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“So no answer to my question, then?” she pressedlightly.
He cast her a sidelong glance. “I’m afraid if I did answer that, it would get me into a bit oftrouble.”
With Louisa Ridgemont? Or from Caroline’s matchmaking reputation? That was the question, wasn’t it? If she was her old self, she would have found out rather quickly. A short conversation with Louisa would answer it in no time, but she wasn’t her old self, and she had no real desire to rekindle her friendship with Louisa. And so Caroline simply smiled at the earl. “Should you changeyourmind…”
“You’ll be the first to know,” he teased as they took a left onto QueenStreet.
Carteret House was now within sight and Caroline breathed a sigh of relief. She could talk the rest of the day away with Bethany Carteret, hearing tale after tale of the countess’ brood and not have to think aboutMarcusGray.
Chapter3
Marc wasn’t thinking clearly.He knew that. He knew that in his soul, but he couldn’t do anything about the fact. The mere suggestion that Caroline was in danger had him half out of his mind. He hadn’t slept more than a wink ever since Galloway’s sudden appearance in his study. The unaffected aloofness that Marc had adopted over the years was nowhere to be found as he knocked on Caroline’s door with Simmonsintow.
The Staveley’s new butler opened the door and greeted Marc with a coolnod. “Sir?”
“I’m an old friend of Lady Staveley’s,” hebegan.
“I’m afraid Lady Staveley isn’t in at themoment.”
Of which Marc was well aware. He’d waited until Caroline had left to go somewhere with her daughters before he and Simmons strode up the stoop to Staveley House. “Yes, well, I’m actually here becauseofyou.”
“Me?” The butler blanchedabit.
Fellow must be a new operative. Galloway’s men usually were emotionless as a rule. Marc narrowed his eyes on the lackluster spy. “Indeed. Your services are no longer required by herladyship.”
“I beg your pardon?” The butler’s mouth dropped open insurprise.
“You heard me. Now gather your things and don’t let me find you anywhere near Staveley House or you’ll meet a rather gruesome end,” hegrowled.
The man looked positively ill at the suggestion. “Sir,I—”
“I amnota patient fellow. Gather yourthings.Now.”
The man turned tail and bolted down the hallway as though the devil himself chasedafterhim.
The front door would have slammed shut if Simmons hadn’t stopped it with his foot. “Are you certainthatfellow is one of the under secretary’s men?” Simmons opened the door wide for Marc to precede him into theresidence.
Marc was less sure about that than he had been the day before. “With as quickly as he abandoned his post, he’s the last fellow who should be looking after Lady Staveley and herfamily.”
“That is true.” Then Simmons shut the door behind them once they found their way into Caroline’sfoyer.
Marc glanced around the corridor. “IfI was mistaken about the fellow’s loyalties, Simmons, then someone else in this household is employed by Galloway. I feel certain you can ferret out the guilty party.” He supposed the under secretary’s spy could be anyone in Caroline’s employ. The butler, he knew, was new in the household, but he might not be the only recently hired servant. Galloway’s man orwomancould be someone he wouldn’t ever know or suspect was new. Or the infiltrator could even be an old servant, having kept an eye on Staveley before his death. Whomever he or she was, having Simmons at Staveley House was imperative to Caroline’s safety and to Marc’s peaceofmind.
“Of course, sir.” His loyal servant agreed with a nod ofhishead.
“Lady Staveley will try to relieve you of your post.” And she would be in a right temper when she found out that he’d sacked her servantforher.
Simmons smirked. “I amnotthat otherfellow.”
Which was precisely why Marc wanted Simmons installed at Staveley House. A lesser man would be run back to Haversham House with his tail between his legs after Caroline was done with him. But Simmons would remain at his post and keep a watchful eye on Caroline and her daughters, making certain no harm came to them. “You will send for me in caseanything—”
“You know I will, LordHaversham.”
And Marc breathed his first sigh of relief since he’d found the under secretary in his study a few days before. “Then I leave them in your capable hands,Simmons.”
* * *
Heavens!For the first time in Caroline’s life she understood why her brother had arranged a marriage for her and at such a young age. Rachel would, most likely, be the death of her. Never before had her daughter been so difficult to deal with. That afternoon they’d bickered about the height of an appropriately modest bodice scoop, which half-boots were of the best quality, and the tedium of a string of pearls. And now, her once accommodating daughter was in a snit over not being granted permission to go riding in the park with Kitty Greywood the next morning. It was almost as though she didn’t even recognize Rachel anymore. One day she’d been a pleasant young lady and the next she was a stubborn, younger version of Caroline. If she’d driven her brother Robert this mad when she was Rachel’s age, it was no wonder he had accepted Staveley’s offer without even consulting Caroline about her wishes on thematter.
