A Simple Case of Seduction

But Daniel was a cynical man and sensed Lily was not completely honest about the depth of her feelings for Thomas.

Daniel purchased a reel of twine from the chandler but waited until they were out in the alley before putting it in his pocket. Daphne placed her hand in the crook of his arm and guided him to the fire burning in the brazier a little further along the narrow street.

“Lily passed me a note as I left.” Daphne held up her clenched fist. “I should wait until we’re home before reading it but, as Betsy will tell you, I’m not one for patience.”

The secret gesture had not gone unnoticed. “The back alleys are not the place to stop and have a conversation.” Daniel glanced

back over his shoulder. “And you’re right. It must wait until we’re home.”

Just saying the word home caused his heart to pound. In an uncharacteristic moment of fancy, he imagined they were strolling back after a night at the theatre. Once there, they would sit by the fire and talk until the early hours, surrender to their wants and desires in bed.

He shook his head to focus, but the loss of his dream left a cavernous hole in his chest.

“Oh, it won’t hurt to take a peek.” Daphne unfolded the paper before he had a chance to caution her again. “The note’s so small it can’t contain that much information.”

Was she always so damn stubborn?

She stared at the scrawled words, six of them from what he could see over her shoulder.

Impatience got the better of him too. “What does it say?”

“Nothing. It’s just a list of names.”

“How many?”

“Three. Three gentlemen.”

No doubt they were the men Lily thought might be the traitor.

“Put it away,” he whispered, warming his hands over the flame as though that was their purpose for stopping. “We’ll discuss the contents once we’re away from here.”

Her curiosity sated, she slipped the note into her reticule.

“We must investigate the men on the list as a matter of urgency,” she said stopping again despite the fact they’d only taken a few steps. “But I’m to travel to Elton Park tomorrow afternoon and will be out of town for two days.”

“Elton Park?” he snapped, resisting the urge to tell her she wasn’t to go anywhere without him. “Why are you only telling me now? What business have you there?”

“Elton Park is Lord Harwood’s residence. Anthony and Sarah are to be married. Please tell me you remember. They insist the event would not have been possible without our intervention in solving their case.” Daphne frowned. “You did receive an invitation?”

“Of course I did.”

Lord Harwood had done his best to persuade him to attend. The letter mentioned muggings on the road, and concerns for Mrs Chambers’ safety if she were to travel alone. It was all a ploy to lure him there, nothing more, and so he’d not bothered to reply.

Why on earth would he want to go to a wedding?

Mingling with the aristocracy was akin to sitting on the muddy banks of the Thames sifting through the rubbish thrown from passing ships. A dirty task he wanted no part of. A complete waste of time and effort. Besides, making idle conversation was not his forte.

“Then you are coming too?” Daphne seemed eager for his company, which in itself should have prompted a change of heart.

“I don’t see how you can go when we have a job to do here,” he said bluntly. The lady took pride in her work and Daniel would use the fact to his advantage. “It is a matter of priority. You are not an heiress with the luxury to do as she pleases. You have responsibilities.”

She turned to face him. “There are more important things in life than work,” she said although appeared somewhat shocked that she’d vocalised the fact. “And I promised Sarah I would attend. Perhaps a couple of days away might help us to gain perspective on the case.”

“A couple of days!” He gave a contemptuous snort. “I’m not going.” Nothing would sway his decision.

She blinked rapidly. “But you must.”

“Why?”