Page 36 of With Good Grace
‘Are you absolutely sure about that?’ Jake asked curtly. ‘Sorry,’ he added in response to Simon’s wounded look, ‘but this is important.’
‘I’m as sure as I can be. I have had people checking all his usual haunts, offering generous rewards for valid information, and he has not been seen at any of them. I shall continue to keep watch, but my instincts tell me the rogue has taken to his heels.’
‘I am relieved to hear it,’ Jake replied. ‘Even so, he will return sooner rather than later, and we will be waiting when he does. I trust Simon’s judgement, Olivia,’ he added, turning to look directly at her, ‘and I think it safe to assume that he is not responsible for Tom’s gift.’
‘It is to do with Hubert’s disappearance; I am absolutely sure about that.’
‘Possibly,’ Simon replied, nodding his thanks as Olivia handed him his tea. ‘But it doesn’t do to jump to conclusions. Jake has an annoying habit of collecting enemies in the same way other men collect stamps.’
‘Jake’s enemies are not mine,’ Olivia replied.
Simon sent her a knowing smile that caused her to blush. ‘The people we go up against do not fight fair,’ he told her.
‘Thank you for taking such swift action, Simon,’ Jake said.
‘All part of the service.’
Simon finished his tea, stood up and took Olivia’s hand, kissing the back of it. ‘I shall continue to keep my ear to the ground,’ he assured her. ‘Doesn’t do to relax one’s guard.’
‘Thank you,’ Olivia replied.
Parker appeared in response to the bell and showed Simon out.
‘You should rest,’ Jake said to Olivia when they were alone again. ‘You look exhausted.’
‘If that is a polite way of telling me that I am not looking my best, then you could have saved your breath. I am well aware of it.’
‘The strain, the worry about Tom, is taking its toll.’ Jake glanced out the window. It was raining steadily. ‘There will be no walks in the park this afternoon.’
‘Where are you going?’ she asked, when he stood.
‘I think it might be a good time to call upon Madame Céleste at the Adelphi. I would imagine she will be there about now since I know there is an early performance ofMuch Ado About Nothingthis evening.’
‘They have returned to safe ground with Shakespeare. No more of Madame’savant-gardeexperiments.’
‘That is one of the questions I intend to ask Madame, if she will see me.’ Olivia smiled; well aware that few people declined to see the distinguished and respected Earl of Torbay, no matter how inconveniently timed his visit might be. He loomed over her, tall, dark and oh so enticing that Olivia wanted to pinch herself, convinced he must be a product of her imagination. No man who looked like an avenging Greek god could possibly have an abiding interest in a notorious woman of her ilk, could he? His lips briefly covered hers, silently confirming that he very likely could.
‘I shall be back in good time to dine with you,’ he said.
Olivia watched him go, thinking about the smouldering luminescence in his eyes as he reminded her that they would be dining alone. He kept an excellent chef but Olivia was perfectly sure it was not the prospect of a good dinner that was responsible for his anticipatory expression. Perhaps he was thinking of sating other appetites, aware that no disapproving maids would be on hand to spoil the mood on that particular evening.
All well and good, she thought, leaning her chin on her clenched fist, but she had already told him that she would not share her bed with him again until they had defined the precise nature of their relationship, had she not? And Olivia couldn’t trust herself to stick to that resolve if Jake took matters into his more than capable hands.
‘Mama, make it stop raining!’ Tom barged into the room, a mini whirlwind of righteous indignation. ‘I want to go to the park.’
‘We shall have to wait until tomorrow, I’m afraid,’ Olivia replied, smiling at Jane as she scooped her disappointed son onto her lap and smoothed his curls. ‘What would you like to do instead?’
‘Ice cream. I would like lots and lots of ice cream.’
‘Well, if you have been a very good boy indeed, perhaps you shall have a small bowl in a moment.’
This promise did not produce the smile that Olivia had hoped for.
‘But I want abigbowl, Mama.’
Olivia laughed and fortunately Tom was distracted when Jane produced his hobby horse. Olivia feared for the welfare of Jake’s expensive furniture as her son enthusiastically rode his horse around the room, with no proper sense of direction. After a quarter of an hour, Jane took Tom’s hand, coaxing him from the room with the offer of the promised ice cream.
‘I shall need you to help me dress for dinner in Molly’s absence, Jane,’ Olivia said.
