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“About the wedding...”
“Demeter does not think anything else is going to occur.”
He nodded. “Blake believes the same.”
“But you do not?”
“It seems odd that someone should go to all that effort then give up. My fear is they shall do something closer to the day.”
“Me too,” she agreed. “I do not think we should be complacent.”
“I have asked around but there is no word of a newcomer to London with red hair.”
“You asked at...certain places?” Her cheeks warmed and she shoved away images of him amongst beautiful, worldly women.
“At certain places, yes. Or else I asked those who would frequent such places.”
“Well, I imagine it was not too much of a hardship for you,” she said brightly.
“I can think of better ways to spend my time.”
The way Oliver’s gaze lingered over her made her still. He could not be speaking of time with her, could he? They shared an interest in ensuring Demeter and Blake’s wedding went perfectly, that was all. And perhaps he enjoyed teasing her. Why he had kissed her was another matter, but one that should not be taken seriously. After all, the man had likely kissed a dozen women since the beginning of the Season.
“My friend is making her own enquiries. My only other thought is that we hire a private investigator.”
“You think they could do a better job than us?”
She lifted both shoulders. “I’m not certain, but it might be worth—”
His jaw tightened. “Why do you not let me handle that?”
“But—”
“Most private investigators are not the sort of people a woman like you should be involved with.”
She lifted a chin. “I’m quite capable—”
“Oh, believe me, I know that, Ellie, but let me do this for you.” His gaze locked onto hers. “Please?”
As if she could deny him when he looked at her like that, as though he was determined to protect her or something. It created fluttering sensations in places she had not known existed. Since when did she want to be protected? She’d been defending herself for so long she would not even know what to do with a protector.
“Fine,” she conceded when he kept her fixed with that deep look. “You can arrange that. In the meantime, I am trying to find out how and when that seal went missing. I cannot fathom anyone in the household taking it.”
“Sounds as though you have it all thought out.”
“I think so,” she said with more confidence than she felt.
Oliver opened his mouth, then closed it, then gestured vaguely with his hand then put it to his side. “Ellie, I—”
“Yes?”
He exhaled loudly. “I must say...”
She took a step closer. “Yes?”
“That is...I must apologize for my mother.”
“Oh.”
