“I have some news for you.”
“About Marguerite?”
Helene dropped her pen and stared up at George, hope at war with fear in her breast. George grinned as he took off his hat and gloves and tossed them on her desk.
“It’s good news, I think. She and her husband were seen at Calais yesterday, purchasing passage to Dover.”
“She is coming to England? Perhaps she will agree to meet with me here.”
George shrugged and sat down. “I don’t know about that. She doesn’t even know your real address, does she?”
Helene stood up and paced the length of the room. “Yes, she does. I told her everything when she was eighteen, including my real address if she ever needed to contact me.” She pressed her fingers to her temple in an attempt to soothe the sudden pounding. “I have wondered if my revelations caused her to behave so out of character and run away.”
George considered her. “You might have shocked her, but I doubt she’d react by running away with the first man who asked her to marry him.”
“You don’t know Marguerite. She is something of a romantic.” Helene sighed. “Perhaps she thought being married would protect her from further contact with me.”
George chuckled. “Then she doesn’t know you very well, does she? I’ll wager you’ll move heaven and earth to get her back.”
“That is true, George.” She patted his shoulder. “I truly appreciate your help.”
“Do you wish to go to Dover or wait until we get more information? I can have her followed for you. It’s not as if they are trying to hide.”
Helene paused. “I want to go to Dover. I can at least inquire at the posting inns if she is staying there.” She sighed. “But how can I go with you when I’m pledged to stay here with Philip?”
George’s gaze sharpened. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about that. What on earth were you doing with him at the theater? I thought you hated going out in society?”
“That’s not entirely true. I just hated being escorted by foolish young men.”
He frowned. “If you’d asked me, I would’ve taken you—or am I too foolish as well?”
She removed her hand from his shoulder. “Of course you aren’t, but you are married and you know how I feel about that.”
“I do, and it continues to irritate me.” George stood up. “And did you enjoy your evening?”
“I certainly enjoyed the opera. My companion behaved himself quite adequately as well.”
“You’ve succumbed to his hidden charms, have you?”
Helene frowned. “There is no need to use that tone with me. I’m not your wife.”
He stiffened. “That was uncalled for.”
“I’m sorry, George, but I don’t have time to deal with your issues with Philip. I must find Marguerite.”
He stared at her, his face expressionless. “If I may be so bold, why are you ‘pledged’ to Philip Ross?”
Helene focused on putting away her pen and daily journal, unwilling to meet George’s gaze. She knew he wouldn’t take her revelations well and decided to be economical with the truth.
“We reached a stalemate over the question of the shares, so I made a bargain with him. He has to survive thirty days working with me at the pleasure house. If he fails, I get the shares back.”
George considered her, his mouth a hard line. “And it didn’t occur to you to inform me of your plans? I am your business partner as well.”
“It happened quite suddenly, George, when you were away in Brighton.”
“Looking after your children.”
Helene prayed for patience. “Yes, and I appreciate that more than I can tell you.”
He turned abruptly to face the door. “Ah, here is Mr. Ross. Perhaps you should tell him your news, seeing as you are now so close.” He bowed. “Unfortunately, I’m unable to accompany you anyway. I have a meeting with the bank. Send me a message if you need me.”
Philip inclined his head a scant inch as George nodded brusquely and slipped past him. His inquiring gaze met Helene’s.
“What news is that?”
Helene sat down. “Where have you been? It is almost ten o’clock.”
His eyebrows rose. “I told you. Viscount Harcourt-DeVere asked me to meet with him at his house.”
“Ah, yes, I’d forgotten.”
He eyed her carefully as he settled into the chair George had just vacated.
“The viscount told me something very interesting about the beginnings of the pleasure house.”
“Really?” Helene fussed with the remaining items on her desk as she tried to think of a way to tell Philip she needed to go to Dover without arousing his suspicions.
“He told me that Lord George wasn’t the only person you helped rescue from the Bastille. In fact, he said you were quite the heroine.”
“Scarcely that.” She tried to smile. “He is prone to exaggerating my importance.”
He held her gaze. “I sincerely doubt it. In fact, your business was funded by some of those grateful persons. Why did you allow me to think you slept your way into acquiring the pleasure house?”
