Page 12 of Stolen By the Rogue
“Now that’s an idea.”
He would have to tread carefully. Any sort of connection with her would need to be brief and over before he finished the job.
George winced at the thought. Being an outright cad didn’t quite sit right, even for an unashamed rogue such as himself.
Just don’t let her develop any emotional attachment to you and all will be right. Friendship is all you are offering.
He rose and headed over to the sideboard before pouring himself a stiff brandy. With his glass in hand, he settled back into the chair and picked up the notebook. A new plan began to form in his mind. By the time George had polished off his drink, he had filled several pages with detailed notes.
He finished the last sentence, then boldly underlined it. For a moment he sat and simply stared at what he had written.
Be charming. Be a gentleman.
Be bloody careful.
Chapter Six
As she ushered the next lot of visitors into the exhibition the following evening, Jane did a double take. Trailing the rest of the group was a smiling George Hawkins.
“Mister Hawkins. This is an unexpected delight,” she said.
He bowed his head. “I am here because I am ashamed to say that I didn’t really pay much attention to the items on display last night. I was too distracted.”
“Really? By what?” A ripple of heat coursed through her body as he drew close. Jane swallowed deeply.
His gaze flitted to the other guests then back to her. “By you, Miss Scott. First thing this morning, I paid a visit to a friend who I knew had a ticket for tonight and begged him to give it to me. When I told him about the intriguing young woman at the embassy, he immediately agreed.”
Intriguing. He finds me interesting. Gosh.“I don’t know what to say, Mister Hawkins. You have me at a loss.”You also have my full attention—even though I should know better.
“Say you will come and walk with me in Hyde Park tomorrow afternoon. We can have tea and cake afterwards, and then I can escort you back here in time for the evening exhibition. That is unless of course you have family or personal commitments.”
Jane caught the question in George’s last remark. He was fishing, seeking to discover what family she might have in London. Or if she was in a relationship.
Perhaps there is one or two decent men in the world. And if I don’t do anything foolish like risking my heart, what harm could come of it?
She would take a chance on George Hawkins. “No, I don’t have any other obligations. An afternoon in Hyde Park would be lovely. Thank you, Mister Hawkins.”
He bowed once more. “Excellent. Shall I call at your home?”
Jane shook her head. She liked George Hawkins, but she barely knew him. Now was not the time to reveal her current temporary living arrangements.
“Let’s meet at the main entrance to Hyde Park at four o’clock. Now if you would excuse me, I had better get on with explaining the exhibition to the other guests.”
He followed as she led the group into the second display room, making all the same oohs and ahhs as everyone else at the sight of Baldwin’s crown. But unlike the other visitors, who clustered tightly together against the rope, George did as he had done the previous night and remained back from the group. It was almost as if he were taking in the whole scene rather than just the jeweled centerpiece.
Questions from several other interested patrons soon took her mind elsewhere, but whenever she got the chance, Jane would venture a glance in the direction of her new friend. More often than not, she found a pair of brown eyes staring back.
It was nice to be the subject of someone’s interest—very nice indeed.
Chapter Seven
“Idon’t think I could eat another thing for a month,” said Jane.
George chuckled as she sat back in the chair and lay a hand over her belly. They had both just eaten two sizeable fruit buns. The cakes at this shop were particularly good, and he had chosen the place with her in mind. “My mother has been coming here every Thursday for seedcake and tea since I was a small boy, so I thought you might like it.”
She grinned at him. “Your mother has excellent taste. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the simple things, like good old plain English cooking. Though it is still a little odd to eat food without all those wonderful old-world spices.”
George sat forward in his seat, eager to ask Jane more about her life in the east.
