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Behind her, the comte cleared his throat. She’d all but forgotten he was present.
“My lady, I fear my presence is intrusive. I will take my leave and give the two of you privacy.”
“Thank you, Comte.”
He shook his head before taking her hand and kissing it. “No. Thankyou.”
He turned to leave, and when he opened the door Cressy was once again standing on the other side. “Could you show the comte to the door, Cressy?” Gabrielle asked.
“Yes, my lady, but I came to tell you that you have another guest.”
“Another!” The last time she’d had so many visitors had been when she’d hosted a dinner party.
“This one you ain’t likely to welcome.”
“Excuse me,” Gabrielle said over her shoulder, following Cressy to the door. The comte exited, walking past a thin man in a dark coat standing in the doorway. He had the look of a clerk about him, and Gabrielle wondered what he could possibly want with her.
“Begging your pardon, my lady,” he said in a nasal voice. “I’m Skivvit. I work for Mr. Pin.”
She inhaled sharply. A warm hand on her back alerted her to the fact that Ramsey had followed her to the doorway and stood ready to protect her. “Mr. Skivvit,” she said coolly. “Forgive me if I do not invite you in. Please return to your employer and tell him he will have the money I owe him as soon as I have it myself.”
Skivvit frowned. “But, my lady—“
Ramsey interrupted. “You heard the lady, man. She can’t make blunt suddenly appear. Your employer will have to be patient.”
What would she do without him? What would she do when he was gone? She couldn’t let him die. He had fought for her. She would fight for him.
“But, my lady, Mr. Pin did not send me to collect.” Skivvit consulted a small notebook he held. “No, I have it right here.” He tapped the page with a pencil stub.
“I don’t understand. You havewhatright there?”
“A notation. This morning your balance was paid in full, including interest, and a bonus for Mr. Pin’s patience and understanding.”
Gabrielle stared at the thin man. He couldn’t be correct, but she was loath to correct him. And if she didn’t, Pin would find out eventually and come for her.
“I’m afraid there’s been some mistake,” she said in little more than a whisper. “I didn’t send payment to Mr. Pin.”
“Was there a note with the payment?” Ramsey asked. “To inform you to whose account the blunt should be applied?”
“I believe there was. I opened it myself, as I do all of Mr. Pin’s correspondence.”
“How was it signed?” Ramsey asked. “Did Lady McCullough sign it?”
Gabrielle gave him a confused look. What was the man getting at? Of course she had not signed the paper. He knew as well as she that she had been on the ship this morning.
Skivvit scratched his temple with the pencil stub. “She did not sign it, no, but she did draw a small flower at the bottom.”
Gabrielle pressed a hand to her heart. “A red flower?”
“Yes. Do you remember now, my lady?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“No, thankyou.” Skivvit reached into a satchel at his feet and pulled an envelope from it. He handed it to Gabrielle. “This is the paper Lord McCullough signed for the loan Mr. Pin gave him.”
Gabrielle took the paper, her hand shaking.
“Mr. Pin also bade me tell you that this concludes your business together. Permanently.”
