Page 42 of A Scandalous Proposition
Florentina glanced at the clock. ‘Oh goodness, it’s later than I realised. Her grace will wonder what’s become of me. I have no time to spend now with Sophia and Ramon if I’m to take food to the refugees. Please tell them I’ll see them tomorrow, Christine.’
Florentina jumped up, embraced Christine and headed for the door.
‘I’ll come with you,’ Adam said. ‘I should like to see them for myself.’
They said good-bye to Christine and made their way to the stables.
‘Seeing your younger siblings safe must be a great comfort,’ he said.
‘Yes.’ She sighed. ‘But it also makes me fear for my elder brother all the more. We ought to be together, with him protecting us all. This just isn’t right.’
Adam could sense her frustration but could think of nothing to say to ease her mind. Instead he helped her into the gig, pondering her problems as he did so, convinced there must be a way for him to be of service to her. But he was damned if he could decide what it might be.
He kept Rochester to a sedate trot, matching the pace set by the gig as Florentina drove it to the derelict cottages. When they arrived, he helped her to alight and unloaded the hamper for her.
‘I ought to go first and warn them to expect a visitor,’ she said.
‘Of course, take all the time you need.’
He leaned against a tree, deep in thought about all he’d just heard. By the time Florentina beckoned him into the cottage, a plan to bring Dawson down was already taking shape in his head. But in order to carry it out, he needed to know a great deal more about Dawson’s operation. He spent ten minutes talking to the bewildered captives in their own tongue, doing his best to reassure them that they were now safe. As he left he made a mental note to provide them with better bedding and a few other items that would make life more comfortable for them.
‘Thank you,’ Florentina said. ‘I believe you gave them hope.’
‘It was the least I could do.’ Adam smiled at her. ‘Your instinctive decision to place your trust in Christine served you well.’
‘Sometimes instinct is all we have to guide us. I learned that very early on whilst working for the British army.’
She looked at him in a strange manner, causing him to wonder if she was actually referring to her decision to place her trust in him. If so, he was determined not to give her reason to regret that decision.
‘I’m engaged to dine with my brother tonight,’ he said. ‘But you and I still have a great deal to discuss. Will you meet me again in the summerhouse later on?’
‘If you wish.’ She sounded surprised by his request. ‘But why must it be tonight?’
‘We don’t have the luxury of time on our side. I have a few ideas but need to ask you a lot more questions before I can be sure they will work.’
‘You don’t need to involve yourself. You already have more than your share of problems to deal with here at the Court.’ She turned her face to his, her expression resolute. ‘You ought to enjoy your furlough without inviting more trouble. I don’t suppose it will be long before you must return to your regiment.’
He removed her hand from the reins and took it in his. ‘Be that as it may, I don’t intend for Dawson to get away with what he’s doing. Besides, I begin to understand your character and suspect that if I don’t keep you within my sights, then you’ll finish up doing something rash.’ He drew her hand to his lips, turned it over and gently applied his lips to the inside of her wrist. ‘And I can’t permit you to knowingly place yourself in danger’s path.’
‘You can’t permit it?’ Her expression turned affronted, her breathing suddenly ragged, and it was difficult for him to know if she was angry or aroused. There could be no similar doubts about his own condition. Those damned eyes of hers were slowly killing him. ‘What business is it of yours how I conduct myself?’
‘Come to the summerhouse as soon as you can after my mother retires,’ he said, not responding to her question because he didn’t know the answer himself. ‘And we will be able to talk without interruption.’
‘Very well. If you’re absolutely sure you wish to involve yourself, Christine and I will be glad of your help.’
Adam had never been surer of anything in his life. All his other problems paled into insignificance. Nothing was more important to him now than keeping Florentina safe. That was the extent of his fascination with her.
‘We had best return to the Court by separate paths,’ he said. ‘It wouldn’t do to cause speculation about our activities by being seen together.’
She tossed her head as though his words were a physical assault. ‘Indeed not!’
‘Until later then.’
He stood back and watched her drive away. Long after the dust kicked up by the wheels of the gig had settled, he still stood there, following her progress with his eyes. Wishing he was still with her.
Chapter Ten
Florentina headed toward the dower house, miffed because Adam wouldn’t risk being seen with her. She instinctively knew that the young duchess wouldn’t react favourably if intelligence of their friendship got back to her. But she had no cause for displeasure since that was all that existed between them. Friendship and a mutual desire to see an end to Dawson’s human trafficking.