“I didn’t, Philip. That was entirely your suggestion.”
“But you let me believe it.”
“I do not have to justify myself to every man I meet.”
“You relish being described as a whore, then?”
She shrugged. “To most people, I’ll always be a whore, regardless of my motives. Those who bother to get to know me know the truth.”
“What an incredibly arrogant assumption.”
His eyes glittered as he continued to stare at her. Why was he so angry? She really didn’t have time for this. She needed to find Marguerite.
“Philip, is there a reason for this conversation?”
“What in the devil is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m not sure why you are annoyed, but I don’t really have time to discuss it.”
His expression was now thunderous, reminding her remarkably of George earlier.
“I intended to express my admiration for you and offer my apologies for my asinine assumptions. But, please, don’t let me waste your valuable time.”
Helene slammed her hand down on the desk. “Will you please listen to me?”
He glared right back at her. “I thought I was. You are the one who appears to be having difficulty concentrating.”
“I have to go to Dover.”
“When?”
“As soon as I can arrange it.”
He stood up. “I can take you in my curricle.”
She bit her lip. “Couldn’t you just lend me your curricle and stay here?”
“No.” His smile was deliberately confrontational. “I’m supposed to be your shadow, remember? And I certainly wouldn’t trust you with my horses.”
“You’re supposed to be learning about the pleasure house. Perhaps you should stay and take charge for the day.”
“No, thank you. I’d rather come with you.”
She glared at him in frustration. He didn’t even flinch, just continued to stand there, wasting even more precious time.
“Come with me if you must.” Helene tossed her head as she hurried for the door. “I’ll go and get my bonnet and pelisse and meet you in the hall.”
It was still drizzling when they set off. Luckily she’d put on her warmest pelisse and fur-lined boots. Philip had also draped a thick rug over her knees and raised the roof of the curricle to afford them some protection. To her surprise, he was supremely confident at the reins, even in the maddening London traffic.
He glanced down at her as they finally abandoned the chaos of the city and headed out onto the more open areas of the Dover Road. Rain dripped from the brim of his hat in a steady pattern onto his knees. She’d left a hurried note for the twins and their chaperone and sent one to George to ask him to forward any new information to the Mermaid coaching inn in Dover where she hoped to stay.
“Are you all right, Helene?”
“Yes, thank you.” She tried to smile. “I appreciate your help.”
He snorted, his keen gaze already back on his horses and the road. “Not that I’d noticed.”
“I am grateful. You didn’t ask for details; you just took me at my word that I needed to go.”
“I’m still expecting an explanation. I was just concentrating on getting us out of the city before I asked.”
She sighed. “Do I have to tell you everything?” He didn’t immediately reply as his gloved hands shifted on the reins to steer the horses around a large pothole. She stared out at the gray, clouded sky. “Could you at least wait until we arrive in Dover?”
“I can wait that long.”
Helene let out her breath. If there was no trace of Marguerite and her husband in Dover, she wouldn’t have to say anything to Philip at all. She cast him a quick glance; well, perhaps she would, but at least she could decide exactly what she could get away with.
The sun appeared briefly through the massed clouds, illuminating the harshness of the early winter landscape. She couldn’t help but remember her last journey with Philip—the coach accident that had changed her life, their passionate encounter at the snowbound inn. She gave a sudden reluctant laugh.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t snow.”
“You are worried about being trapped in another inn with me?”
“Non, this time I wouldn’t be so frightened.”
“You were frightened of me?”
“Not of you.” She leaned closer as the curricle tipped to the right and caught a faint hint of cigar smoke and sandalwood, felt his arm muscles bunch beneath his coat as he fought the reins. “I was frightened of how you made me feel.”
“I believe I felt the same,” he said slowly. “Neither of us was equipped to deal with such a grand passion at that age, were we?”
She bit her lip. “I’ve always believed that a person has to stick by the choices they make, but sometimes I wish I’d known then what I know now.”
“And what is that?”
“That grand passion does not come along very often.”
She lapsed into silence as they approached a tollgate, waited while Philip tossed the gatekeeper some coins, and they moved on. The rain stopped and bright sunshine struggled through the few remaining clouds. He used his whip on his horses, upping the pace, making Helene seek a safer handhold.
