Grace approached Gunter’s tea shop, her footmen on her heels. Over her shoulder, she ordered, “Take Tilman around to the back and order ices for yourselves. My meeting with Archbroke shan’t be overly long.”
Archbroke had a particular fondness for lemon ices and routinely visited the establishment in the afternoons. Grace counted on the man’s preference to stick to the daily routine. Taking the parchment with Gunter’s tea shop selections for the day from a server, Grace searched the crowd. No sign of Archbroke. Yet.
Head bent; Grace reviewed the list. Lemon. She shook her head. Eww. The tart flavor was offered every day without fail. No doubt it was due to the fact it was Archbroke’s favorite.
Tapping the edge of the paper with her forefinger, her eyes were drawn to the corner where the letter G was incorporated into an intricate design that Matthew would be most interested in. Granted, she had assisted Matthew in his search for the identity of the mysterious PORFs and their elaborate underground network, but it didn’t mean she believed in their existence. She stared at the seal. Years ago, Matthew had formed the theory that both Burke and Archbroke were PORFs, but he hadn’t managed to determine to his satisfaction who the third family was. If Archbroke was a PORF, why had he assigned Matthew, a Home Office agent, to meticulously take down each and every one of Burke’s schemes instead of someone within the secret network? Her breath caught in her chest for a moment. If Burke was a PORF, that meant Tobias was one too.
A shadow fell over the parchment. “I recommend lemon.” Archbroke chuckled as Grace startled at the sound of his voice.
Annoyingly, the man was as stealthy as Matthew, yet Archbroke rarely employed the talent. She lowered the parchment in her hand to find Archbroke grinning down at her. “I prefer the peppermint. However, it’s not being offered today.”
Archbroke snatched the list from her hands and signaled for a server. As soon as the harried server was within hearing. Archbroke said, “One lemon and one peppermint.”
With a nod, the server rushed away to see to their order.
“How is that poor footman to retrieve a flavor that is not available?”
“Not to worry. He’ll find a way. Trust me.”
Grace leaned closer. “I do.” She glanced about. No one was within hearing. “Papa wishes Jones to be reassigned to the docks.”
“I’ll take it under advisement.”
It wasn’t a confirmation he’d see to it, nor was it a decline. Which meant unless there was a sound reason not to Archbroke would have Jones carry out the assignment. Now that she had seen to matters, she was eager to leave. Matthew could return at any moment, and she wanted to be waiting for him at the gazebo. Grace had sensed the moment Matthew had decided to leave her alone with Tobias. She needed to speak with him in person, but if she wasn’t present when he arrived, at best, he’d leave a note in the wall.
Archbroke tugged on his waistcoat, “You can’t leave before your ice arrives. I’m sure the lad is going to extremes to ensure the order is to your liking.”
Blast the Home Secretary—he was nearly as good as her at reading body language.
His movement drew Grace’s attention to his attire. His dandy threads of high-tip collars and extravagant amounts of lace about the cuffs were long gone. While Theo had seen to it that he now wore outfits that were conservative in cut, the color of his waistcoats remained questionable. Archbroke was often seen in the awful shade he called gamboge. She never understood why Archbroke favored the abhorrent shade of orange. When he wore such a color before he married, the man reminded her of the round citrus fruit.
While they waited for their order, Grace decided to share the riddle Tobias shared with her last eve. “Archbroke, humor me and play along. Knock. Knock.”
“Beg pardon?” His gaze sharpened and scanned the few patrons close by.
No one paid them any heed. Grace pressed on and said, “You say ‘who’s there.’”
It was the first time she’d managed to catch Archbroke totally off guard. She smiled and began again, “Knock. Knock.”
“Who’s there?”
Grace answered, “Banana.”
Archbroke arched an eyebrow and merely stared at her.
“You say, ‘Banana, who’”
At Archbroke’s contorted features Grace swallow the burst of laughter that threatened to escape. She tried again. “Knock. Knock.”
Archbroke replied, “Banana, who?”
Grace released a sigh. “Not banana who! First, you respond who’s there. If being married dulls a person’s wit, I shall have to tell Ellingsworth the marriage is off.”
“Marriage has nothing to do with this silly game.”
Grace, nonplussed by Archbroke’s comment, said, “It isn’t a game. It’s a joke. Let’s try again, shall we? Knock. Knock.”
“Who’s there?”
“Banana.”
“Banana who?”
Ah, finally, the man had caught on.
Grace continued, “Knock. Knock.”
“Who’s there?
“Orange.”
Archbroke frowned but asked, “Orange who?”
“Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?”
A chuckle escaped Archbroke’s lips. “I’ll have to regale that one to my niece. She will enjoy the play on words.”
The young server reappeared, cheeks flushed and wearing a barely visible satisfied grin. Grace’s mouth briefly gaped in surprise as she accepted a bowl of green-colored ice.
She said, “It is rather interesting how things come about.”
“Who told you such a clever riddle?” Archbroke asked.
