Passionately Yours (Hellions of High Street 3)

“Oh, but of course, Miss Caro! Your mother has been running you a bit ragged these last few days, so I’m happy to have you get a bit of a holiday for yourself. Never you worry—I shall see that Her Ladyship has no reason to complain.”

“Thank you.” Relief nudged aside any lingering remorse. Her emotions were still in a bit of a turmoil over the recent revelations concerning Alec and his marriage. And despite their encounter yesterday—or perhaps because of it—she was desperately in need of some peace and solitude in which to sort them out.

The dratted man was an enigma tied up in a riddle! Alec’s halting hints had implied that, contrary to Thayer’s nasty whispers, it had been his heart that had been badly bruised, not that of his wife.

Alec hurt by love? A part of her was angry that the lady had failed to treasure such a gift. A part of her felt hope flare. Perhaps with the right spark, the fire could be rekindled.

Oh, yes, there was much to mull over. And so, on impulse, she had made up the Banbury tale of having been invited to accompany her friend on a visit to the country. Isobel and her aunt were in fact making the day trip, so it was unlikely that she would be caught in the falsehood.

“Thank you,” she repeated, shaking off her musings for the moment.

“You just leave behind any troubles, Miss, and simply enjoy the day,” said Alice cheerily as she took the handbasket from Caro.

“I’m certain that I will.” With freedom beckoning, she shifted her reticule, which was stuffed with books, pencils, and a packet of pastries, anxious to be off. The prospect of escaping to some secluded spot in Sydney Gardens until dusk seemed heavenly. And the fact that Alec was accompanying his sister to the country meant she didn’t have to worry about another unexpected encounter.

“Please remind Mama that I shall not be returning until late this evening,” she added.

Being out alone after dusk was risking her reputation. But Caro was tired of Society’s rules, tired of the polished manners, the sharp-eyed tabbies waiting to claw a lady’s reputation to shreds, the silky innuendos that slithered like a serpent through the world of aristocratic privilege.

She was feeling a little dangerous.

“Don’t fret—I’ll soothe any ruffled feathers.” Her maid smiled. “You deserve a bit of carefree fun. I daresay you must miss the company of your sisters.”

Caro swallowed hard, trying to loosen the sudden constriction that took hold of her throat. “Yes, I do miss them.” I miss their wisdom, their humor, their guidance. “I shall be very glad when they return home to England from their travels.”

But for now, I must rely on my own judgment.

Parting ways with Alice, Caro chose a route through the more out-of-the-way side streets, avoiding the Pulteney Bridge in favor of a less-traveled footbridge over the canal.

For today, she was determined to seize the moment and break free of convention. She desperately needed time and space to sort out her conflicting emotions.

Black and white. Light and dark—the two had somehow blurred and become terribly tangled.

If only she could unravel all the protective layers that Alec McClellan kept wound so tightly around him.

Though she knew Thayer’s hints at his erstwhile friend’s nefarious actions were likely lies, there was a grain of truth to the fact that Alec was keeping some secrets from her.

As to what they were…

Well, speak of the Devil.

Cutting through a narrow passageway between two buildings, she was about to step out from the shadows when she spotted Thayer at the top of the street.

She paused where she was, held in check by a sudden feeling that there was something oddly furtive about his movements. It was a matter of subtle little things—the angle of his body, the tilt of his hat, the way he seemed to hug close to the buildings. But all at once they stirred a prickling sensation at the back of her neck.

Why the stealth if he wasn’t up to no good?

Flattening herself against the dark brick wall, she waited and watched, growing more and more certain with every step that something havey-cavey was afoot.

Sure enough, he turned up a narrow lane that only led to one enclave of residences higher on the hill.

Abandoning her original plan, Caro made the split-second decision to follow him. Perhaps her imagination was running wild, but having given herself permission to break the rules for the day, she might as well throw caution to the wind.

She counted to ten, then slipped from her hiding place and quickly crossed to the lane. Up ahead, Thayer had picked up his pace and after a quick look around he darted into an alleyway that ran along the back garden walls of the elegant townhouses lining the adjoining street.

“I knew it,” whispered Caro as she gathered her skirts and hurried as fast as she dared to catch up.

Thankfully, the area was a quiet residential part of town, and aside from a maid walking two frisky spaniels there was nobody else around. Hoping her luck would hold, she ducked through the narrow opening and took cover among the heavy twines of ivy.