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“Come in.” She opened the door enough for him to slip through, then shut it tightly in his wake.
“Nicole”—Trenton turned to face her—”I realize you weren’t expecting me, but …” His voice trailed off, and he blinked in astonishment as he encountered Nicole Aldridge, her dark hair flowing loose about her shoulders, her fine features unobstructed by a jockey’s cap. “Damn,” he muttered.
A tiny smile played about her lips. “Does that mean my disguise is effective?”
“It means I must have been bloody blind.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. There’s quite a bit of Stoddard in me.” She indicated her shirt and breeches.
“Yes, but …” Trenton shook his head in amazement. “No wonder Ariana is still laughing over the expression on my face when Dustin announced who you were. I don’t blame her. Until now, I’d always considered myself to be a perceptive man.”
“Perception isn’t the issue here,” Nicole observed softly. “Even if I’d been dressed as myself, your awareness of me would have been casual, at best. In truth, the only woman you really see is your wife. Which is how it should be.”
Trenton studied her intently—not her appearance but something more. “Ariana is right. I can see why Dustin feels about you as he does. When this nightmare is behind us, I hope you’ll give us a chance to get to know you better.”
“I’d be delighted, Your Gr—Trenton,” she corrected herself. “At which time I promise to let Alexander tear my cap from my head.”
He chuckled. “That will give my son a great deal of satisfaction. He never did manage to yank off Dustin’s mustache, despite eight months of trying. My poor brother ultimately gave in and shaved it off, right before he met you.”
“You’re being here … Dustin’s all right, isn’t he?”
An emphatic nod. “He’s fine. Stubborn as hell, but fine. He made three unsuccessful attempts to descend the stairs and traverse the hallway, with the intentions of crossing the grounds and coming here, before he finally agreed t
o let me stand in for him.”
Nicole blinked. “Stand in for him?”
“Yes, to tell you that Saxon has requested the right to talk to you, or rather, Stoddard. Dustin wants it to be your choice as to whether or not you do so—now, if at all.”
Thoughtfully, Nicole chewed her lip. “I suspected this might happen when Dustin told me he’d hired an investigator. Since I’m allegedly Nick Aldridge’s protégé, it stands to reason I’d know a great deal about him, perhaps even something I don’t realize I know. Saxon wouldn’t be very thorough if he didn’t interrogate me.” She frowned. “The question isn’t whether or not I’ll speak with him, it’s whether or not I should tell him everything. On the one hand, I want to protect Papa, on the other hand, perhaps I’d be doing both him and you a disservice if I limited Saxon’s facts. Assuming, of course, I’m even able to convince Saxon that I’m a boy. We’re talking about a seasoned investigator, not an average person. So how do I handle this?”
“You tell him the truth.”
Nick Aldridge’s voice came from across the hall. “Nickie,” he added, walking over to them. “We’ve come too far to back down. We’re on the brink of discovery, and to keep things from Tyreham’s investigator would be to impede his progress and keep the duke’s son in danger.” Turning to Trenton, he extended his hand. “I can tell without asking that you’re Tyreham’s brother. You look just like him. I’m Nick Aldridge.”
Trenton grasped Nick’s fingers in a firm handshake. “I’ve seen you race. You’re extraordinary.” A smile tugged at his lips. “As for family resemblance, perhaps earlier today I could have said the same about you and Nicole. But not now.”
“Ah, you’re seeing Nickie for the first time,” Nick realized aloud. “Well, no offense taken. Other than her love for horses and a few less admirable traits, she is, overall, not me but very much her mother.”
“Trenton,” Nicole interrupted. “Did Saxon learn anything new?”
The barest hint of a pause. “Nothing monumental.”
“In other words, Dustin instructed you not to say anything.”
“In other words, Dustin informed me he’d discuss it with you later. Right now, he wants you to redon your disguise and come with me to the manor.”
“I thought you said he was letting me make the decision about whether or not I speak with Saxon.”
“He is.” A twinkle. “But he’s not letting you make the decision about whether or not you speak with him. Apparently, you and he scheduled a discussion for this evening. He intends to hold it. He also intends to have someone escort you to the manor. And I’ve been appointed.”
“That settles it,” Nick put in. “Go with the man, Nickie. Talk to this Saxon. Answer his questions—all of them. Then do the same for the marquis.” He held her gaze. “And, Elf, afterward, should Saxon wish to speak with me, the answer is yes.”
“Papa, are you sure?”
“I’m sure. He’s welcome to come here and ask whatever questions he chooses.”
“Very well.” She glanced down at her shirtfront, realizing she lacked her requisite binding, and headed off to effect her transformation. “Excuse me.” She snatched her jockey’s cap from a nearby side table. “Alden Stoddard will be down in a moment.”