As he spooned a mound of lemon ice into his mouth, Grace answered, “Ellingsworth.” She released the most unladylike snort-chuckle combination at the sight of Archbroke’s cheeks sucked in, mouth puckered, and raised eyebrows. Regaining her composure, she said, “Actually, the two of you have a lot in common.”
“Is that a fact?”
“Ah… Hmm.” Grace let the peppermint flavor soak into her tongue. It reminded her of Matthew’s first kiss. Did Matthew still carry peppermint treats in his pocket? She needed to hurry and finish her ice and return home. Blinking her eyes open, she expanded upon her answer, “Yes, you both utilize the ton’s gossips to hide your true nature. You are no dandy, and Ellingsworth is by no means a dullard.” In her haste to leave, Grace swallowed a rather large spoon full of ice. She gave her head a slight shake and found Archbroke staring down at her. Spoon held halfway to her mouth, she continued, “And then there is the matter of your family—”
Archbroke’s cutting stare cut off the rest of Grace’s sentence. In a tone that sent chills through Grace, he said, “Enough. This is not the location to discuss such matters.”
Assessing Archbroke’s hard ice-blue eyes, Grace realized the man had never genuinely attempted to intimidate Grace until now. His extreme reaction solidified Matthew’s suspicions. Information from a reliable source indicated a power shift had occurred among the PORFs. She was told the upheaval could resort in deadly consequences for PORFs. If Archbroke was really a PORF, then he and Theo could be in danger.
Returning the spoonful of uneaten ice to her bowl, Grace steeled herself and said, “My sources have reported an increased amount of interest and chatter regarding a certain children’s story since your cousin by marriage returned from the Continent.”
“I’ve heard the same. Merely an old wives’ tale told to children.” Archbroke’s gaze continued to search their surroundings.
Archbroke wiped a napkin across his lips, avoided eye contact, and shifted his weight away from her—all signs he was definitely lying. Perhaps a different tact was needed.
“Shame that Theo and you did not venture abroad after your wedding.”
Straightening, Archbroke said, “Theo would not have missed the birth of our godchildren. But now that the twins have arrived, perhaps I might yet still be able to convince her to go on an adventure.”
Grace pulled back as Archbroke shifted closer, peering from his empty bowl to hers. “I would highly recommend it.”
Archbroke eyed her bowl once again. “For any specific reason?”
She waited for his gaze to return to her. “The conditions are safe now upon the Continent. Why not take advantage?”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
Grace licked the spoon and placed the bowl on the railing that Archbroke was so casually leaning against. “Why would I want that?”
Archbroke crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
“I was merely suggesting a short trip now that I’ve ensured it is safe.”
“I’ll admit Britain has benefited from all your hard work. But in consideration of Theo’s condition, I believe we shall remain on home soil.”
Fustian! The man had an answer for everything. Their conversation went around in circles. Archbroke manipulated their discussion like Tobias had used riddles the night prior, appearing befuddled when, in fact, it was his audience who was left confused. It proved her point. They were similar.
Rose-pink silk caught Grace’s attention. Theo’s signature color appeared as if from thin air. “Lady Grace, I hope my dear husband has been fine company while you awaited my arrival?”
Grace hadn’t been waiting for Theo—what was she about? Going along with her friend’s scheme, Grace replied, “He has indeed.”
Archbroke scanned the area before stepping forward to confront his wife. “Where is your maid, or any of the three footmen I’ve employed to accompany you?”
Ah. Archbroke knew of the dangers and had increased protection for Theo. Wise man. Their meeting only provided more items for her to discuss with Matthew. A giddiness brought a smile to her face. Not only was she eager to see Matthew, but the opportunity to once again work as a team had her pulse racing.
Energy and tension filled the air between the pair. Theo gave Archbroke a peck on the cheek. “Stop your worrying. I’ve sent all of them round to enjoy some ices. I can assure you they carried out your orders not to let me out of their sight until I was safely within two feet of you.”
Archbroke seemed mollified. “And you, my dear, do you wish for an ice?”
“Not today. I’ve got a message for you, dear husband, from Matthew. He hopes you will join him for supper this evening at White’s.”
“I’d prefer to spend the evening with you.”
“Oh, I won’t be home tonight. I’ll be accompanying Grace to Hereford’s dinner party since her dear aunt, Lady Emily Allensworth has come down with a cold.”
Grace’s aunt, her chaperone for all social engagements, was never ill. Deciding it best to play along with Theo’s scheme, she remained silent. Theo hooked her arm in Grace’s. “Ready to depart? I’ll have Jack bring round the carriage.”
Blast. She had discussed attending Hereford’s dinner earlier with Tobias, but in her eagerness to see Matthew, she had forgotten about the bloody event. No, not forgotten. Merely wishful thinking she wouldn’t have to attend. Why in the world had Matthew requested to meet with Archbroke this eve? Everyone was aware that the Home Secretary had a propensity to hold lengthy meetings. He was also known to have sequestered agents until dawn on more than one occasion. It could be hours before either of them would be able to finally return to the gazebo. Grace released a deep breath. Duties first and then Matthew. She prayed she wasn’t wrong, and that Matthew still cared for her.