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He was relieved to hear her say that. “We should go,” he said softly as he gently squeezed her hand. He stood and pulled her up with him. “What happened tonight will remain between us. I promise.”
“Thank you, Rhys. I am glad it was you who found out.” The vulnerable look in her eyes struck him, and he almost pulled her into his arms. She had been very reckless and was in great need of protection.
He pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and led her out to his phaeton which was parked some distance from the office. After helping her climb in, he settled beside her and took hold of the reins, but before he spurred the horses to move, he turned to her.
“Who else is aware of your work?” he asked, his voice low, and his eyes searching around them.
“Only Stella.”
“Good.” He pulled on the reins and the carriage began to move.
“Myers once wrote about allowing women to attend university; was that your idea?” he asked after a while. He was beginning to see how everything the journalist had written about women could be her ideas.
“Yes, it is,” she confirmed. He heard the smile in her voice when she said, “I think I feel slightly less burdened now that someone besides Stella knows what I have kept from my family for so long.”
Rhys understood why she had hidden this from her family. She was already criticized in Society for going against convention.
They arrived at her house, and she asked him to stop some distance away. She drew her hood over her eyes and said, “Good night, Rhys.” She hopped down from the carriage before he could leave his seat to help her. He shook his head while she smiled up at him.
“Wait,” he said when she began to walk, quickly climbing down to walk beside her to the house. “I need to ensure you are safe,” he continued.
“Are you growing fond of me?” she chuckled.
“Certainly not!” He shook his head. “I could never grow fond of the woman who torments me.”
“The sentiment is mutual.” She smiled.
At the servants’ entrance, they lingered, their eyes held, and his longing grew. “Will you be all right?” he heard himself ask.
“Yes, I will.” She placed her hand on the door.
“Good night, Elizabeth.” He still did not move as he said that.
“Good night, Rhys.” She opened the door and slipped inside.
He stood there for a moment longer before he turned and walked back to his carriage. They were to travel to Dorset in two days, and he still did not know how he would be able to live in the castle with her.
Instead of driving home, Rhys decided to go to Paxton’s house in Bloomsbury. The butler looked surprised to see him when he opened the door, but he immediately admitted Rhys in and led him to wait in a small salon while he informed Paxton of his visit.
“Lord Guildford,” Paxton said as he entered the room, “did something happen?”
“There is an issue I require your help with, and I cannot wait until tomorrow to inform you about it,” Rhys said. “I need you to find out who Johnathan Myers is for me.”
Paxton’s brows furrowed. “If I may inquire, My Lord, why do you wish to know his identity? You have never been concerned with him before.”
“Someone close to me might be in danger because of him,” he replied. Elizabeth would be displeased if she learned he was seeking Myers’ identity, but it was necessary to keep her safe.
