Page 37 of A Fearless Heart
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Gabe could have kicked himself. What the hell was he doing? It was the perfect opening to tell her a story that would elicit her sympathy, and deepen her ties to him, the ones he very deliberately set out to build with her so he could get the information he needed.
But her comment about being friends hit him in a way he didn’t expect. He wasn’t trying to be a friend to this woman. He only wanted her to trust him enough so he could get what he wanted and then get out. He was quite willing to use physical means to do it, hence getting so close to her in the shed before. But his plan misfired when he inhaled that witch hazel scent and whatever else was in the air whenever she appeared. It sent his head spinning, and he lost his concentration. He had meant to kiss her when they were alone in the shed. It was the natural point to do so, pushing their relationship into the next logical phase, preparing her for a seduction.
But that wasn’t what happened. Not for lack of interest on his part. While Cady’s attention was locked on the mouse, he’d been riveted to that spot where her neck met her shoulder, the skin temptingly exposed when she’d pushed back her cloak. Lean over her, let his lips graze her skin, gauge her reaction.
Instead she’d been disgustingly naive, sweetly telling him that he was helping her. As if he were some kind of altruist.
It was difficult to coldheartedly seduce a woman when she was so sweet and gooey. Gabe did not do well with gooey. He was used to shrewd, worldly players who all knew the game and the stakes.
And then there was Cady, who wanted to be friends.
Gabe didn’t have friends. Friends led to openings that could be exploited. Friends had to be protected. And when you failed to protect them, you suffered the consequences of it for the rest of your life.
So no more friends.
He had a task, and he’d complete it. The next time he got Cady alone, he wasn’t going to hesitate.
In the afternoon, Gabe made up a reason why he needed to go into the village of Dorbridge.
Rather surprisingly, Rundle not only didn’t question his spurious errand, he even told Gabe to saddle the roan in the stable to shorten the journey. “They all need more exercise than we can give them, since Lady Arcadia has no need for travel.”
Gabe was delighted to be able to ride, and the roan was equally happy to be trotting through the lanes on such a sunny spring day.
His real errand was mundane. He’d run out of the black dye he was using to change his appearance, and now he needed to cover the lighter roots that were already growing in. Luckily, no one had noticed yet. But he would have to be careful to avoid attracting attention.
Though he was attracting attention of another kind. Without showing it, he noticed the glances from people walking along the streets. Curiosity for a stranger. Veiled interest from some women. One pair of ladies tracked his progress along the high street much in the same way lionesses did on the veldt—except the ladies giggled more.
There was a shop that sold dry goods and sundries where Gabe found a small tin of the black dye he needed. He bought a few other items to hide the fact that he only needed the one.
“You must be traveling through here on the coach route,” the proprietor noted with the sort of friendly, false interest that was part of the business. “Where are you bound?”
Gabe could have nodded, lied, and gotten away quickly. But since what he needed more than anything was more information, he did what he usually avoided while on assignment. He told the truth.
“No, I’m actually a gardener at Calderwood,” he said.
The conversations between other customers in the shop didn’t preciselystop. But Gabe was aware of a tightening of attention on him the moment he uttered the wordCalderwood.
The proprietor’s smile slipped for a moment before he recovered with, “Oh, indeed? Quite a big place, Calderwood is. Lots of…gardens.”
He nodded. “It would take a dozen men to do everything that needs doing. Surprised that more folks don’t take up the positions there. Especially with the pay, and the food,” he added, with perfect sincerity. “Do you think there’s something wrong there?”
Someone behind him coughed, and the proprietor blinked rapidly as he decided what to say.
“I’ve never been there myself,” he finally got out. “Have you noticed anything, er, odd there since you started working?”
Gabe shrugged. “Just that there’s so much work and so few to do it.”
“Have you met the lady?” an older man asked from where he stood.
“Yes, she hired me.”
“And?” the man prodded.
“And what?” Gabe asked, not feeling particularly obliging.
“How does she seem?”
