Page 47 of One Perfect Dance
He stepped lightly up the stairs, and Regina crossed to where Ash waited by the door. “Let us be off, Elijah. It is a lovely day for a drive, even one with shopping!”
As they left the house, Ash scanned the surroundings, but saw no suspicious movement. Fullaby was on horseback, farther down the street, his nod confirming he’d seen nothing suspicious. Two of Rex’s grooms were also in the vicinity, mounted and alert. The periphery was also guarded by some of the townhouse’s footmen, out of livery but hardly anonymous. Their stature and way they walked screamed “footman,” and the attention they paid to Ash and Regina signaled to any observer that they were not casual passers-by.
Still, it was the best Ash could do at short notice, and he and Rex had agreed that a second attempt so soon after the last was unlikely. Later today, he’d look into finding some men who would better serve to thwart another attempt on his life. If, in fact, he had been the target. Rex was seeing the enquiry agent this afternoon. Perhaps the man could find out who was attacking them and why.
He helped Regina up into his phaeton. Her own carriage was drawing up behind them and would follow to carry her parcels.
“Do you know those men?” Regina asked, peering at the nearest footman.
Ash hesitated only a moment. His urge to protect her was natural. But keeping her in the dark was not the way to do it. She was an intelligent, adult woman. Knowing about possible danger was the first step to countering it.
“They’re working for me, Regina. I don’t believe you are in any danger, but we think someone took a shot in my direction earlier today, and I wanted to take every possible step to ensure your safety.”
She gasped. “Someoneshotat you?”
“They missed,” he assured her. “If I was, indeed, the target. They may have been shooting at Rex, or it may even have been a case of mistaken identity.”
“Did you report it to the magistrates?” She gave a sharp nod. “Yes, of course you did. You are not fools.”
Ash shrugged. As to that, he and Rex had argued about it. Rex said they and their runners had next to nothing to go on. Ash said they had nothing to lose. “Yes, we went to the nearest police office and reported to the magistrate. He said he’d send some constables to look at the scene and ask some questions. He didn’t sound hopeful.”
Regina frowned and pursed her lips. “You don’t think he will find anything.”
“We have called in an enquiry agent,” Ash reassured her. “We’ll see what he finds out. We’ve also agreed neither of us will go anywhere without a set of watchers who will be able to see any danger as it approaches.” He grinned at the thought of the reception he and Rex planned.
“You look as if you hope they will try again,” she observed. “I have never seen a wolf smiling, but I imagine the expression might be similar. You hope to catch them in the act, do you not?”
She was a smart lady. “I hope the enquiry agent will find out who they are before that is necessary. But we will catch them in the act if it comes to it.”
Regina was silent for a few minutes. Ash focused on his team, easing them past other traffic, conscious always of Fullaby ten yards ahead and the two grooms following behind. The footmen were jogging to keep up, weaving in and out of pedestrians. If anything happened, their priorities were Regina’s safety first and then pursuit and capture of the assailant.
Regina had clearly been thinking with some purpose. “Do you have any idea who might want you dead? You have only been back in England a matter of days. Could it be someone you’ve somehow offended during your travels?”
“Not that I know of. Not sufficiently to have them pursue me across the world. And the same applies to Rex. Perhaps it was a case of mistaken identity after all.” He decided not to mention the people who might or might not be from India, and who might or might not have been present for both attempts.
“I suppose it could be someone in England who wants something they think you have,” she mused.
“Or something they want that they think they’ll get more easily if I am out of the way. Or Rex.”Like Dilly, for example.
But his suspicion about Dilly was ridiculous.Wasn’t it?
They had turned on to the busy thoroughfare that contained the first of the shops on Regina’s list.
“You will be careful?” Regina asked him, touching his arm. “I would hate it if you were hurt.” Her tone of deep concern had him glancing at her before turning back to the horses. Worry for him filled her eyes. Worry and… love?
And that was promising, wasn’t it?
*
The first shopwas followed by a second, a third, and then more. “Are you sure this isn’t boring for you, Elijah?” Regina said again, the fourth time she had asked in the past hour and a half. “I can continue on my own if you would prefer.”
“I am content,” Ash told her, as he had said before. It was true. He was enjoying watching Regina with the merchants, asking questions about quality and construction, decisively selecting what would suit and rejecting what didn’t, bargaining to establish a price.
She knew precisely what she wanted, and what she was prepared to pay for it. The truth was, he realized, he just enjoyed watching Regina. She filled his thoughts, day, and night, and when he was with her, she absorbed so much of his attention that he had to remind himself to keep up his guard against any further attempts at harm.
“Unless I am in the way,” he added, suddenly thinking that her concern about his entertainment might be subtle hint that she would prefer his absence.
Her smile soothed that doubt, and she accepted his assistance to mount into the curricle. “Not at all. I am enjoying your company. Two more stops, then. The china merchant, and then Fourniers to finalize the catering.”
