AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hmm?”
Simon was watching him curiously, his head tilted to one side. “Are you starting to find her more than a bit attractive?”
“What? No!” Nathan shook his head, wondering why this felt like it was sounding hollow. “Of course not. But she’s a genuine person. You don’t get many of those people nowadays. I don’t want someone like her getting hurt.” He grunted and took a swig of his drink. “I doubt she’s going to listen to me, though.”
“I’m sure she will.” Simon shrugged with one shoulder, raising his own glass to his lips. “Maybe you should ask her about the children disappearing. Maybe she has a lead she doesn’t know about that could help.”
Nathan snorted. “You’re mad if you think I’m going to get her mixed up in all of this.”
“She already is.”
“And two meetings are enough for me to know that she’ll go poking her nose into darker places she shouldn’t be and find out something that puts her life in danger. I ask her for information, and then I’ve got to worry about her more than I already am.”
“More than you already are.” Simon laughed. “Sounds like you might have met your match.”
“I didn’t want a match in the first place,” Nathan grumbled. He sat back and stretched out his legs. It felt good to talk openly with his friend and not have to choose his words. “But at least Mother has found someone I can be friends with. Marriage to someone I can’t stand would be uncomfortable, to say the least.”
“Like Lady Chapman, for example.” Simon sipped his drink. “I have heard from various sources that since her husband died, she’s been waiting for you to come back so she can seek you out.”
“I know. She kept sending me letters.”
“She did? What did you do with them?”
“Trust me, you don’t want to know.” Nathan scowled. “She wants to marry me, and she’s made that clear. But it’s not going to happen. My intended marriage to Lady Eleanor is all but set in stone.”
“You think that’s going to stop her?”
“Probably not.” Nathan waved a hand. “Look, I don’t want to talk about Lorraine Chapman. I want to figure out who the head of this smuggling gang is. A name could mean anything, and it doesn’t immediately give me a face.”
Simon grinned. He sat up, putting his glass aside. “Well, I have some contacts that have said there might be lead at that tavern near that orphanage the nuns run, where your Lady Eleanor helps out.”
“She’s not my lady.”
“From the way your cheeks are reddening, I’d say she already is.” Simon rose to his feet. “If you’re up for something to do, that could be a good place to start. We might be up for some time, though.”
Nathan didn’t mind staying up all night. He had done it on patrol once. While he didn’t appreciate being awake for three days straight, it was doable, and it was preferable to going back home and listening to Vanity talk about how suitable Eleanor Heavenly was. Nathan didn’t need to hear that right now.
“I’m up for it, but I can’t go dressed as I am.” Nathan gestured at his attire. “I’d stick out like a sore thumb.”
“Already thought of that. Davidson has procured us some clothes we can wear to blend in with the crowd once we cross the threshold.”
Nathan frowned. “Us? You’re coming as well?”
“Of course I am.” Simon spread his hands. “There’s no way I’m letting you do this on your own.”
“Only because you want in on some excitement,” Nathan grumbled.
“That, too.”
There was no arguing with him, and if he was honest, Nathan would be grateful for Simon’s presence. His friend wasn’t a soldier, but he was the man Nathan would want to have at his back, especially when attempting to filter into the underbelly of London. Nathan rose to his feet and rolled his shoulders.
“Then let’s get changed and go. If we’re lucky, we might be able to find something before darkness falls.”
* * *
Eleanor hadn’t planned on going to the orphanage. It wasn’t her night to go, but after her interaction with Captain Nathan Reynolds, she wanted to get away and do something to get rid of her frustration at his reactions.
He thought he could stop her from coming here and looking after the children. They needed someone here, someone to be a mother for them, and Eleanor wanted to be that person. She wasn’t going to immediately forget about them because she was getting married. That was not fair to the children, and Eleanor could not simply turn around and walk away. It was ridiculous that Nathan expected her to stay at home waiting for him while he was putting himself in greater danger.
