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The boy nodded, stepped on the rope to keep the excited dog from running off, and looked back to Alex. “Miss Bettina lives upstairs. But she’s not home. She went away with her brother for the holiday. I think they went to France.”
“Is she kind?”
The boy shrugged. “My mother says she’s unpleasant and thinks too highly of herself.”
He was glad for children’s honesty. “Thank you,” Alex said, pulling a coin from his pocket and handing it to the boy, whose eyes rounded at his good luck.
“Thank you, sir.”
“It is fortunate you were not caught,” William said later that day when they met at the same coffee shop. “It could send the investigation backward.”
He agreed. “I had to see it for myself. Once I leave London, there isn’t much to be done until I return.” Alex looked to his friend. “Which reminds me, I will need to use the townhouse.”
“You do not have to ask,” William replied.
He pushed back from the table. “I am off to see about the fetching Miss Vivian. We will shop for items necessary for birdwatching.”
“What exactly is needed? Opera glasses and a warm clothing is what I would think,” William replied with a teasing smile. “I must tell you, Duchess Torrington is expecting that you will make your intentions toward Vivian known.”
He was afraid of that. “I can’t possibly court someone right now.”
“You will want to consider making choices about it. If you have no intentions, then you must be clear about it, and stop intimidating anyone that dares to show any interest in her.”
With no good rebuttal, Alex nodded and got up. “I will see you at home this evening.”
“Yes, I must take Ellington and Farnsworth out to exercise,” William said, standing as well. “The mongrels will only behave if properly tired out.” William’s hounds were named after tutors they’d had as youths. Hearing the names still made Alex smile.
They went out. After dropping William off at the townhome, Alex directed the coachman to take him to the Humphries home.
The door was opened by an austere butler, whose face softened at recognizing him. “Mr. Yarnsby, you are expected. Miss Vivian and her sister are in the parlor.”
“Mr. Yarnsby, how delightful to see you,” Mrs. Humphries hurried to him just outside the parlor. “Thank you for taking on this task. I am in the dark about what is needed for such an outing.”
Alex himself wasn’t quite sure what it was that they were to purchase. They had plenty of spyglasses at the country estate, and other than a warm cloak, he’d not noticed that Duchess Torrington carried anything else.
They entered the parlor, where Vivian and Penelope were. Penelope, always vivacious, walked toward him. “It is the perfect day for an outing. I hope you don’t mind that I’ve invited myself along.”
Alex was relieved. “On the contrary, I am glad for it.”
“I must buy a new cloak—a warm one since the country is much colder than the city, I am sure,” Penelope quipped.
Vivian gave her sister a puzzled look. “You never venture outside. I think the weather is the same whether in the city or out”
The younger sister rolled her eyes. “Of course, I go outdoors. I simply adore walks.”
With a soft tsk, Vivian met his gaze. “Mr. Yarnsby, thank you for offering to shop with us.”
Had he offered? Alex was sure this was Duchess Torrington’s doing. As always, she wanted what she thought was best for him.
Along with Vivian’s companion, Mary, they made their way to the Torrington carriage outside. The coachman gave him a puzzled look as he’d told the man he was to pick up only one lady and her companion.
The coachman held the door open and ensured the ladies ascended in without mishap. Alex climbed in last and sat next to Vivian.
Across from them, Penelope sat with Mary, a pretty woman of dark complexion who he guessed to be in her late twenties.
“Where to?” Vivian asked with a daring expression. “Is there a bird-watching shop?” She placed a hand delicately on his forearm. “I do look forward to this expedition. I know it will be most enlightening.” When her fingers lingered, he looked down to his arm.
“Yes, erm…” He had to clear his throat as a soft fragrance—jasmine, perhaps—tickled his nose. Had the inside of the carriage always been so narrow?