He glanced down at her. “Make yourself comfortable, madame. We still have a long way to go.”
It was dark by the time the horses clattered into the cobbled stable yard of the Mermaid Inn. Helene’s teeth were chattering, and her feet felt like blocks of ice. Apart from a red nose, Philip seemed remarkably well. He jumped down from the curricle with all the agility of a man who’d been for a drive in the park rather than a bone-grinding journey of eighty miles.
He didn’t bother to hand Helene out of the curricle. He just picked her up, strode to the door, kicked it open, and deposited her on the tattered rug within.
“Landlord!”
His imperious shout bounced off the low plaster ceilings and drilled through Helene’s head. She glared at him as he went back outside to converse with the ostler. The curricle was driven away, and by the time Philip rejoined her, the landlord was bowing to them both. Helene opened her mouth, only to be forestalled by Philip.
“We need a room for the night. Can you accommodate us?”
“Yes, indeed, sir. Please come this way.”
Helene traipsed up the narrow staircase and allowed him to show her into a charming room facing the front of the house. The landlord lit the fire and chatted to Philip about the weather while promising a good dinner before the hour was up.
With a sigh, she took off her bonnet and gloves and sank into the nearest chair. She pressed one hand to her aching head.
Philip gave her a sharp glance. “My good man, perhaps you could also provide my wife with a hot brick for her feet and maybe something for her headache.”
At once the landlord stopped talking and bowed his way out of the door, promising all sorts of delights in but the blink of an eye.
Helene sighed gratefully as he finally left the room. Philip took off his hat, coat, and gloves and held his hands out to the fire. After a while, he came to kneel beside her chair.
“Are you all right?”
She forced a smile. “I’ll be fine once I sit still for a while. I’ve never been a good traveler.”
He patted her hand. “I’m sorry if we traveled too fast. I assumed you wanted to get here as quickly as possible.”
“I did and I thank you for your efforts.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “Although these days I’m not used to having a man direct my travel arrangements.”
“Did you expect me to sit back and let you take charge?”
She studied his affronted expression. “I suppose not. You do not strike me as the kind of man who would ever be comfortable with a woman telling him what to do.”
“Disappointed?”
“Not at all. You are far more of a challenge.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” He got to his feet as there was a knock on the door. He opened it to admit a buxom young maid.
“Good evening, sir, ma’am.” She smiled at Helene. “I’ve got a hot brick for your feet and an herbal tisane from the missus, who says you should drink it while it is hot.”
“Thank you. Do you know if there have been any messages for me?”
“I’ll check, ma’am.” She bobbed a curtsey. “If there is one, I’ll bring it up with your dinner.”
Helene grimaced at Philip as he shut the door behind the maid. “I should imagine that if George left me a message, it will be in my own name. Perhaps you shouldn’t have told the landlord we were married.”
Philip shrugged. “I’m sure we can think of a plausible explanation.”
“I’m sure you can.” She sipped at her tisane and inhaled the soothing scents of honey and chamomile. “I’ve heard many a married man make excuses for appearing to forget he had a wife. Some of them were even quite imaginative.”
“You needn’t worry, then. Just tell me the best one and leave it to me.”
Helene briefly closed her eyes as her headache started to ease. “If George has left me a message, I might need to go out after dinner.”
“Surely that can wait until morning? It is far too late to be wandering around the streets of a notorious seaport.”
“I didn’t ask you to accompany me.”
He went still. “You don’t think I would allow you to go out unescorted?”
“It’s not a question about what you ‘allow.’ I’m not your wife, remember?”
“But you are a vulnerable female.”
“I’m quite capable of taking care of myself.”
A knock on the door interrupted them. Philip got up to open the door.
“We haven’t finished this discussion, Helene.”
She smiled sweetly. “Yes, we have.”
The maid who had brought the tisane placed a large covered tray on the sideboard and turned to Helene. “There was a message came for a blond-haired lady. Would that be you?”
Helene nodded encouragingly as Philip pretended to inspect the steaming plates of food on the tray.
“Here you are, then.”
“Thank you.”
