Page 77 of His Wife, the Spy
“Because Father always shortens our names when he wants something,” Rebecca said. Her lips twisted. “But I draw the line at Lady Ramsbury.”
“Unless we’re in public.” Annabel winked. “Speaking of which, we received an invitation to an upcoming Botanical Society lecture. Would you like to attend with me? Jasper will be in Lords.” She would miss sitting next to him on the main floor while they tried not to laugh at the gray-bearded men who were shocked by her presence.
“I would, thank you.” Rebecca nibbled her bottom lip for a moment. “Do you think we could find a Latin tutor as well?”
“I’ll do my best.” It would be difficult to find one who wouldn’t be scandalized by teaching a young lady.
Annabel blinked. For the first time in years, she didn’t worry about the expense. She knew Jasper’s accounts like she knew her favorite novel. She also didn’t worry about whether Jasper would agree. He was generous to a fault with his family.
“The next time we visit Ramsbury, we’ll take you with us. The gardens there are being redone, and the man leading the project is a wonderful teacher.”
Rebecca pulled her into a quick, tight embrace. “Thank you.” When she pulled away, her smile was bright. “You are happy, aren’t you?”
“What?”
“Rachel and I wondered, at first. But he seems to be kind, and he’s almost always in good humor. He is, isn’t he? He’s not one way when we’re there and then another when you’re alone?”
The knot in her throat kept Annabel from speaking. All she could do was shake her head.
“You smile more, and you say his name very often in conversation.” Rebecca’s eyes gleamed as she leaned forward, the same as when they’d shared sisterly secrets. “Jane and Johanna say he’s quite besotted.”
He had also quite thoroughly convinced thetonhe was a drunkard while sipping on water. Heat climbed Annabel’s neck. “You four shouldn’t gossip.”
“As though we have anything else to do during piano lessons.” Rebecca rolled her eyes. “And you know Rachel.It’s so romantic.”
“Don’t tease her so.” Annabel led the way from the dining room to the front door.
After one last tight embrace with her sister, she left the house in a better mood than when she had arrived. Her improving relationship with Rebecca was one reason. The other was that Jasper would be waiting at the other end of her journey.
And, yes, despite everything, it was rather romantic.
*
“Pardon me. Sosorry.” Jasper tipped his hat to yet another lady, this one because he’d plowed into the other end of her pram.
The baby wailed in his wake as he refocused on the pedestrians in front of him. It was easier to find Raines now that the sea of hats had thinned to a trickle, but it was just as difficult to keep up with him.
“Mind your feet, sir.”
“My apologies.” Jasper tipped his hat without looking before skirting around another slow-moving couple.
A woman’s sturdy, simple cane caught his eye at the last possible moment. He stepped right to avoid kicking it away from her and jostled someone else. Someone much shorter.
“Paper, sir?”
Jasper pulled a coin from his pocket and took the paper with a quick nod and an even briefer smile. It still smelled of ink and would stain his gloves, but it might be a useful disguise. If Raines had spotted him earlier, the paper could throw him off at a second glance.
The young viscount turned the corner, heading away from Mayfair and deeper into town.
Damnation.That was the wrong way. Perhaps he should admit defeat and go home. It was where he wanted to be anyway. He slowed his steps and watched his quarry escape, second-guessing his decision to follow the man in the first place.
“I say! This is a coincidence. How are you, Ramsbury?”
Jasper glanced first to his father-in-law and then up the street to make certain Raines hadn’t heard the enthusiastic greeting.
“Baron Chilworth. How are you?” He renewed his pursuit.
All day, something had itched at the back of his brain. It had begun in Lords, where he’d caught Raines staring a few times too often.
