Page 78 of The Rogue's Last Scandal
Charley drew in a long breath of fragrant tobacco and crushed the cigarillo under his heel before turning.
The shivering girl had naught but a thin shawl wrapping her shoulders. He took off his coat as he drew her under a garden lamp.
“There is no need for your coat. We may go back inside.”
“And argue in front of family and guests?”
He settled his coat around her, glancing around. The deserted garden was quiet. If there were grooms and footmen out here, they’d all gone to ground.
“All right.” He leaned on the stone rail. “Llewellyn’s visitor today was a woman, wearing veils.”
“Who?”
“We don’t know.”
“The Duquesa. She was outside when we left.”
“That’s a possibility. But I don’t think so.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Because you know her so well.”
He paused and studied her. He couldn’t yet trust her with the truth. He couldn’t trust her not to speak her mind if provoked. “Father has a man on her.” Or with her. He suspected one of the Duquesa’s men was also Father’s. “Also, I can’t see the mutual benefit there. Kincaid thought it might be a…er…mistress.”
She huffed. “So quickly? He has only just arrived in town. She was likely a mere prostitute.”
He turned away and hid a smile. Gracie had not had a sheltered childhood.
“Yes well, I made inquiries this afternoon and couldn’t find anyone who knew something about that.”
Her mouth dropped and she huffed again, and then laughed. “Well at least you are honest about visiting brothels.”
“I did not visit brothels.”
She raised an eyebrow. “No?”
“No. I have sources among…among the people who run that, er, trade.”
“I see. And how will we find who this woman was?”
“For now, we are having him followed.” As well as the Duquesa, but the less he mentioned her, the better.
“Could it have been a man sent in dressed as a woman, as Roddy was?”
He shook his head. “Anything is possible, but I doubt it. Ours was a ruse to see what kind of trap was laid. In this case, the woman was merely hiding her identity.”
“Perhaps.” She gripped the coat more tightly around her and sniffed at the lapel absentmindedly.
He bit back a smile. “I did visit a shop today.” He rummaged in the pocket near her hip. “Here, my lady.”
The lapel flopped back as she took the box and opened it. Her breath caught.
“It is an engagement gift.” A damn fine one that he’d spent too much time deciding upon.
She bit her lip and shook her head. “It is a lovely necklace, Charley, but I cannot possibly accept it.” The case snapped and she thrust it at him.
Well, and he’d expected this reaction, hadn’t he?
Dredging up a dramatic sigh, he took the box. “If this is a ruse, it’s one that must be played out. And even if you won’t accept that I can love you, desire you, and honor you, you may still show the world that I know enough to buy my fiancée an engagement gift.”
