Page 25 of A Flaming Lady's Secret Valentine
“What are you doing?” Cecilia hissed.
“What I do best,” he shot back. “Saving damsels in distress.”
Cecilia watched slack-jawed as Raphael pushed into the teahouse. The bell chimed mockingly above him. The last thing she wanted was to cause Jane any sort of embarrassment. With any luck, Mr Travers would linger by the entrance long enough to make sure Cecilia’s maid was safe, and then he would return to her.
Instead, he marched to Jane’s table and began speaking with her.
“No! Do not expose us,” Cecilia whispered, clutching her reticule to her chest.
Jane shot to her feet, but Raphael motioned for her to stay sitting. He greeted the man beside her—or seemed to, from what Cecilia could tell by the back of his head. Jane smiled politely, gesturing between them. Raphael nodded and paused.
“Now, come back and tell me everything…”
He stared over his shoulder and pointed at the window.
Jane and her companion looked straight at Cecilia, and she gave an awkward wave. Her maid hesitated, and Raphael waved in her stead, grinning from ear to ear. Cecilia’s cheeks burned, and she lowered the rim of her hat before turning away. She had wanted to know that Jane was safewithoutcompromising her anonymity.
Her daze overcome, the next thing she heard was the shop bell ringing again. Raphael sauntered down the steps, trying and failing to cover his smile with his hand.
“You will be pleased to know that Jane is fine. The man is an old friend who suggested they enjoy high tea together,” he offered, looking like the cat that got the cream. “He works intermittently as a footman for Lady Daphne’s father. Supposedly, they met while Jane was fending off a few footpads—”
“What?!”
Raphael began walking down Bond Street. “I am teasing you, my lady.” She fell into step beside him. “They ran into each other by chance after Jane saw you off. She says the young man will escort her back to the house within the hour. She put up somewhat of a fight when I suggested she return with us … Better to leave her be.”
“Jane … has a friend?”
“That is not unusual, for a woman to have friends.”
“Yes, but…of the male genus?”
“You make us sound like chimps.”
“Some of you are more like chimps than others.” She slowed her gait to a stop, and Mr Travers turned to look at her. “Why did you point me out to Jane?”
“In part because I thought you would laugh.”
“Do you take pleasure in my ridicule, Mr Travers?”
She felt like a child for even asking. It was beneath a lady to whine, but it was also beneath a gentleman to make any lady a laughingstock. Mr Raphael Travers seemed determined to challenge her wherever they went. Cecilia did not mind a few traded jokes between themselves, but he had involved Jane this time. And Jane’s friend. And the rest of the teahouse, she wagered.
She liked Raphael more than she cared to admit. That did not mean she would allow him to walk all over her.
He regarded her guiltily, then averted his eyes to the busy road. “Honestly?”
Cecilia nodded.
“No, I do not take pleasure in it.”
A weight lifted off her shoulders. “Then why do it?”
“Because—” He breathed shakily and it gave her pause. When he looked at her again, he seemed angry, yet she had the feeling it had nothing to do with her. “I forget myself around you, my lady.”
She parted her lips to ask him what he meant, then she closed them.
“For what little it is worth, I apologise. Mymodus operandihas never been to humiliate you, I swear it.”
“I believe you. Thank you, Mr Travers. And thank you for checking on Jane.”
