Although shocked and understandably worried about Guy’s safety, the Dragon Hall staff took the news that he had been abducted and was being held for ransom more calmly than Camilla had expected. She realised that this would assuredly not have been the case had she told them of the smuggling connection which was why she hadn’t. Instead, she explained the measures that Mr Brandon and Mr Gilbert had set in hand in the hope of catching the perpetrators and rescuing Guy and ended by saying, ‘Of course, if there is no other alternative I shall pay what these people ask. But the gentlemen are averse to giving in to them if it can possibly be avoided.’
Everyone nodded and there was a general murmur of approval.
Steeling herself for what she expected to be the trickiest hurdle, Camilla informed them that, in addition to everything else, it had been decided that Mr Brandon should take up residence in the house until the situation was satisfactorily resolved. Then she held her breath and waited for Mrs Poole and Coombes to object.
Neither of them did.
‘And a good thing too, if there’s going to be kidnappers and men with guns running about,’ said the housekeeper indignantly.
‘I think that unlikely, Mrs Poole. It’s merely a precaution.’
‘A sensible one,’ stated the butler. ‘Until Mr Guy is back safe and sound, I will be happier knowing Mr Brandon is here during the hours of darkness.’
‘As will we all, I’m sure,’ agreed Camilla weakly. ‘But I don’t believe he expects the house to come under attack. It is more a case of this being our headquarters. All information will be directed here – and we’ll all have our roles to play.’
More nods of agreement and straightening of spines while, at the back of the room, the maids exchanged excited whispers. Able to guess what that was about, Camilla said quickly, ‘Mr Brandon will probably arrive later this evening so we should prepare one of the guest bedchambers. Which would be the most suitable, Mrs Poole?’
‘The blue room,’ came the prompt reply.
This was a surprise. She’d thought Adam would be given a room on the other side of the house – not one just down the corridor from her own. ‘Why that one?’
‘We turned it out and gave it an airing only a week ago so the girls can have it ready in a trice. Now … shall I tell Cook to hold back dinner for Mr Brandon? I’m thinking that with all this nastiness going on, you’ll be the better for a bit of company, Miss Millie.’
This was even more surprising and Camilla couldn’t help blinking. Before she could open her mouth, Coombes said, ‘And please ask him how we, the staff, can help.’
An odd thought occurred. Can they possibly think this a chance for a bit of matchmaking? Because if so, I can only suppose that the news about Guy has unhinged them. But she said, ‘Yes – delay dinner and have the blue bedchamber prepared. I have work to do and don’t wish to be disturbed. But let me know when Mr Brandon arrives.’
Leaving Rainham to his preparations and Harry putting together a scratch meal, Adam packed only the more respectable of his clothing, reasoning that if he needed what Rainham called working clothes he could change at the cottage. Then, wishing both of them good luck, he set off for Dragon Hall.
He spent the ride trying to determine precisely what he expected to come of closer and more prolonged proximity to Camilla – particularly under the current circumstances. He hoped he could keep the worst of her anxiety at bay but wasn’t sure she’d let him. He also hoped, after what had happened in the church, she wouldn’t imagine she needed to be on her guard in case it was repeated. Most of all, he hoped that the jumble of thoughts and feelings she created inside him might actually begin to make sense.
The head groom took charge of Hector and Coombes welcomed him warmly.
‘Good evening, Mr Brandon. Miss Millie told us to expect you. I believe she is currently changing her gown but I will see that she is informed of your arrival. Leave your bags here and they’ll be attended to, sir. In the meantime, please go up to the parlour and make yourself comfortable. Thomas will bring wine.’
‘Thank you. I apologise for the intrusion and any extra work it may cause but --’
‘Do not think of it, sir. We are relieved to have a gentleman in the house – and grateful for everything you are doing to rescue Mr Guy. Allow me to take your hat.’
Adam surrendered it with a half-smile. ‘I’m usually asked to leave the sword as well.’
‘Not here, sir. Under the circumstances, I would prefer that remained at your side.’
