded. “That’s a relief. They’ll be ready to fit them in a few days, and I can’t afford any delays.” He turned then to Mr Ridley, whose attention was fixed on the ledger before him.

“Ridley, do a chap a kindness and fetch Mr Ludlow, Lady Henrietta would like to see the ballroom before she leaves, but I must finalise these orders before the day is over. If you’ll forgive me, Hetty, dearest?”

“Of course,” she said smoothly, noting the flicker of irritation in Mr Ridley’s eyes before his expression smoothed over.

“Of course, sir,” he said. “Though I could escort the lady myself, if—”

“Oh, no. I would like a moment longer, if you’ll forgive an impatient bridegroom for snatching a moment with his betrothed,” Gideon said with an admirable show of sheepishness, considering he was of a mind to throttle Ridley with his bare hands if he was the culprit.

Ridley nodded, heading for the door. “As you like, sir.”

They waited until he was gone.

Gideon blew out a breath. When he turned to look at her, she saw the tension around his mouth and eyes now that he’d dropped the polite mask. He was determined to catch the thief so he could present Mr King with a fait accompli, but the stress was wearing on him.

“Did you bring them?”

“Of course! Jenkins, get the paints out.”

Jenkins got to her feet, hefting the capacious bag she always seemed to view as a necessary accoutrement. Today, it had proven most useful, however, as Jenkins unpacked the little glass jars, setting them on the table.

“Carefully, we don’t want to get covered,” Gideon warned Hetty.

“If you don’t mind me remarking it, my lady, I reckon I’d better do that,” Jenkins said, without an iota of sarcasm.

Hetty sighed, ignoring the amused look Gideon sent her, knowing it was for the best. “Very well.”