AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He was proud of her when he received those reports, but he still had to address the question of the missing money. He’d gone through his ledgers, back to when Marcus had the table. Amelia’s returns had surpassed his for the first week and a half, then dropped below what he had turned in since then. Yet she was drawing a much larger crowd than Marcus ever had.
Driscoll stood as Amelia entered the room. She had changed into one of her day dresses and her hair was put up in a chignon at the top of her head. Gone was the flushed, just-left-the-bed look that had driven him into idiocy.
He pulled a chair out for her and she sat. She glanced over her shoulder and said, “Would you like a cup of tea? I think I will have one.”
Happy to have anything to avoid the conversation he nodded, and she hopped up to pour. He rose and followed her, taking one of the cups from her hand. “Thank you.”
They seated themselves again and Driscoll took a deep breath. “It’s been nearly five weeks since you’ve been with us, Amelia. How are you faring?” He offered what he hoped was a sincere, friendly smile.
She blew on the liquid and took a sip. “Fine. I am quite happy with the job.” She lowered her cup and frowned. “Is there a problem?”
Apparently his sincere, friendly smile hadn’t worked. “No. No problem.” He took a sip of tea. “Well, just a little one.”
“What’s that?”
He cleared his throat and sat back, again attempting the sincere, friendly smile. She looked more confused than nervous. Wasn’t that proof that she hadn’t done anything wrong? “It’s not really a problem. I just wanted to tell you I will be gone for possibly a few weeks.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Gone? Where?”
“This is confidential.”
Amelia nodded.
“I take assignments on occasion for the Crown. I have been asked to help break a code that involves a great deal of numerical coding. Since I am fairly adept at numbers. . .”
Amelia grinned. “That’s wonderful. Does everyone know you do this sort of thing?”
Driscoll shook his head. “Only my brothers.”
“Why are you telling me?”
He shrugged. He didn’t know why he was telling her, actually. It started as a way to avoid discussing the money situation. Then he realized he wanted her to know that about him. His thoughts ran more along a permanent arrangement between them in the future. Possibly the near future.
Nothing that Dante said would dissuade him from believing Amelia would not steal from them. He also hoped by telling her these little things about himself she might feel comfortable to open up and confide in him. Let him know what or who she was running from.
“When are you leaving?” She actually looked troubled as she gazed at him over her teacup, which gave him hope.
“First thing tomorrow morning.”
“And you must stay there?”
He nodded. “Yes. Until the code is broken. There will be two others working with me.”
She grinned. “Number geniuses, too?”
“Hopefully.”
She avoided his eyes, her fingertip drawing small circles on the table. “Who will do your work while you’re gone?”
“There are others who are familiar enough with the workings to at least do some of the work. The rest I will complete when I return.” He reached out and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. “I’ve done this before.”
“Um, is it dangerous?”
He laughed. “No. Not at all. Numbers don’t generally attack you.”
“Don’t laugh,” she huffed. I imagine this sort of assignment holds a certain amount of danger. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be keeping it all a secret.” A soft smile teased her lips. “I will miss you.”
Dear God, that was the wrong thing to say. He covered her hand with his. “I will miss you, too.”