In the parlour, candles had been lit but the curtains not yet closed against the last of the light. Adam stood at a window overlooking the garden and reminded himself that he was here to help protect the household and collate information as and when it arrived. Anything of a more personal nature had, for the time being, to remain in the background.
He turned as the door opened. Camilla hesitated on the threshold for a moment, as if she was as unsure of her ground as he was. Then she crossed the room in a subtle rustle of dark green taffeta and said baldly, ‘How did it go with Major Levinson?’
‘Successfully. He’s allocating half a dozen troopers and a lieutenant to finding Guy. I’ve recommended he make them extremely visible by billeting them at The Ship in Dymchurch. And – forgive me – I promised that Dragon Hall would bear the cost of that.’
‘Perfectly right.’ She sat down, waited for him to do likewise … and paused again when Thomas arrived with the wine. Then, when they were alone, she said abruptly, ‘I’ve begun work on the fake despatch but I’ve come to the conclusion that my uncle ought to see the real one. And if we don’t get Guy back in the next two days, he needs to know about that as well. I can make a further copy or you can send the original.’
‘A further copy if you can bear it. Rainham and I agree Wilfred Street should have one.’ He watched her pleating and re-pleating a fold in her skirt with fingers that clearly wouldn’t stay still. Then he rose, poured a glass of wine and handed it to her. ‘Try not to worry. At least one of the avenues we’ve set in train will work. But in case this experience isn’t sufficient to keep Guy out of trouble in future, I hope you won’t mind if I apply some additional punishment of my own when we have him safe.’
‘Not at all – so long as you wait your turn. If he comes through this in one piece, I’ll probably murder him. Smuggling, for heaven’s sake! He must be insane.’ She broke off. ‘Oh – the staff don’t know about that. I thought it best to stick to the ransom story.’
‘I agree. There’s no point in alarming them more than necessary.’
Camilla took a sip of wine, set the glass aside and noticed something.
‘You’re not drinking?’
‘No. But perhaps a glass with dinner – if I’m invited to join you?’
‘Of course. Did you think I’d send you to eat in the kitchen?’
‘I hoped you wouldn’t. But I recognise that the situation isn’t entirely proper and that Mr Coombes and your housekeeper might have … opinions … on the matter.’
‘They do. Just not the sort you might expect,’ muttered Camilla. ‘I suspect they may have what you might call expectations. But I’d rather not know for certain.’
Adam’s brows rose and he considered asking what she meant but the moment was lost when Coombes appeared to summon them to table. Over crab terrine followed by Romney lamb in a port and rosemary sauce, he watched Camilla picking at the food on her plate instead of eating it. To distract her, he talked a bit about Paris until, laying down her knife, she said abruptly, ‘Paris was where Goddard recruited you, wasn’t it? How did that happen? How did he even know about you?’
‘I did a favour for the friend of a friend,’ he replied a shade ruefully. ‘A gentleman whose sins had come back to haunt him and were giving him his just desserts. But Emile-Henri begged me to help so, not without a certain amount of reluctance, I did. And the result was that the man in question was so impressed with my skills that he went singing my praises to a friend of his – namely, your uncle.’
‘So it was pure chance?’
‘Yes. What about you? When did you start working for the Section?’
‘At the end of my first Season. During the course of it, I’d overheard something that seemed potentially damaging to a senior member of the government and I told Uncle Hugh about it. Then, at the end of the Season, I was invited to a house party that Uncle said would be attended by a gentleman who was of interest to him. He asked me to see who that man met and listen to his conversations when I had the chance. I did. Two months later, he and another gentleman were arrested for selling shares in a non-existent canal project. And by then, of course, Uncle Hugh knew all about my trick memory.’
‘He didn’t know before?’
She shook her head. ‘No one did, really. I learned relatively early that it was something best kept to myself.’
Adam frowned. ‘Why?’
