The Noble Spy (London Season Matchmaker 2)

“The knife,” she whispered quietly, unable to find her voice. “I-I have recovered it.”

“I know,” he replied, letting go of her hand so that he might run his fingers down the side of her face. “The footman brought it to me, but I fear that I do not recognize it. The lieutenant or one of the others might however.”

“And you did not see Ravel’s face?” Titania asked, searching Lord Carroway’s features. “You did not see what he looked like?”

Lord Carroway frowned, then winced. “No,” he grunted, evidently in pain. “My gaze was somewhat hazy given the blows I received from the fellow, and even if my eyes had remained clear, he had covered his face with a cloth of some sort, so that I could not recognize him. However, his voice…” He trailed off, his brows furrowing.

“You recognized his voice?” Titania asked urgently, her heart quickening suddenly. “Then that means you know him.”

“Yes,” Lord Carroway agreed, his tone a little dark. “That is precisely what it means.”

Titania let out a long breath, her heart and mind caught up with a sudden anticipation. “Then he is someone you are acquainted with.”

“And the way he spoke,” Lord Carroway said, speaking slowly as his thoughts began to align themselves. “He spoke as though he were a well-educated English gentleman.”

Titania caught her breath, her eyes widening. “Then that means that Ravel could be someone within your social circle.”

Lord Carroway let out a small exclamation. “I am afraid that I have a very small social circle, Titania,” he muttered, wincing as he ran his one hand through his hair, evidently having forgotten about his injuries. “But whilst that should aid me in my attempts to discover him, it does not mean that I have any certainty over the truth of his identity.”

Titania let out another breath and tried to think. She wanted to help Carroway in some way, wanted to be able to aid him in his efforts to discover him – and suddenly, an idea caught at her mind.

“If he is within society, then surely I myself might recognize him,” she said quickly, as Lord Carroway gave her a sharp look. “Did you fight back at him, Carroway? Was he injured in any way?”

It took a few moments but, eventually, Lord Carroway began to nod. “He was,” he said slowly. “I hit him hard across the face. A bruise would form very quickly, I am certain of it.”

“Then I shall go to as many social occasions as I can over the next few days, whilst you recover, and attempt to discover which gentleman bears a mark of a bruise on his face,” she said firmly, seeing him open his mouth to protest but holding up one hand to stem his complaints. “If he is not present in society, then he will be notable by his absence. I know a good many gentlemen from within the beau monde and can use that knowledge to discover the truth about Ravel. Please do not protest, Carroway. You know that you will need to rest and recover, and this is one thing that I can do to aid you in your search.” She held his gaze, looking up at him steadily and praying that he would not forbid her from doing such a thing.

Eventually, Lord Carroway let out a long breath and shook his head gently, his shoulders a little slumped. “I do not think that I will be able to prevent you from doing so, Titania, even if I should wish you to remain entirely uninvolved,” he said with a small smile. “Please, do be careful, my dear.” His tender words touched her heart, making her lean a touch closer to him, her heart filling with a fresh affection for hi

m.

“I will be, Carroway,” she promised, seeing the gentleness in his eyes and feeling herself longing for something she could not quite understand. “How long must you rest?”

Lord Carroway frowned, his expression a little frustrated. “Two days, at the very least,” he stated, glancing towards the surgeon. “I know from experience that it is best to do as one is told when it comes to such matters.” He looked back at her and again, allowed his fingers to trail down her cheek, making her breath hitch. “You will inform me at once if you so much as think that you have noted something of interest, will you not?”

“Of course,” Titania promised, wishing she could lean up and press her lips to his, such was the urgency of affection beating in her heart. “I look forward to the day when you are free of this, Lord Carroway, and I shall do all I can to aid you in this.”

“You are quite remarkable, Titania,” he murmured, beginning to lower his head but catching himself in time. Titania’s heart fluttered, but she forced herself to rise, to let his hand go and to turn towards her mother, who was, by now, beginning to approach them both. A determination filled her as she listened to her mother asking after Lord Carroway, hearing him respond with gratitude. She would find this Ravel, would bring his name to Carroway, and would watch in satisfaction as he was taken from his position in society. Lord Carroway would be free from that burden for good, and perhaps then, they might be able to discuss and consider their future together, for Titania knew that she would not be able to separate herself from Lord Carroway any longer. Her heart was too filled with him, too caught up with affection and the very beginnings of love. She had to hope that it would not be too long before she could confess as much to him, wondering if he too would admit that his own heart had a love for her that was growing with every day that passed.

Chapter Fifteen

“Might I say that you look rather well this evening, Miss Wells?”

Titania looked up into Lord Darlington’s face and scrutinized it carefully for a moment or two, no smile lingering on her lips. “I thank you, Lord Darlington.”

He did not appear to be confused by her scrutiny but rather pleased, smiling down into her eyes with the warmth of a gentleman hoping to secure a lady’s particular favors.

“Might I dance with you this evening?”

Titania, with a small, inward sigh, held out her dance card to the gentleman and saw his eyes glow with pleasure. This was not going as well as she had hoped, for none of the gentleman she had sought out or who had approached her showed any signs of having been in a scuffle and her dance card would soon be full.

“I thank you, Miss Wells,” Lord Darlington said, bowing low over her hand before letting it go. “I look forward to our cotillion.”

She nodded, smiled, and watched him turn away, clearly leaving her in order to seek out others to whom he might capture a dance with. A long sigh escaped her as she looked all around the ballroom, wondering if this was to be another failed attempt at discovering Ravel.

“You appear quite ill at ease, Titania.”

Turning her head, Titania’s smile was brittle as she looked up into her mother’s face, taking in her sharp eyes and the slight frown forming between her brows.