Page 12 of Assisting Lord Richmond
Ellen laughed. “So, tell me what to do to help.”
“Nothing, Ellen, I swear it to you. I need you to stay safely out of the way so I can get this matter cleared up.”
“I don’t believe you, Hugh. You wouldn’t have come here just from the fact that you saw me across the glen at the Park. Why would you do that? You must have wanted to involve me whether you want to admit it or not.”
“Ellen, you cannot be involved. It is far too dangerous.”
Ellen stared at him. A glance toward the floor revealed to Hugh that one of her feet had begun to tap. He supposed she was irritated with him. She twitched as though she wanted to cross her arms but again controlled the impulse. Hugh was impressed with the level of her self-control. She hadn’t been like that as a girl.
“I suppose I could just ask Mr. Northcott about the matter,” she finally said with a musing tone.
Hugh could see one of her dimples fluttering to life in her cheek. He remembered that she had always hated the crevices that appeared in her cheeks, but he had always enjoyed them. They made themselves evident when she was amused, even, it would seem, when she was trying to hide her amusement.
“You cannot allow Northcott to know how much a fool I’ve been to approach you like this.”
“How have you been a fool, Hugh? You might not wish to admit it, but you know I could be of great assistance in any matter. I was always the very best at hide and seek or any games of strategy when we were children.”
“I would readily admit that. But I do not want you involved, as it is quite possibly going to be dangerous. Swear to me that you shan’t approach him on this.”
“Are you going to accost me if you see me talking to him at the next ball?”
“I don’t attend balls, Ellen, I’m still in mourning.”
“I just saw you at one last night,” Ellen protested with a frown.
“I was there for a very specific reason,” he insisted firmly
“And yet, you took the time to dance with me. Or was that your very specific reason?”
Again a fraught silence settled between them as they stared somewhat belligerently at one another. Finally, Hugh allowed a low chuckle to escape him.
“Please, Ellen, I’m begging you, swear to me that you won’t involve yourself in this. I will not be able to concentrate as I must if I have to fear for your safety.”
“You have to know I cannot swear to that. You should have thought of these concerns before coming here. You are the one who has involved me, Hugh. I did not stick my nose in your affairs.”
Hugh stared at her. She was right. He was a dolt. He should have realized there was no way she was going to be able to ignore this now that he had involved her so thoroughly. And he had involved her. Not the other way around, no matter what he might wish to think.
“Ellen, please, you mustn’t. I know, it was foolish of me to come to you like this. And perhaps, in the unconscious recesses of my mind I wanted your involvement, but truly, logically, and most assuredly, it is not safe for you to be involved.”
She stared at him hard for a moment, making Hugh squirm a little. Then, in a very soft voice, she proceeded to destroy his sanity. “But is it safe for you, Hugh? Who shall watch over you just as you wish to protect me?”
He wanted to scoff at her but managed to restrain himself. “Are you thinking to offer your services in protecting me, then, little one?”
At that, she sat up straighter in her seat. “I will.” She said it so simply as though she needn’t give the matter any thought. Such loyalty despite what he had done to her was thoroughly undeserved. A shudder ran through him.
“I deeply appreciate your wish to assist me, but I cannot accept, I’m afraid.” He even put up his hands as though to ward her off.
“Hugh, let me put it to you like this: you can allow me to assist in some way that you will know about, or you will have to worry about me courting scandal by following you about and making a nuisance of myself in order to ensure your safety. Or I can send for my brother to come see to you, if that might make you feel better. It would be far less satisfying for me, but it might make more sense. Really, Jeffrey ought to be here anyway. But that just brings us back to the conversation we had last night and whether or not your courier has any information for us.” She sighed and laughed lightly. “So really, it seems to me that you just have to accept my help whether you want to or not. It really is quite inevitable.”
After staring at her for a moment with his mouth agape, Hugh finally nodded and accepted the truth of her words. There was really no choice in the matter.
“I will take you for a drive tomorrow. We will discuss it then.”
With barely another word, he took his leave of her.
Chapter Seven
Ellen was left blinking in the breeze that he left in his wake. Metaphorically, of course, she thought with a dry chuckle as she shook her head over his abrupt departure. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of their visit that afternoon. She didn’t really want to think about it though, as that way lay trouble for her heart. She had already wept all the tears she intended to cry over that particular man.