‘Because all it ever seemed to do was get me into trouble,’ she replied. ‘It began with my governess when I was seven. She gave me a passage to learn by heart. I read it through, told her I knew it and recited it. She chided me for not admitting it was a piece I already knew. I insisted that it wasn’t – that I’d just learned it. She rapped my knuckles and called me a wicked girl for lying so naturally I argued and that only made it worse. I didn’t understand I was different, you see. I thought everyone could do what I could.’
‘But what of your parents? Surely they knew?’
‘Not really. They thought it was just a case of little pitchers having big ears. One time, Guy cut all the illustrations out of my favourite book and I called him a name I knew must be rude because one of my boy cousins used it – and Papa heard me. But that wasn’t absolutely the worst thing.’
‘It wasn’t?’
‘No.
‘No. One Christmas we had house-guests and there was to be an impromptu soirée. Everyone gathered in the drawing-room to discuss it and I said …’ She stopped. ‘No. I can’t. I didn’t understand it when I was nine and I don’t understand it now – but I do know it has some dreadful underlying meaning that only gentlemen are aware of.’
‘Please?’ coaxed Adam. ‘I won’t tell a soul – I promise.’
‘You’d better not,’ she replied darkly. And then, a speculative gleam entering the green eyes, ‘Very well. I’ll tell you on condition you explain what it means.’
Thinking, How bad can it be? he said, ‘It’s a deal.’
‘Well, then … I suggested that if Lord Renley couldn’t persuade Lady Anderton to play his flute, perhaps he might play it himself.’
Adam’s jaw dropped and for a second he just stared at her, transfixed. Then, in a strangled voice, he said, ‘Don’t stop there. What happened next.’
‘Some of the gentlemen sniggered and one of them said, “I didn’t know you were a flautist, Renley – or you either, Rosie. How long have you been playing?”
‘Go on,’ yelped Adam, his shoulders shaking.
‘Lady Anderton turned scarlet and fled with her husband in hot pursuit; and Lord Renley told my father that he ought to “muzzle that bloody child.” Then he stamped out as well and slammed the door. After that, the gentlemen gathered on the other side of the room amidst gales of laughter while the ladies looked blank and pretended nothing had happened.’
By now, Adam was helpless with laughter … and Camilla impaling him with a look that could kill did nothing to quell it. Wheeling away from the table, he tried to stifle his paroxysms in a cushion but they didn’t dwindle until he was gasping and hiccupping.
Finally able to make herself heard, Camilla said frigidly, ‘It’s not that funny. All I said was that Lord Renley could --’
‘Don’t!’ begged Adam, wiping his streaming eyes and trying to catch his breath. ‘Please don’t say it again.’
‘Then tell me what it means.’
‘I c-can’t.’
‘We had a deal. You promised.’
‘I know. But that was before …’ He stopped and sat up, his face flushed and still vivid with laughter. Then, hauling in a calming breath he said unsteadily, ‘I’d tell you if I could. Truly, I would. But I doubt there’s a man alive who could explain that to a lady without dying of embarrassment. I certainly can’t. And I – I’d very seriously advise against asking Rainham. Sorry.’
The man who slouched into the Woolpack that night bore no resemblance at all to the aristocrat who had called there earlier in the day. The long, flapping coat increased both height and bulk; a battered, old-fashioned hat shadowed an unshaven face; and filthy, straggling hair and grime-encrusted fingernails had the half-dozen customers already enjoying their ale hoping the newcomer didn’t sit anywhere near them. He didn’t. He glanced about the taproom, swept the reward leaflet from the wall beside the counter and growled an order at the innkeeper before taking possession of a settle in a dim corner.
‘Ale. And if Erasmus is about, tell him I’ve got what he’s looking for.’
Finch, already comfortably established near the fire, hid a grin in his ale pot.
Half an hour passed and then an hour. Finally, when Rainham was starting to wonder if he might be wasting his time, the door opened on a well-dressed but otherwise nondescript man somewhere in his middle-thirties, who nodded to the innkeeper then walked directly over to Rainham’s corner. Tossing his hat on the table, he said quietly, ‘I hear you’ve got something for me.’
‘Might have,’ came the gravelly reply. ‘Depends who you are.’
