Page 37 of A Masked Lady for Mr. Kenworthy
With a firm headshake, Thomas began pacing in front of the fireplace. He was growing frustrated with himself and his inability to keep his view of Lady Faye as professional and platonic as he had been insisting that it was. He had never had such trouble keeping his emotions out of his work. Why was she so different? Thomas ran a hand through his hair, deciding it did not matter what the reason was. It was becoming painfully clear that he would continue struggling with containing his feelings.
But there was a problem which far exceeded the one he currently faced. If he ever did allow himself to act on his feelings for Lady Faye, he not only put his work at risk but her as well. And not only regarding the job to which they were assigned. His work was dangerous, even when innocent people were not involved. To have any kind of relationship with Lady Faye would be to endanger her for the rest of her life. It would be a danger for anyone to get involved with him, so long as he worked as an agent of the Crown.
“Thomas,” Rupert said, causing Thomas to start and stumble mid-pace.
Thomas whirled around to look into Rupert’s inquisitive face. His raised eyebrows asked a question that Thomas prayed his lips would not. Fortunately, Rupert merely shook his head sharply and walked over to Thomas. In his hand was a crisp folder, and he was holding it out to Thomas.
“What is this?” Thomas asked, looking at it as though it might burn him if he touched it.
Rupert pushed it into his hands, opening it to expose its contents.
“We have discovered more about the connection between Lord Turlington and Mayson Winters,” he said, excitement building in his voice.
Thomas looked down at the pages in the file, unable to read them because of how quickly Rupert was flipping through them. Thomas gently tugged the folder away from his partner, causing Rupert to take a sheepish step backward. He silently gestured to the file, indicating that Thomas should take a look at it for himself.
“I thought we knew what their connection was,” he said, silently praising himself for his earlier suspicion that there was more to the situation than they had first uncovered.
Rupert shook his head, holding his hands in front of him to keep himself from putting them on the folder again. He nodded his head toward it and grinned.
“I think you and I both knew there was more to it,” he said, giving Thomas a knowing look. “See for yourself.”
Thomas flipped back to the first page, reading carefully. The first few pages listed everything they already knew. At first, Thomas could not see what Rupert might be referring to. Then, he realized he was skimming the pages, looking for any mention of the mysterious black book that the marquess possessed. He shifted his focus and went back to the fourth page of the file. There was a piece of paper which appeared to be a page out of some kind of business ledger. But a closer look at the following page told a different story.
“This page is written almost entirely in French,” he murmured.
Rupert nodded.
“Keep reading,” he said, his excitement clearly growing.
Thomas continued reading, and his mouth fell open. Suddenly, the pieces of the puzzle he had been unable to put together about the relationship between the shady marquess and the new earl of Welborn made complete sense.
“The shipping company they were running was not merely a business,” he mumbled. “They were using it as a front to meet with the French.”
Chapter Twenty-four
For the first part of the trip, Faye and Lady Salisdene took turns dozing off. They had gotten a very early start to the journey, and Faye had struggled to sleep the night before. Her mind had been filled with concern for her mother’s wellbeing while she was gone. She worried too about what her trip to the marquess’s country home might hold in store for her. Now, however, she was distracted by the kiss she had been so close to sharing with Mr. Kenworthy. It had surprised her when his lips had touched hers, but the moment they had, she knew at once that there was nothing she wanted more in the world than to kiss him.
She had tried to keep reminding herself that she must not act on her attraction to the gentleman. She understood that she was to help him and Lord Daleshire with a very important mission, and it would not be professional or appropriate even to entertain such ideas. But once he had proven that he reciprocated the interest she had in him, she found it impossible to deny the feelings she was rapidly beginning to develop for him. And strangely, even though her mind told her it was inappropriate, she did not feel it was at all wrong in her heart. She hid a smile as she thought about the look in his eyes as he had prepared to kiss her, and she could not help hoping that, someday, that kiss would come to fruition.
“Lady Faye,” the countess said suddenly.
Faye faced her quickly, surprised to see the countess was wide awake. By the look in Lady Salisdene’s eyes, it was clear to Faye she had been watching her for some time. She blushed, instantly feeling foolish. There was no possible way for the countess to guess that she and Mr. Kenworthy had nearly shared such an intimate moment. Was there?
“Yes, my lady?” Faye asked, trying to look as calm and innocent as she possibly could.
The countess gave her a warm, understanding smile.
“I do believe that you and my dear friend Thomas have something of a special connection,” she said.
Faye’s blush deepened, and she had to concentrate on keeping herself from giggling. Under the countess’s gaze, Faye felt it was of little use to argue or deny the claim.
“What makes you say that?” she asked, unable to hide the dreamy smile that crossed her lips.
The countess nodded, her eyes brightening.
“Oh, darling, it is plain for anyone to see,” she said. “Even if I did not know Thomas as well as I do, I would notice the attraction between the two of you in no time.”
Faye pressed a hand to her cheek, looking away from the countess.
