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Beth came to the rescue.
“Doctor Simmons, perhaps I could have a word when you’re finished?” she piped up, and hurried across to the two of them.
The relief Averil felt as Beth defused the situation with Gareth was brief, because now she was alone with the earl.
“Perhaps you would be kind enough to show me around the rest of the building, Lady Averil?” His voice was very close, and instinctively she stepped back, opening her mouth to say they should really wait for Gareth, but he cut her off. “There is something I wish to discuss with you.”
There was a significant expression on his face. Averil realized that, of course, he was talking about his visit to St. Thomas’s Orphanage. In the heat of the moment she’d briefly forgotten her main reason for being here today.
With a nod, Averil walked quickly from the room, with the wicked earl following close behind her.
Lady Averil had found an empty room and, after peering inside to make certain, led Rufus quickly into it. He closed the door securely behind them, and when he turned she was looking up at him with her big gray eyes. As if she wasn’t quite as sure of him as she pretended to be.
Sensible girl.
“Beth will not like this,” she said without preamble. “She came with me today particularly to keep an eye on you.”
He chuckled. “I thought as much.”
“Beth has my best interests at heart,” she said primly.
“Unlike me?” he mocked. “I must say I expected your Beth to be a far more fearsome creature. Eustace was quite convinced she was half-dragon.”
Averil looked surprised. “Oh no, she is not like that at all. Sometimes she may seem s
tern, but it is only because she worries about me. You must tell Eustace not to be frightened of Beth, she would not hurt a fly.”
He gave her a bow, his expression sober, but he knew she could see the laughter lurking in his eyes. “I will tell him she is a marshmallow.”
Averil’s mouth quirked in response.
Yes, that was better. A moment ago she’d been cross with him but now she was smiling again. He preferred her smiling, although there was something to be said for that flash of temper, too.
Rufus leaned back against the desk—the room appeared to be some sort of office. “I’d better tell you what I’ve discovered before we’re interrupted by the good doctor.”
“Yes, please do,” she said, and there was no doubting the anxiety in her voice.
His recital didn’t take long. He had visited St. Thomas’s Orphanage the morning after his “adventure” with Averil. The staff were helpful but their books were damp stained. The rain had come through the roof and some of them were illegible with mold and water damage. If there was a Rose Martindale noted within those pages then he could not find her.
Averil looked completely downcast.
He was tempted to take her into his arms and comfort her, but that seemed rather inappropriate at this early stage of their acquaintance. Then again, maybe he should storm her barricades, overwhelm her with his impetuous passion? It had been so long since Rufus spent time with a woman of Averil’s class he had forgotten how to behave.
“Perhaps Rose was given another surname? Her father’s surname?” he said gently. “What was his surname, Averil?”
“I-I don’t know it. I don’t know who the man was that my mother ran off with. My father would never have told me, even if he’d lived, and he made sure no one else did either. It was a painful episode he wanted to erase from his life. Gareth doesn’t know anything either.” She looked up at him, her eyes suddenly alight with expectation. “Can you find out for me, my lord?”
That made him smile. She had a way of making him smile. Surely that was a good sign? And then he wondered if he was smiling like Dr. Simmons had a little earlier and thought that perhaps it was not such a good thing after all.
“I can certainly try,” he answered her, all brisk and businesslike. “It was a scandal at the time, so my uncle tells me. He might even know who it was. As long as you don’t find the matter distressing . . .?”
“I think I need to know the man’s name if I am to find Rose.” She hesitated. “You said last night that you were offering me your help. Are you still offering me your help?”
He nodded. “Of course. How did you come upon Sally Jakes?” he asked curiously.
Averil told him about her old nanny and the letter she’d sent asking for information. “So I know my mother and Rose were living at The Tin Soldier. According to Mrs. Jakes, Rose was sent to St. Thomas’s. It is after that the trail goes cold.”
She was looking downcast again but Rufus couldn’t help feeling a tingle of the old excitement he’d been missing since he gave up The Guardians. Rose was the bastard daughter of Lady Martindale. Surely someone would know what became of her? He’d visit some of his old contacts and ask questions, see what he could discover.