‘You can call me Erasmus.’
‘And you can call me Your Majesty,’ retorted Rainham, lazily scratching an armpit, ‘but it don’t mean I’m the bleeding King, does it?’
The landlord set a small mug of brandy on the table and hurried away. Seeming to make up his mind, Erasmus hooked a stool forward with his foot and sat down, saying abruptly, ‘Why isn’t Raven here? Where is he?’
Raven? thought Rainham. And then, smothering a laugh, Corbeau. Of course.
‘Safe – or was yesterday. But he’s hurt bad and lying low. Got a sword in the gut t’other night on the beach. Touch and go whether he’ll make it, if you ask me. But he paid me to bring you this …’ He edged enough of Corbeau’s packet from inside his coat for Erasmus to see it. ‘I was going to an’ all – until I saw that and got a better idea.’ He slapped the reward sheet on the table between them. ‘You got him, ain’t you?’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Cut line, mister. I dunno who you are and I don’t care. But the fact you’re here for Raven’s packet tells me what your business is. You got him.’ He stabbed the paper with one finger. ‘Edgerton-Foxe. What’s more, I know why.’
‘You think so?’
‘Plain as the nose on your face. Nobody in their right mind kidnaps an earl’s nephew for ransom and thinks to get away with it – least of all somebody in your line of work.’ Rainham tutted and tapped the paper again. ‘I seen three of these already. By tomorrow, there’ll be dozens of ’em and the Marsh is going to be crawling with troopers and constables and folks trying to get their hands on the reward.’ He leaned back in his seat and took a swill of ale. ‘You’ve got him all right but not for the reason that says. If I had to guess, I’d say you lifted him ’cos you think he brought the dragoons down on you t’other night.’
‘You’re fishing,’ shrugged Erasmus, ‘and I’ve heard enough. Just hand over Raven’s packet and be done with it.’
‘Not so fast, my buck. You can have the Frenchie’s report when I get what I want.’
‘Which is what?’
‘Ain’t it obvious? I want to claim that hundred pound reward.’
Erasmus gave a sharp, derisive laugh. ‘You’re deranged.’
‘Not me, friend. Think about it. If the boy had ratted, would he have been on the beach when it happened? Course he wouldn’t. Unless he’s really stupid, he’d have been as far away as he could get. And you can stop acting all innocent-like. We both know it ain’t going to wash with me.’
There was a long, chilly silence. Then Erasmus said, ‘Very well. Stupid or simply indiscreet – it makes no matter which. Quite aside from the debacle of the other night, I have two useful operatives in gaol for murder. Someone has obviously talked and we have reason to believe it was Edgerton-Foxe.’
‘What reason?’
‘You don’t need to know. Suffice it to say that the matter has to be addressed.’
‘Granted. But I’d lay money you’re barking up the wrong tree. It’s no skin off my nose - but if I’m right, you ain’t never going to find your informer, are you? Thing is, you jumped to conclusions and it’s left you with a quandary. Right now you got a choice between killing the young bugger – which really would put the fat in the fire – or letting him go and hoping he don’t talk. Trouble is, the longer you keep him, the more chance there is of somebody else sneaking off to the redcoats and pointing the finger.’
‘You, for example?’
‘No. Not me. I got a better plan. A plan where you get your letters, I get that hundred pounds and young Guy goes home all nice and tidy with the fear of God in him about what’ll happen to his sister if he puts a toe out of line.’
‘And how, exactly, do you expect to make that work?’
‘All you gotta do is tell me where to find him and get your men to look the other way. I can take care of the rest.’ Rainham drained his tankard and stood up. ‘Tell whoever’s in charge that they got until tomorrow night to decide. After that, I’ll think about getting my money some other way – at Dover Castle, maybe. Your choice, mister. It’s all one to me.’
And tossing a few coins on the table, he touched his hat and walked out.
At Dragon Hall, Adam and Camilla had returned to the parlour and were debating whether or not to start trying to decipher Corbeau’s despatch.
