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“No,” he said sharply. “Stay away from the man’s study. If you’re caught, everything will be compromised.”
And if she was successful and found some papers that gave her some hint of what Wark might be planning, this whole dreadful mess would be over all the sooner and she could get back to her life. Her very Andrew-free life.
“You were the one who recruited me for this operation. Now you don’t want me to do it?” she asked.
“We discussed why it’s important for you to meet with Wark in a public place,” he said.
He was scowling, so she scowled right back. “Do you want to know the other thing I gleaned from him today? He was appointed to the committee in charge of organizing the prince’s visit, after one of the members unexpectedly retired.”
“What?” The bobbin stopped spinning because Andrew’s hand had stilled on the crank.
She nodded. “He didn’t tell me who it was or what happened to the man, but I suspect that it wasn’t coincidence. Now he is taking over logistical matters, which I imagine gives him rather unprecedented access to the prince.
“Today I proved that I can be quite effective when dealing with Wark in his home. He wants to impress me, and I believe that’s making him more trusting than he should be. A change of environment could make him more reticent about his activities,” she said.
“Today was the exception, not the rule,” he said firmly, taking up the crank again. “I need to be able to keep an eye on you. In case something happens.”
Lavinia set the dress down in her lap to fix her whole attention on him. “Andrew, I’m going to tell you this just once: nothing will make me jeopardize the safety of my business. Not love of country, not money, not you. Asking me to encourage Wark to accompany me in public as my escort is a step too far. It would be in every drawing room and every society page within the week. I might as well take out an advertisement saying that Wark has taken me on as his mistress. My reputation would be ripped to shreds and while you get to leave Edinburgh and go on your way as though nothing happened, I would have to live with the consequences of that.”
“A gentleman may escort a married lady of his acquaintance to any number of acceptable places,” he said.
“I haven’t been a lady since I opened my shop. I’ve come down in the world. Surely even you can see that.”
“But you’re a gentleman’s daughter. Nothing changes that,” he pushed.
She stared at him, stunned at the realization that despite all of these years and her obvious change in station, Andrew still saw her as the vicar’s daughter she used to be. He didn’t see that whatever wealth he’d acquired from captaining his ship had elevated him, while her turning to trade meant they’d switched places. Even if his humbler origins meant that some would never consider him a gentleman, he was still more acceptable than she was. Society could forgive a man for making something of himself in a way it would never forgive a woman.
“I’m not a lady anymore, Andrew. You need to disregard the past,” she said quietly but firmly.
A haunted look passed over his eyes, and all at once the mood in the room shifted. Where there had been defiance, now she could only feel resignation.
“How do you know that someone wouldn’t recognize you at the dinner party? There could be ladies who would start those very same rumors you’re so worried about,” he said, but his protest was half-hearted at best.
“Wark mentioned that the other guests are all his associates. Men.”
His jaw worked. “That is not any more reassuring.”
“I don’t find it particularly reassuring either, but it’s the situation that has presented itself.”
“I don’t know—”
“I’m frightened enough as it is, Andrew. I need to know that at least one of us believes I can do this,” she said, a shake to her voice she couldn’t hide.
He stopped turning the crank again and for one hopeful moment she thought he might finally face her directly. But instead of spinning around on the stool, he picked up the scissors next to the sewing machine. “I believe this one is full.”
Rising to stand at his shoulder, she watched him cut the thread and then remove the full bobbin, dropping it in the empty cup. Then she once again showed him how to thread the Singer, and the whirr of the machine filled the strained silence.
Finally, Andrew said, “I won’t say that I was happy about this assignment. Working with you was the last thing I would’ve chosen for myself.”
She swallowed. If he hadn’t mentioned their engagement, she might’ve stood a chance of getting through this late-evening visit unscathed, but each time he acknowledged it, it was as though he took a knife and, with a tiny cut, opened the wound a little wider.
“Despite that, I can’t fault my superiors for choosing you,” he continued as she watched the repetitive churn of his arm. “What happened between us doesn’t make me blind to what you are: quick-witted and observant. Those are two qualities any handler would want in one of his assets.”
“Andrew, did you just pay me a compliment? I may have to write this day down so I don’t forget it.”
“You’re also one of the most stubborn women I know,” he added quickly.
A laugh bubbled up in her, and before she could stop herself, she’d dissolved into a fit of uncontrollable giggles. Her sides pressed viciously against her corset and left her gasping for air, which only made her laugh harder.
