He appeared bemused, as if she wasn’t at all what he’d expected. She wondered what he had been expecting when he pretended to bump into her. Oh yes, she knew it was all make-believe. Maria had been watching him from the window at Mallory Street, wondering what on earth the trim, neatly dressed gentleman was up to, strolling back and forth, sending furtive glances up at the Smythe’s residence.
She’d decided to find out.
“Have you ever been to Spain, Mr. Jones?”
“I have indeed, Miss Baez. When I was much younger and much more foolish I enlisted in the army and went to fight Napoleon. The war was all but over by the time I got there so I didn’t have much to do but enjoy the scenery. I actually have very fond memories of my days in Spain and always hoped to return.”
Maria smiled, thinking, That makes him forty or so. A nice age for a man.
“Perhaps you could persuade your employer to go for a holiday and for you to accompany him, Mr. Jones. I have longed for my own employers to travel, but at the moment it is out of the question.”
His gaze sharpened.
Ah, just as she’d thought. It was the Smythes he was interested in. They were the prize, and she was merely the conduit.
“I would enjoy a trip to Spain, Miss Baez, but unfortunately while I was there last time I got myself into a bit of bother, and they threatened to put me in prison if I ever came back. The country is out of bounds to me.”
“A shame, Mr. Jones. What sort of bother?”
“We captured some bandits in the hills, and my captain ordered them shot. Turned out later they were favorites of the local Spanish commander. He swore his revenge on our company, however long that might take. The commander is now high in the Spanish government so I’m not sure I want to risk it.”
“Oh.”
“Can I persuade you to call me Archie, Miss Baez? I know we are barely acquainted, but I feel as though we are already friends.”
She sipped her tea and thought for a minute. “Very well, Archie. And you may call me Maria.”
They smiled. Maria decided then and there that when Archie asked to meet her again—and he would—she was going to say yes. Whatever he was up to she wanted to know about it, for her young mistress’s sake as much as the other members of the family.
Perhaps he was a debt collector?
Maria knew that the Smythes were in debt up to their well-bred necks. It was in their interest, and hers as their employee, to make certain Archie wasn’t planning any mischief.
Yes, it was her duty to play his game.
But if she was honest, that wasn’t the only reason she wanted to meet him again. She was enjoying his company. He was a man who was old enough to be comfortable in his own skin, and he had seen the world—even if he couldn’t go back to Spain. She was interested in what he had to say, and she liked his smiling eyes.
It was a long time since Maria had met a man whose company she enjoyed quite this much. She hoped, she really did, that he wasn’t a debt collector. It was a mystery what else he could be, but she could wait. The truth would reveal itself in time, and Maria was looking forward to making the discovery.
Chapter 6
Tina was resting. At least, she was supposed to be resting, but she was a healthy young woman, and in reality she was reclining on her bed thinking about the future.
Her future. With Horace.
She’d already decided that they would have two children—a boy and a girl—named Gideon and Penelope—and they would spend their time between Horace’s country estate and his London town house. He would go hunting in the country, of course, and as she was not much of a rider to hounds, she would busy herself with . . . with . . .
Tina sat up. What would she do to occupy herself? Walking? Embroidery? She shuddered. Embroidery was not her strong suit at all. Perhaps she could take up watercolors. Tina had been well grounded in the running of a household and expected to be busy with that—and children. In fact she was a homebody who loved her family and wanted the same sort of warm relationships with her own husband and children. But surely the important thing was that she and Horace would be happy? Yes, that was the important thing.
Satisfied, she lay down again.
But her thoughts had brought forth a question, and she realized she had no answer. What did Horace do with his time? He had no close family and didn’t have to earn a living, of course, so she imagined he spent his time in much the same way as her brother, who didn’t seem to do much at all. Charles went to a gentlemen’s club, where one had to be a member, but as far as she knew all they actually did there was drink whiskey and smoke cigars and make wagers. She must remember to ask Horace what else he found to occupy himself.
But not tonight.
Tonight was about practicing her skills of seduction at Horace’s soiree. She giggled. Her finishing-school friends would be all agog if they knew what she was up to. She wished they were here right now so that she could tell them all about the disreputable Mr. Eversham. And of course about Horace, she reminded herself hastily. After all, this was all about marrying Horace, whom she’d loved forever, and saving the family from penury.
She remembered some years ago a family friend had gazed fondly upon her and Horace and predicted they would marry. Of course, they had burst themselves laughing at the very idea! And now here she was contemplating that very thing.