‘Vincent taught me where one starts with decoding – the only thing, I might add, that I was taught – but you probably know more about it than I do. Perhaps --’
She stopped as a tap at the door heralded Coombes who said hurriedly, ‘I beg your pardon, Miss Millie – but there is a dangerous-looking person below stairs insisting he has information for Mr Brandon.’ Fixing his gaze on Adam, he added, ‘Thomas has the old musket trained on him, sir. It doesn’t work, of course – but it’ll hold him till you get there.’
‘Very good, Mr Coombes.’ Adam rose and held out a hand to Camilla. ‘Coming?’
‘Yes!’ She was on her feet in a second.
‘Miss Millie, I don’t think --’ began Coombes unhappily.
‘I daresay. So don’t.’ Taking Adam’s arm and sweeping from the room at his side, she said, ‘I didn’t dare hope for results so soon. Did you?’
‘No. But let’s wait until we hear what this fellow has to say, shall we?’
In the kitchen, Mrs Poole, Cook and the maids all stood in a huddle on the far side of the room while Thomas grimly pointed an ancient flintlock at their visitor. This individual leaned nonchalantly beside the door, arms folded across his chest and looking faintly bored. But when Adam and Camilla appeared, he growled, ‘Fine sort of welcome this is.’
‘What did you expect?’ asked Adam. And on a long-suffering sigh, ‘I suppose you had to turn up here looking as if you’d cut anybody’s throat for tuppence?’
‘Yes. It was on my way,’ said the apparition, in suddenly perfectly rounded aristocratic tones as he swept off his hat. ‘And if it’s no trouble, I’d like a hot bath.’
The fact that the matted black hair came off along with the hat caused a collective gasp of shock. Unfortunately, it also caused Thomas’s finger to jerk on the trigger of the musket which went off, blowing a hole in the wall above the visitor’s head. Cook screamed, the under-footman swore and the little scullery maid went into hysterics. Thomas turned perfectly white and threw the still-smoking weapon down as if it was red-hot.
Camilla, however, said incredulously, ‘Rainham?’
He tutted and calmly brushed off plaster dust. ‘Gilbert, darling. Try to keep up.’
‘I’m s-sorry,’ stammered Thomas. ‘It wasn’t s-supposed to work.’
‘And perhaps it also wasn’t supposed to be loaded,’ suggested Rainham dryly, picking up the musket and placing it in a corner. He winced as the scullery maid’s hysterics rose to a crescendo. ‘Will someone please stop that child’s infernal caterwauling so that we can all hear ourselves think?’ And with a lifted eyebrow as the housekeeper hustled the girl away, ‘What’s the matter, Millie? Didn’t you recognise me?’
‘I doubt your wife would recognise you right now,’ she retorted. And turning to the assembled servants, ‘It’s all right, everyone. This is Mr Brandon’s colleague – and I can assure you that he doesn’t usually look like this.’
‘You’d better come upstairs,’ said Adam. ‘But given your present state, I’m sure everyone would prefer that you did not make contact with the furniture.’
‘I’m not infested,’ complained Rainham mildly, ‘but I’ll do anything you like in return for that bath I mentioned.’
‘Fine,’ said Camilla impatiently. And having issued the necessary orders, along with that of finding Mr Gilbert a clean shirt, she swept out leaving the two gentlemen to follow her.
‘Where’s Harry?’ asked Adam.
‘I sent him back to the cottage. We didn’t both need to come.’ Lowering his voice slightly and gesturing to Camilla’s back, ‘How is she bearing up?’
‘Surprisingly well so far. But then she was never going to sit around wailing and wringing her hands, was she?’
‘Very true. Do you wish she was?’
‘No.’ Adam cast him an irritable look. ‘I know you’ve just nearly been shot, but at least try not to be an ass, will you?’
Rainham shook his head and laughed.