Helene took the sealed note and slipped it into her reticule. The maid bobbed another curtsey and took the covers off the food. The succulent smell of roast lamb and chicken filled the room. To her surprise, Helene realized she was hungry.
“I’ll bring up some more plates and some nice cheese and port as well, sir.” This time the maid addressed Philip.
“That would be excellent.”
Helene allowed Philip to serve her a plate of food and took it to the chair closest to the fire. She balanced the plate precariously on her knees as Philip joined her. For a while, there was silence as they both ate. Helene didn’t manage much, but her stomach was definitely steadier. Philip continued to eat, washing down his food with copious amounts of a fine red wine. Her fingers slid into her reticule and touched the note.
“Aren’t you going to open it?”
She almost jumped as he fixed his gaze on her. “I suppose I should. If we are lucky, this might prove to be a wild goose chase.”
He removed their plates and sat back in his chair, his hazel eyes considering. “You still haven’t told me what or whom we are chasing.”
“I might not have to.” She opened the seal on the letter and quickly scanned the contents. “Ah…”
“Well?”
“She is here.”
“Who is?”
“My daughter.”
“I thought your daughter was safely ensconced in your house in London. What happened? Did she run off?”
“This is my oldest daughter.”
Surprise flared in his eyes. “Exactly how many children do you have?”
“Three, my lord, that is all. My eldest daughter recently married, and I need to speak to her.”
“How recently did she marry?”
“Why should that matter?”
“Because I’ve lived in your house for over a week, and not one female has mentioned a wedding. That must be unheard of.”
Heat blossomed on Helene’s cheeks. “She is of age. Her decision to marry was her own business.”
“How old is she?”
“One and twenty.” She watched the puzzlement on his face deepen and resigned herself to yet more explanations.
“You had a child when you were fifteen?”
“Oui.”
“Before you even met me?”
Helene inclined her head. Philip sat forward in his seat and linked his hands between his knees.
“I have to assume she married without your consent.” He frowned. “Did she marry unwisely?”
“It depends on your point of view. In most people’s eyes, she has done remarkably well. I believe her husband is a peer of the realm.”
His eyebrows rose. “Yet you are not happy.”
“I…am her mother. I wish to speak to her to make sure everything is all right and that she was not coerced or forced in any way.”
“Why would you think that?”
Helene got to her feet and went to the window overlooking the street below. “Because I have a vague recollection of the man she married from the pleasure house.”
“You assume that anyone who has been there is in some way suspicious?”
She rounded on him. “Of course I don’t. I would just like to see my daughter and reassure myself that all is well.”
He rose to his feet and looked down at her. “Then let us be off.”
“You are not coming with me.”
“Then you are not going.”
“Philip Ross, you have no right to order me around.”
He shrugged. “I have every right. No lady under my protection goes out alone at night. It is far too dangerous.”
She stamped her foot. “I am not a lady!”
“You wish to be mistaken for a prostitute again? Because if you go out alone, I’m certain that will happen.”
She glared at him as he moved to block her exit by leaning against the door. Her fingers itched to pick up the fire tongs and bash him hard on the head.
“If you come with me, you wait outside.”
He bowed. “I’ll wait outside the room you occupy. I refuse to compromise more than that.”
“You refuse to compromise?” Helene grabbed her bonnet and placed it on her head. “You are the person behaving like a complete bully.”
“Take it or leave it, Helene.”
She stared at him for a long fierce moment, imagined his lifeless form stretched across the hearth.
“All right. Marguerite and her husband are staying at the Royal Dover Inn.”
“The Royal Dover?” He paused as he shrugged into his coat. “That is the best accommodation in town. It hardly sounds as if she is anxious to avoid detection.”
“As I said, she is of age. I can’t simply steal her back.”
Helene tied the ribbons of her bonnet and reached for her pelisse. Philip plucked it out of her hands and helped her into it. He kissed her throat, making her shiver.
“I’m sure everything will be fine.”
“Easy for you to say,” she muttered as she drew on her gloves.
He held the door open for her. “That is true, but I do understand, Helene. I have children of my own.”
More than you know. Helene kept that sour thought to herself as she went down the stairs and out into the unwelcoming darkness of the night.