Realizing she would have to be content until then, Madeline nodded slowly, just as Freddie piped up:
“There will be an ample reward for you, Miss Ellis, if you succeed.”
“A reward won’t be necessary,” she replied.
The opportunity to repay Haviland’s generosity a small measure, and the satisfaction of helping extricate his cousin from a plot to blackmail him, would be reward enough, Madeline knew. And so would the chance to enliven her admittedly rather dull existence.
Despite her concern about spending so much time alone with the irresistible Lord Haviland, she would be eagerly waiting for three o’clock tomorrow.
Rayne arrived exactly on time late the following afternoon, and he complimented Madeline on her own punctuality as he handed her into his coach.
“I feared you might leave without me if I was tardy,” she replied, settling back against the comfortable squabs.
“That is another reason we would be compatible in marriage,” he pointed out as the vehicle moved off. “We both value promptness.”
He saw her bite back a wry smile. “I expected you to take this opportunity to press your suit, my lord. Just not as the opening salvo.”
“My name is Rayne, remember?”
“Very well … Rayne. Your requirements in a wife are rather curious. If you esteem promptness so highly, you would do better to hire a secretary. You can demand that he follow your schedule to the minute.”
“I already have a secretary to handle my affairs in the Lords. Unfortunately he cannot present me with offspring.”
A soft laugh escaped Madeline. “That indeed is a drawback when you are seeking an heir.”
Rayne surveyed her with interest. “What about you, sweeting? During my proposal I neglected to ask your opinion about children.”
Her look turned uncertain. “What do you mean?”
“Do you want children of your own?”
She answered with no hesitation. “Yes, I want children. Provided I have the right husband.”
“I suspected you would,” he said seriously, ignoring her pointed exception, “since you had the patience to act as companion to an invalid, and since you seem to have taken to teaching adolescent girls so readily.”
Madeline shifted in her seat, as if uncomfortable with the direction of their conversation. “Didn’t you say you would share the details of your plan with me during our drive to London?”
Rayne’s mouth curved as he recognized her diversionary tactic. Even so, he complied. “The basic plan is simple. As soon as possible after we arrive at the salon, I will make my way upstairs to Madame Sauville’s rooms and search for the letters.”
“I still think I would be better able to slip into her boudoir undetected.”
“Perhaps, but I want you well out of it.”
Madeline eyed him quizzically. “Are you reluctant to use me because I am a woman?”
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“Not necessarily,” Rayne replied. He didn’t mind employing female agents if they were skilled and suitable for the task at hand. The ones he’d known had all been experts at espionage. They could be cold and deadly when necessary, and could take care of themselves. “I don’t like using civilians.”
“Civilians?”
“Amateurs.”
Madeline made a face. “You are afraid that I am not brave enough.”
“No.” That wasn’t the case at all. She was brave enough for any ten women. “I don’t question your courage, love. In fact, I admired the way you dealt with Baron Ackerby. But you don’t have the necessary training or experience for this task.”
Madeline’s expression held a touch of skepticism. “You aren’t being overprotective simply because you knew my father so well?”