When they were all gathered around the fire with glasses of wine, he said, ‘In a nutshell, Erasmus turned up half-expecting to meet Corbeau – who, predictably, he refers to as Raven. The fellow’s respectably-dressed and well-spoken so there’s a chance he’s Tranter’s ‘captain’. My guess is that he’s also somebody’s secretary or valet. He was understandably coy to begin with but eventually admitted that he and his associates have Guy. They think he’s an informer, although he wouldn’t tell me why they think it. I did my best to cast doubt on this belief as well as nurture concerns about the problems that abducting an earl’s nephew are likely to cause but I don’t know how successful I was. He’s eager to get hold of Corbeau’s despatch but hasn’t the authority to surrender Guy in exchange for it. I’ve given him until tomorrow night.’
‘So we just have to wait?’ asked Camilla, her fingers clasped tight in her lap.
‘Yes, but we expected that. It’s why you have until tomorrow to finish your nonsense version,’ replied Adam. And to Rainham, ‘Were you able to follow him?’
‘Up to a point. He rode to Lydd.’
‘And?’
‘And he entered one of four large houses on a road running parallel to the churchyard – thus supporting my secretary or valet theory. Unfortunately, since I couldn’t risk him seeing me, I don’t know precisely which house.’
Camilla sat up, frowning. ‘I know who lives in all of them. Sir Edmund and Lady Morton; he’s in his seventies and bed-ridden. The Misses Wesley; a pair of spinster sisters who knit more socks than the poor have feet; Arnold and Dorothy Marshall; still mourning the death of their only son. And … the Blanes.’
Adam looked at her. ‘Blane? As in the idiot I met the other day?’
‘Yes. Grandparents, mother … and two sons. Mark and Peter.’
Rainham looked at Adam, ‘Tell me about the brothers.’
‘The one I met uses his mouth more than his brain.’
‘And the other?’
‘I’ve no idea. Camilla?’
‘I don’t know either,’ she sighed. ‘Mark is more intelligent than Peter. But the Blanes are a respected banking family so it doesn’t seem likely that they would be involved – even at several removes – with the owlers.’
‘The sick old man, the couple in mourning and the sock-knitting sisters sound even less likely,’ Adam pointed out.
‘Well, yes. I suppose so. But Mark and Peter are Guy’s friends, for heaven’s sake! Would they really have him kidnapped?’
‘Stranger things have happened,’ remarked Rainham. ‘Smuggling is highly lucrative, remember. But whichever house Erasmus entered, he may merely be employed there in some innocent capacity. It doesn’t necessarily follow that one of the family is up to his neck in smuggling and espionage. Equally, it doesn’t mean that they are not.’ He looked at Adam. ‘However, the street would bear watching, don’t you think?’
‘Yes. But who is going to do it? You can’t, I can’t, Harry can’t do it single-handed … and posting a dragoon across the street will ring alarm bells.’ He thought for a moment. ‘Lydd isn’t so far from Audley Court. Perhaps Sebastian might supply help?’
Rainham gave a sudden, short laugh. ‘I think that highly likely. I almost forgot; Erasmus said two of his men had been arrested for murder – which has to have been Sebastian’s doing. One of us had better --’
‘Murder?’ said Camilla sharply. ‘Of whom?’
Adam and Rainham exchanged glances and Adam said reluctantly, ‘Sebastian’s late father’s valet. We think he had dealings with the smugglers and knew something.’
‘So they had him killed?’ She stared at him looking suddenly sick. ‘Oh God. If they’d do that, what are they doing to Guy? Starving him? Beating him? What?’
‘There’s no point in pretending that they’re handling him with kid gloves,’ replied Rainham grimly, ‘but they won’t kill him.’
‘You mean,’ she said shakily, ‘they won’t kill him until they’ve got the despatch.’
‘Not just that, Millie. They know who his uncle is and won’t want to bring fire and brimstone down on their heads if it can be avoided. And in the meantime, we’re moving heaven and earth to get Guy back. You know that.’ He turned to Adam, ‘I’ll see Sebastian tomorrow while you tell Levinson’s lieutenant about Erasmus. And someone has to --’
‘Wait,’ said Adam. ‘While you’re in Rye, get permission to interrogate the alleged murderers. Fear of the noose might loosen their tongues or you could play one off against the other. And though they may not know anything about Guy, they’ll know other things.’
