Page 45 of A Masked Lady for Mr. Kenworthy
“Of course,” he said, giving Thomas a sheepish grin. “Forgive me. I simply find myself at an utter loss. For all the interrogations we have done and information we have gathered, we should have uncovered something more about Mayson Winters’s connection to Gabriella Dupont.”
Thomas nodded slowly, giving Rupert a sympathetic look.
“I understand your frustration, my friend,” he said. “It seems impossible that all traces of information that would lead us to that connection can simply vanish.”
“And yet, that is precisely the case,” Rupert finished, starting to pace once more.
Both men retracted into thoughtful, brooding silence. Thomas did not continue dwelling on Mayson and Gabriella much longer. When they next met with Darwin, he was sure that he could help them come up with new ideas on how to best proceed with their seemingly dead-end case. And, perhaps, Darwin would have some new information of his own. They had not spoken to him since they discovered the shipping business the marquess and Mayson had supposedly run was a front for their French spying escapades. Thomas could not consider all truly lost until they had spoken with their superior once more.
Instead, his mind drifted to Lady Faye. He had not expected to hear a word from her or the countess while they were at Charles’s country home, but he could not help wishing that he would. Every moment she spent in the company of the marquess was another moment when she could be approaching terrible danger. It was also another moment when he could not see her beautiful face, and he felt as though he might drive himself mad long before her return. And each time he thought of Charles touching Faye, as he had at the ball, his stomach churned. Not for the first time, Thomas desperately wished he had not sent her away to spend any amount of time with that horrid man.
Trying to gather his thoughts, Thomas reminded himself that Lady Salisdene was with Lady Faye. And, if there was ever a woman who could be trusted to look after the young woman, it was her. The countess was a warm, genuine soul, and to those whom she befriended, she was endlessly loyal, kind, and protective. Thomas still regretted being unable to accompany Lady Faye to the marquess’s country manor, but he knew she was in good hands with Lady Salisdene.I just hope Charles does not discover that and try to dispatch the countess,Thomas thought, swallowing a fresh wave of fear.
“Thomas,” Rupert said questioningly.
Thomas shook his head and looked at his partner.
“Yes?” he asked.
Rupert raised his eyebrows so high they almost met his hairline.
“I have been asking you the same question for several moments now,” he said.
Thomas bit the inside of his cheek and met Rupert’s eyes.
“Forgive me,” he mumbled. “What question?”
Rupert stared at him just long enough to make him feel terribly uncomfortable. Then, Rupert sighed.
“What has you so preoccupied?” he asked.
Thomas blushed, certain that had not been his partner’s initial question. He looked past Rupert, trying to keep his face as unchanging as possible, pretending to look through his good friend.
“This mission has been rather a strain,” he said with a shrug. “I suppose I am simply more than ready for it to be finished.”
Rupert nodded painfully slowly, still surveying Thomas. He placed the papers he held in his hand down on the table and moved closer to Thomas.
“I see,” he said, much as he would to a person of interest under interrogation. “And I do not suppose it has anything to do with your feelings for Lady Faye, does it?”
Thomas put all his energy into his best performance of bewilderment and puzzlement he had ever contrived. He gave his partner his widest eyes and most innocent body language.
“I haven’t a clue as to what you mean,” he said. “The case has been a trying one, and I am ready to have it all put behind us.”
Rupert laughed, letting Thomas know at once that he did not believe a word Thomas was saying. Nevertheless, Thomas was too proud to lower his gaze from his friend. Rupert shook his head again and sighed.
“Thomas, my friend,” he said, putting a hand on Thomas’s shoulder, “I know you have done your best to ignore your feelings for her, just as I asked you to do for the sake of the mission. But it is just as evident that you have been far from successful in doing that.”
Thomas looked away from Rupert, trying to decide what to say. He did not wish to continue trying to lie to his partner, but he was too tense to defend himself against him either properly.
“Rupert,” he said at last. “Perhaps, now is not the time to discuss this.”
“This is the best time to discuss it,” Rupert said, his voice surprisingly warm and supportive, unlike the time when he had told Thomas not even to entertain ideas of having feelings for Lady Faye. “We have reached nothing but dead ends on the case, and we are sitting here driving ourselves mad trying to make connections without all the critical information needed to do so. Come, Thomas, you cannot fool me. The last time I saw you this infatuated with a woman was when you were with Ruth. You feel far more than a passing attraction to Lady Faye, and I can see that now.”
Thomas opened his mouth to protest vehemently, but he could not force himself to form the words. Instead, all he could think to himself was that Rupert was right. Since he had met Lady Faye, she had consumed all his thoughts. Even when he was supposed to be concentrating on work, just as today, she was the only thing he could keep on his mind. He slowly closed his mouth, pondering whether he should confess to his partner’s correct theory or simply change the subject.
“Lord Daleshire, forgive the intrusion,” the butler said, coming in suddenly and saving Thomas from having to make that decision, “but your superior has just arrived, and he says the matter is urgent.”
“It is urgent,” Darwin said, pushing past the butler, clearly too agitated to wait to be formally announced. The butler glanced at him for a moment with a small, knowing smile before turning and leaving the room. The butler was accustomed to Darwin’s sharp, impatient demeanor. Thomas glanced at Rupert, who was already walking over to Darwin to usher him into the room and offer him a drink.
