Part 15 (1/2)

After a long silence, Lady Agnes said, ”You're remarkably clear-sighted, Miss Fox. As a woman who has avoided the bars myself, I can understand that.”

”But it will be a waste of a good father,” Miss Emily said with a sigh.

Grey and Ca.s.sie had agreed that afternoon that for discretion's sake, they should sleep in their separate rooms. But in the dark hours after midnight, Grey's resolve snapped when a nightmare of darkness and desolation yanked him awake.

Shaking, he crossed the corridor to Ca.s.sie's room. She woke instantly, as a good spy needed to do, and equally swiftly recognized her visitor. Silently she extended a hand. He took it gratefully and slid into the bed next to her.

In her arms, he slept.

Chapter 27.

With a groan, Grey sat up in bed. ”It's almost dawn. I'd better slink back to my own room.”

Ca.s.sie wrapped an arm around his waist. ”This doesn't seem like the sort of household where anyone is easily shocked.”

”Perhaps not, but I don't want to put Lady Agnes in an awkward situation.” He kissed her forehead. ”Don't complain. You get to stay in this nicely warmed bed.”

”It just got a great deal colder,” she sighed as he stood up.

”We have a cozy journey to London ahead of us. By the time we reach there, you'll be bored with me.” He opened her door, checked that no one was in sight, and slipped back to his own room, thinking there was a reason people got married. Sharing a bed legally would be much more pleasant than tiptoeing through icy corridors.

He wasn't going to sleep again, so he dressed and headed downstairs in hopes of acquiring a cup of tea since the kitchen staff started early. He found not only a friendly cook and tea, but toasted bread with honey. He was happily consuming a second slice when Lady Agnes appeared fully dressed and with amus.e.m.e.nt in her eyes. ”Good morning, all.”

As Grey murmured a response, the cook poured a cup of tea, added honey and milk, and handed it to the headmistress. After a deep swallow, Lady Agnes said, ”Complications have arisen, Wyndham. Come with me and I'll show you.”

”Yes, ma'am.” It was easy to fall back into schoolboy mode. Though Lady Agnes didn't seem upset, he was curious, so he swallowed the last of his toast and honey and followed her upstairs. To his surprise, she led him to her private rooms and threw open the door to her dressing room.

”Behold the complications,” she said with a laugh.

Curled up on an expensive velvet cloak were Regine and three fat little puppies who were blindly nursing. ”Good heavens!” Grey knelt to examine the new arrivals, keeping a careful distance away. ”Aren't you looking proud of yourself, Regine. Apart from eating enough for three horses, you kept your secret well. I wonder what the father looked like? The puppies look even more mixed than their mother.”

”They're adorable,” Lady Agnes said firmly. ”Lineage doesn't matter.”

Grey grinned. ”There speaks a woman with some of the bluest bloodlines in Britain.”

”I didn't choose my ancestors any more than these puppies chose their father.” Lady Agnes swallowed more tea. ”I rather like mixed breeds. More surprises.”

Regine briefly looked up from licking the pups, then returned to her was.h.i.+ng. Grey got to his feet. ”I have no idea how she got in here, Lady Agnes. I will replace the cloak when I have money again.”

Lady Agnes made a dismissive gesture. ”No need to worry about that, but you can't take a new mother and her puppies in a carriage to London.”

He laughed at her expression. ”You aren't the least bit sorry, are you?”

She grinned. ”I've a weakness for all young creatures, whether children, kittens, or puppies. I'd love to keep one of these. My old dog died a few weeks ago, and I've been thinking it's time I looked for a new pup. There are boys here who would like puppies, too.” She looked thoughtful. ”There is one lad in particular who really needs a pup of his own.”

”You can give away the puppies, but I'll be back for Regine when her offspring are old enough to do without her.” He extended one hand, and when Regine didn't seem inclined to bite, he scratched her head. ”I'll miss her, though.”

”You'll just have to keep your Miss Fox close then,” Lady Agnes said blandly.

Grey certainly intended to try.

After a fast trip up to London, the luxurious coach rumbled to a halt in front of Kirkland House. As the footman lowered the steps, Kirkland offered his hand to Grey. ”I'll call in Exeter Street tomorrow. If you need anything, just send word.”

”I'll be fine.” Grey shook his friend's hand. ”When I feel ready to return to the bosom of my loving family, you'll be the first to know.”

”More likely the second to know.” Kirkland inclined his head to Ca.s.sie, then climbed out of the carriage.

After the door was closed and the carriage resumed its progress across the city, Grey settled back in the seat and took Ca.s.sie's hand. ”Was London always this crowded, smelly, and noisy?”

”Yes, which is probably why you've buried those memories.” She laced her fingers through his. ”Does London make you want to run screaming?”

”Somewhat.” His smile was twisted. ”I'm doing better than I would have even a week ago. But I'm glad to be heading to a cave where I can hide for the rest of the day to recover from the journey.”

”For the rest of today, you can relax. But I warn you that as of tomorrow I'll be marching you out to sample the delights of London,” she said. ”Starting with the Covent Garden market. It's so close to the house that if you run screaming, you won't even be out of breath by the time you return to your cave.”

”Very thoughtful of you. But I think that if you're with me, I should be able to control myself under most conditions.” He dropped a quick kiss on her forehead. ”I don't know why I find your presence so easy, but I'm grateful for it.”

”I may be easier because I didn't know you before Castle Durand,” she said thoughtfully. ”I don't expect you to be the same as you were at twenty. And because I know you're not broken beyond repair, I'm not hovering and worrying and missing the glittering Lord Wyndham of fond memory. I'll settle for seeing you happy as the man you've become now.”

He waggled his eyebrows. ”The fact that I'm an amazing lover isn't part of your calculations?”

She laughed. ”That belongs on a different set of scales, my lord.”

”Scales of solid gold, I'm sure.” His smile faded as he gazed out the window. ”My parents might be in London waiting for Parliament.”

”Perhaps. Even if they're here, you needn't see them until you want to.”

”I do want to see them. Just ... not yet.” He made an effort to lighten his tone. ”I'd rather visit Astley's Circus or some other entertainment. I a.s.sume the Theatre Royal is still in Covent Garden?”

”Yes, though the theater you knew burned down several years ago. A new one was built in the same place, so the shows carry on,” she replied. ”Perhaps tomorrow we can go by the theater and look at the playbills to see what's being performed.”

He hesitated. ”I like the theater, but I'm not ready to be part of a rowdy theater crowd, and I can't sit in a box without the risk of being recognized.”

”Maybe in a week or two,” she said peaceably.

They fell silent, but their hands remained locked together. Grey's gaze was riveted on the city that was the beating heart of Britain. Ca.s.sie thought he was handling the crowds and confusion well. Every day, he became stronger. Better able to manage.

Dusk was approaching when they arrived at 11 Exeter Street. ”It's bigger than I expected,” Grey said as he helped Ca.s.sie from the carriage.

”This area was once fas.h.i.+onable and the large houses remain.” She produced her key and led the way up the front steps. ”There are enough boardinghouses in the neighborhood that our comings and goings aren't noticed.”

She opened the door to the small foyer and she and Grey entered, his arm slung affectionately around her shoulders. Inside was a tall, lean man on the point of departure. Ca.s.sie stiffened as she recognized the whipcord strength and brown hair.

As he saw her, his serious face lit with a smile. ”Ca.s.sie! Since I'm leaving for Scotland tomorrow, I stopped by on the off chance you might have just returned.”

Rob Carmichael. Ca.s.sie froze as he moved toward her. Then Rob stopped dead, his gaze moving from Ca.s.sie to Grey.