Rainham nodded slowly. ‘Now why didn’t I think of that?’
‘I’m sure you would have eventually. And in the meantime, the reward bills need to be collected from the printer and circulated.’
‘I’ll do it,’ said Camilla. ‘I’ll take Thomas with me.’
‘You won’t go at all,’ corrected Adam. ‘No risks, remember?’
‘It’s only to Dymchurch and back,’ she began, only to stop in response to a tap at the door and the appearance of Coombes who announced that Mr Gilbert’s bath was ready.
‘Thank God.’ Rainham rose with alacrity. ‘I can put up with a great many things when needs must – but sluicing myself down with cold water is not one of them. Be good, children. I shall return a new man.’
‘We’ll look forward to it,’ murmured Adam, watching him go. And, as soon as the door closed behind him, ‘Distance isn’t the issue, Camilla. For the time being you’re not going to the end of the drive and back without adequate protection. And Thomas isn’t adequate.’
‘I suppose not.’ She drew a shuddering breath and wrapped her arms about herself as if suddenly cold. ‘I think … I think the reality of all this is finally catching up with me.’
Adam thought so too. Rising, he crossed to sit beside her and put his arm around her. ‘That’s hardly surprising. You’ve done wonderfully so far … but it’s been a hell of a day.’
‘It has.’ She leaned her head against his shoulder. ‘I want to ask you to promise that it will all be all right. But you can’t, can you?’ She gave an unsteady laugh. ‘It would be one of those promises you don’t make because you might have to break it.’
‘Not this one, if I can possibly help it.’
‘I know.’ Camilla remained where she was, comforted by his warmth and strength and, for the first time she could remember, wanting to curl up inside it. She said awkwardly, ‘I – I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad of Rainham too, of course. But he’ll keep things from me and refuse to let me help. And I need to help. If I have nothing to do, I’ll go mad.’
‘I can understand that. If it were one of my brothers, I’d feel the same. But at present, all you can usefully do is finish the fake despatch and keep up morale in the house. Then, if Rainham doesn’t have better luck tomorrow night, you should write to Goddard. In fact, I’m not convinced we should wait that long.’
‘Neither am I. Waiting is more sensible … but I’m not feeling very sensible right now.’
He nodded and said slowly, ‘Would engaging your uncle’s help make you feel better?’
Camilla lifted her head to look up at him. ‘Perhaps. Yes. I think it might.’
Adam had been congratulating himself on sticking to a mere brotherly hug despite everything inside him demanding something quite different. But when those silvery-green eyes met his, all notions of proper behaviour flew out of the window. Sliding both arms about her and pulling her close, he whispered, ‘Then do it, sweetheart. Do it.’
And kissed her.
As soon as his mouth touched hers, Camilla knew with bone-deep certainty that this was what she had been wanting … even waiting for. His kiss was slow and sweet and inviting; and she welcomed it without hesitation, reaching up to cup his nape and hold him to her. But much sooner than she would have liked, he raised his head to look at her and said apologetically, ‘I promised myself I wouldn’t do that.’
‘Did you?’ Of its own volition, her free hand rose as if to touch his cheek and then hovered irresolute at his shoulder. ‘Why?’
‘This … isn’t the right time.’
‘It isn’t?’
‘No. I could be said to be … taking advantage.’
‘Surely that’s for me to say. And I’m not.’
‘No?’
‘No.’
‘Oh.’ Something changed in his eyes and he shifted to wrap his fingers around the hand at his shoulder. ‘That’s encouraging.’
‘In what way?’
A tiny wry laugh shook him. ‘It encourages me to hope that you like me. Just a little bit.’
‘Don’t be absurd. Of course I like you.’
‘Good.’ He dropped a last, fleeting kiss on her parted lips and drew her to her feet. ‘Take that thought to bed with you and try to sleep. I’ll see Rainham on his way.’