He looked at her, impressed. She really had done her research.
Hetty nodded as she went on. “Since he couldn’t read he simply pocketed it, hoping to secure his own livelihood as valet to Lord Debenham.”
“So he simply kept the letter? Hidden and unread for nearly two years?”
Miss Henrietta nodded. “It would appear so.”
“Then how has your sister become involved in all this? She doesn’t appear the sleuth you are, Miss Henrietta…to whom I am now beginning to feel more favorably.”
She graced him with a beatific smile. “That’s good, for my motivation in all this has been to make you beholden to me.”
“So I would marry you?” Self-disgust curdled in his lower belly and he turned away. But not before he saw the flicker of dismay that crossed her face.
She thrust out her chin as she moved in front of him. “I never expected that.” Her voice shook. “I never expected to make a match that would please me, so I certainly never expected you would look twice at me. And I was proved right, for you danced many times with Araminta but never with me.”
“I never saw you!”
“No one ever sees me beside Araminta. She’s the beauty of the family. Beside her I’m a pale, dreary wallflower. Then, when I fell into danger with you, I was suddenly presented with an offer I couldn’t refuse. The chance to feel what it was like to be the object of a man’s interest. Oh, I knew that I was going to burn in hell for my sins and that you thought you were paying me but that was better, I believed, than marrying Mr. Woking.”
He shuddered. “Mr. Roderick Woking. Good god, yes! So you’re telling me you chose sin and pleasure with me over respectable marriage with Mr. Woking?” He gave her a wry smile. “I think most ladies would have.”
“This is no time for being a joker!”
“My apologies,” he murmured, resisting the urge to put a conciliatory arm about her shoulders for fear it would lead to more than he was prepared to risk. “However I think we’re straying off the most important subject at hand, and that is how your sister came to be involved in all this.”
“The most important matter is where she is. She took my place when she learned I was to meet Jem at a secret location. He showed her the letter. Then, according to her companion, she disappeared between leaving the booth where they were talking and the street.”
“Very curious, as is the fact that I’m the last to know of a letter stolen from my late wife.” He looked at her darkly. “I hope this is not a competition between two sisters for my affections, to see who can restore the letter to me first and so win my hand?”
She had the grace to blush while a curious emotion churned within him. This, to all intents, virtuous young lady had risked everything for a few moments of pleasure. Then when exposure appeared likely, she pounced upon a means to clear his name so that he would reward her with…his.
Yes, he was suspicious. The sudden appearance of this letter was too convenient. Miss Henrietta was clearly the mistress of subterfuge despite her innocent looks. The more he considered the thought, the more it seemed plausible that she had invented the whole thing and the letter would prove a forgery. Now she was here on the pretext of a missing sister, to urge him into the drama and so achieve her ends—his eternal gratitude.
Nevertheless, if a letter existed, and whether it was a forgery or not, he had to lay claim to it.
* * * * *
Araminta pulled the hood of her dark cloak farther down her face and hunched her shoulders while she waited for Lord Debenham to issue out of his club. Hopefully he’d choose to walk the short distance to his home rather than take his carriage. She shivered, as much from apprehension as excitement, for an unmarried young woman courted ruin if she were to be seen approaching a gentleman in this manner. Never had she taken such risks before but with her ordered world in such sudden turmoil, drastic measures were needed.
“Lord Debenham, I must speak with you.” She caught a glimpse of his shocked face when he realized her identity but forestalled him, saying, “A hackney is just passing. Please help me in. What I have to say will only take a minute.”
He acceded to her request but appeared angry as he faced her across the dim interior. “What kind of ruse is this, Miss Partington? If we were discovered your reputation would be in tatters and I would be called upon to do the honorable thing.”
“Your reputation is about to be in tatters and it is I who am doing the honorable thing.” She smiled, thinking herself rather clever to have delivered such a line.
It certainly made its mark, for he narrowed his eyes and muttered, “Well, then?
”
She gave a deep sigh. “Lord Debenham, I have long admired you, not least for your integrity.”
“What is this, Miss Partington? A rehearsed speech? Has someone put you up to this? Am I about to be blackmailed?”
Crossly she said, “Well, it did take rather a long time to learn that line off by heart but as to being blackmailed, you certainly will be if what I’m about to tell you becomes known in public circles.”
His face contorted for a moment before, in a low voice, he asked, “What are you talking about?”
There. Now he was paying her the attention he ought.