From ten o’clock onwards Theo Weston was seated in Hookham’s Lending Library, apparently absorbed in his newspaper. He was looking decidedly smart in a coat of dark-blue cloth and a snowy cravat. His buckskins were impeccable and his boots shone like mirrors. His black curls were neatly brushed. His face, however, warned everyone that he was in one of his grimmer moods.
It was a little before eleven when Kitty entered Hookham’s. He recognized her tall figure and graceful movements and watched carefully from behind the camouflaging Times. She deposited several volumes on the table and walked through into the inner room. He sensed rather than saw her return then realized she was peeping over his newspaper at him. Theo lowered the paper and looked at her quizzically. Her face fell. He felt his temper rise another notch but he got to his feet and bowed.
‘Good morning, Miss Towers. Are you all alone today?’
‘I was expecting to meet some friends here, but I have arrived a little early.’
‘Well, perhaps I may bear you company until they get here. Tell me, Miss Towers, have you come here quite alone?’
She looked slightly puzzled. ‘No, sir, my aunt does not like me to go out unattended. I have my maid with me.’ She sighed. ‘I must say I find these London conventions very restricting.’
Theo’s lips twitched. ‘You prefer to be quite independent?’
She raised her face to his and nodded. ‘In our part of Cheshire we frequently need to walk quite long distances; we could not be forever requiring a maid to go with us – besides, there is not the slightest need.’
‘How pleasant to be so free. But, I fear, as you are realizing, in London, young ladies need constant chaperonage.’ He said this with a wicked gleam in his eye. Her colour rose. It was obvious that she was remembering the one occasion when he had taken advantage of her lack of a chaperon. She was saved from having to answer by the sound of the door opening.
She looked round at once. Theo watched the way her head turned on her slender neck, enjoying the movement of her chestnut curls as they stroked against her white skin. How pretty she was and how well she looked in her green bonnet and coat.
After examining the newcomers she turned her large brown eyes back to him. He considered those eyes with a feeling of pleasure. So clear and honest, such speaking eyes, fringed by thick dark lashes. His mood lightened. This task was going to be more pleasant than he had expected. He gave her a courteous look and indicated the well-filled shelves.
‘What type of book are you seeking today?’
Kitty eyed him suspiciously but he kept his expression polite. At last she decided he was in earnest. ‘For myself, I hope to find some information on travel in Southern Europe, but I daresay my friends will be selecting all kinds of material’ – her eyes challenged him – ‘even novels.’
He inclined his head, trying to hide his amusement. So Miss Towers was on the attack!
‘Do you often frequent this library, Mr Weston?’
‘Only when I have business here.’
She puzzled over that. Her face became a little wary. She glanced towards the door and made as if to leave him.
‘Miss Towers.…’ Theo kept his voice low. ‘I know you have a packet for Greg – er – Mr Thatcham. I am here in his place and you can safely entrust it to me.’
Kitty opened her eyes very wide. ‘I am not sure what you are talking about, sir.’
He breathed hard. ‘Miss Towers, I assure you I am here on behalf of my friend.’
Her face was pale. ‘I believe I will wait for Mr Thatcham. Excuse me, sir, my friend has just arrived.’ She turned towards Amelia who was putting books down on the table.
Theo bit back an oath. He stood rigid, feeling foolish and burning with anger at her refusal to trust him. She had trusted Greg! Damn Greg for involving her in this business. Of course, she had no idea just what she was carrying. When he returned to Stratton Street he would have something to say to his friend about putting an innocent girl in such danger.
Still trying to subdue his rage, he pretended to study the books on the shelf nearest to him. He had to get that letter and fast. Who knew whether someone was even now following her. Theo repressed a shudder at the idea of seeing Kitty in anything like the state Greg was in.
There was a burst of chatter as a group of ladies entered the room. He saw two of them go over and greet Kitty and Amelia. For a few minutes he watched them opening books and showing each other different passages, with much talk and laughter. It gave him an idea.
Shortly afterwards, having found what he wanted, Theo limped over to the young ladies and nodded courteously to them all before addressing Kitty.
‘Miss Towers, I believe I recently heard you express a desire to travel on the Continent. I feel sure this book about Italy will be of interest to you.’
Politeness forced Kitty to give him her attention. ‘Come,’ Theo went on in a light tone, ‘let me place it on this table so I can show you the picture I particularly want you to see. It is of Venice.’ He managed to draw her a little apart from her friends by laying the book on an empty table near a window. He turned the pages and bent his head close to hers as he indicated a large colour plate.
‘How interesting.’ Kitty exclaimed, leaning over the page. He almost forgot his mission when her curls tumbled forward and nearly touched his face. At the same time he breathed in the scent of roses. He cleared his throat. ‘Please trust me,’ he murmured, indicating the picture as he spoke almost in her ear.
Kitty glanced sideways at him. He could not resist a quick look at her mouth, so perfectly shaped with its full underlip and such an inviting shade of pink. He drew a steadying breath and cleared his throat yet again.
‘Mr Thatcham is not well enough to come himself this morning. He was attacked on his way home last night. Do you really think,’ he added hastily, as she gasped in horror, ‘that I plan to do anything to harm my friend? I am trying to help him.’
‘Was he robbed?’
Theo looked into her large, anxious eyes. ‘You prevented that.’
‘Is he badly hurt?’ Kitty was looking appalled.
He shrugged. ‘A sore head and a black eye. He will feel better when he has this letter back in his possession.’
‘D-Do you think the villain is watching us now?’
Theo smiled grimly. ‘It is quite possible. Can you give me the letter very unobtrusively? You do understand that you are at risk while it is in your possession?’
Kitty stared at him. He watched the colour fade from her cheeks as she grasped how serious the matter was. Then a fighting gleam came into her eyes and she nodded. ‘Thank you, Mr Weston. I shall certainly consider this book,’ she said quite loudly. She picked it up and rejoined Amelia.
Now it was Theo’s turn to examine the people choosing their books. He had to admit none of them looked tough enough to overpower a big fellow like Greg, but someone was obviously determined to get the secret information about Wellington’s war plans.
Theo grimaced as he thought of how Greg had looked that morning. One side of his face was horribly bruised and his eye completely shut. He had been only too happy to give up his place to Theo.
In a very short time Kitty was approaching him again. She had three books tucked under her arm and was holding out a fourth one to him.
‘Thank you for showing me this travel book, Mr Weston. However, I shall not take it on this occasion. Would you be kind enough to return it to the correct shelf?’
‘Of course.’ Now he could smile. He was amazed at her reaction to this. Her cheeks went a most becoming shade of pink and she turned away hastily. Raising his black brows, he retreated to a corner seat, where he unfolded his newspaper again. The packet was tucked in the page showing the picture of Venice. Hastily he slipped it into his jacket pocket. He breathed a sigh of relief, as much for Kitty as for Wellington’s letter. And Greg would be vastly relieved to have this back safely.
Over the newspaper, his eyes met Kitty’s as she followed her friends out of the door. He nodded at her and this time was rewarded with a sweet smile. Theo felt a tug of attraction and, with it, an instinct to protect this unusual girl. If anyone threatened Kitty, they would have him to deal with.
He smiled as he recalled that she had not shown any fear when she realized she was involved in a dangerous business. But then, she had no idea how ruthless these people could be. He surveyed the growing crowd in the library. Appearances did not indicate any possible spies but, thought Theo, they were bound to be the most unlikely of people.