“It went very well.” Ryker squeezed her a little tighter. Sometimes, she was too smart for her own good. “But please don’t change the subject, we’re talking about your dangerous nocturnal habits.” Ryker couldn’t blame Luke for being upset. Tricia had to stop roaming around the streets of London at night, it simply wasn’t safe.
She made a pishing noise. “You ought to tell me more. Tabbie too. We could help you.”
“Not in this,” Ryker answered even as Luke opened his mouth to speak as well.
Luke closed his and gave Ryker a nod of approval. “It’s time to go, Tricia. I don’t like leaving your sister unattended.”
She let out a sigh, “All that sneaking around and I’ve only been here a few minutes.”
Ryker suppressed a rumble of laughter. Lord, this woman was entertaining. He gave her a little squeeze as he realized he’d laughed more in the last two days than he had the past two years. And she was going to be his.
Though he had a feeling that he would end up exactly like his future brother-in-law. Completely smitten and unable to deny Tricia a thing. Much as he’d told himself this would be a business transaction, he was losing his heart to this sweet beautiful woman. “Luke is right. You need your rest.”
Her lips turned down into a frown, but she slowly rose from his lap and he followed suit. Walking them both to the door, he watched as Luke helped her into his waiting carriage. Part of him wanted to snatch her back and snuggle her up against himself again. Take her to his bed and keep her there for a week or a month or more.
Soon enough, he told himself. Tomorrow he’d get a special license. He’d have the banns posted and they’d marry in two weeks. That should give him enough time to clear up the issue of the theft even if he hadn’t tracked down all of the Prince Regent’s missing jewels.
Mr. Hart would begin discreetly following his solicitor to attempt to gain evidence.
He rubbed his hands over his face. Perhaps he should fill Tricia in on the details of his investigation. While he risked her getting more involved than she already had, he might be able to scare her into staying safely tucked in her home.
But even as he thought it, he dismissed it. This was the woman who had gone to the docklands in the middle of the night unchaperoned. She’d never exercise the proper amount of caution.
No, it was far better to keep her out of it and ignorant to the details. That would keep her safe.
* * *
Tricia woke late the next morning, having slept exceedingly well for the first time in days. Stretching, she rose from the bed and began scrubbing her face. Tabbie was surely waiting for her so they could go back to visit with her father.
Making her way downstairs, she entered the breakfast room to find both Tabbie and Luke still there. Smiling, she helped herself to a pasty and a cup of tea.
“Do you mind if we stop at the bakery on the way?” Her sister gave her a smile. “I am absolutely craving one of their meat pasties.”
“Of course,” Tricia gave her sister an indulgent smile. They were sitting eating a meal but a pregnant woman was allowed such indulgences and the pasties were excellent.
“We’re lucky to have such a fantastic shop so close,” Luke winked. “Though, it means that we often meet some of London’s finest.”
A niggle of doubt shivered down Tricia’s spine after the events of the evening before. But, she would hold her head high. The engagement would be announced soon enough and then the whispers would be far less obvious.
With that in mind, she tilted her chin up as she and Tabbie made their way into the bakery.
A quick sweep of the room told her she had little to fear. She didn’t recognize any of her peers. The shop was quiet except for two men sitting in the corner. Though their clothes spoke of affluence, their heads were bent together deep in conversation as though they were conspiring.
Tabbie and Tricia took a seat, ordering tea and pasties to be wrapped for later.
“We won’t stay long,” Tabbie gave her a smile. “I’m anxious to see father.”
“As am I,” Tricia nodded. She nearly added that she was also eager to leave society’s eye but then one of the men in the corner caught her notice. Well-dressed, he was round about the middle in a most familiar way. It only took a second before she realized he was the man she’d seen in the docklands the night she’d met Ryker.
Her mouth went dry and her eyes rounded when another caught her notice. Mr. Hart, Ryker’s detective, walked into the shop. He didn’t look at the other man, nor did he make eye contact with her. Instead, he took a seat with his back to all of them. She noted, however, that he was close enough to overhear anything that might be said.
She nearly spoke to him but a quick jerk of his head made her jaw snap closed. As calmly as she could, she took a sip of her tea.
“Tricia,” Tabbie whispered, clearly sensing something was amiss.
Tricia had a moment where she considered telling her sister everything. They could follow the portly fellow and help Ryker. But Mr. Hart clearly had it under control and her father needed them both. They’d already spent too much time away from him. “I’m just feeling a bit faint. I must have overset myself last night.”
Tabbie’s eyes narrowed. They were not women to be overset.