Page 36 of His Improper Lady

“That’s why you’re so beholden to the Morelands.”

“It’s not just that. They—blast! I forgot what I was doing. Bloody, blinkin’ hell.” Tom looked up, his gaze roaming up and down the street. “There he is.” He relaxed. What was wrong with him? Telling Desiree all that. Paying no attention to his surroundings.

“Where?” Desiree asked.

“Turn to look across the street. Toward that yellowish stone house. He’s standing on the corner, looking uncomfortable.” She did as he suggested, and Tom asked, “Do you know him?”

“No. Why would I know him? Oh.” Her gaze cleared. “You think it’s just me he’s interested in. That maybe he was the one in the carriage last night.”

“It would certainly be a possibility. But, actually, I was thinking he might work for your brother.”

“Brock?” Her voice slid upward in disbelief.

Tom shrugged. “Protective older brother who’s concerned about his sister traipsing around town alone with a man. Especially after someone was lurking outside their house last night.”

Desiree tilted her head. “I suppose that would make some sense, though he’d know I’d be mad as a wet cat if he interfered. Brock is a bit protective. But I don’t see how it’s possible. I didn’t tell him about that carriage last night. I haven’t even seen him this morning. He left the house early. And how would he know I went for a stroll with you? I didn’t know it myself until you showed up this morning.”

“Wells could have let him know.”

“He got word to Brock and Brock sent a man after us in time to follow us?”

“Wells knew in general where we were going. We mentioned Upper Chelsea. But you’re right...it does seem unlikely. What about Wells? He was the one issuing a warning to me.”

“It wasn’t Wells. He wouldn’t have sent someone—he’d have done it himself. And we wouldn’t have spotted Wells. He’s very good at being inconspicuous.”

“Which leaves us with Falk as our main suspect.”

“Why Falk? I mean, he’s certainly capable of it, but why would he want to follow us?”

“Because he’s involved with all this. He’s been involved from the first. He hired you to steal something from the office.”

“But that had nothing to do with my father or me,” she protested. “He wanted me to find some envelope, that’s all.”

“An envelope?” Tom repeated skeptically.

“Yes, an envelope,” she replied in an exasperated voice. “Why would I lie to you about that?”

“I don’t know.”

“So just on general principle, you assume I’m lying.”

“No.” Tom looked at her, torn. He wanted to believe her. Her generous gift to him as a child warmed him in a way he couldn’t describe. But a kind gesture from a child didn’t prove that she was innocent now. “But it doesn’t make sense. I have no idea how Falk fits into it.”

“Because he doesn’t,” she said with some exasperation. “Falk wanted me to do the job for him, and he knew I wouldn’t work with him unless he offered something really important. So he promised he would tell me who my father was if I took this envelope from your office.”

“Why would he know who your father was?”

Desiree shrugged. “I’ve no idea. But I felt he was telling me the truth.”

“Because of your ability to detect a lie.”

“Because I can pick up on certain signals,” Desiree corrected. “I saw no indication Falk was lying. What I sensed was a sort of glee, really, as if he wanted me to find out who my father was. There was this evil glint in his eye. Though I’m not sure why he would care.”

“He’d always be happy to do something against the Morelands. He hates them—or at least he hates Reed. When he took me back, Reed humiliated Falk in front of his people, and Falk’s not the sort to forget that.”

“There is a certain...irony, I suppose, in having me search the Moreland office, knowing who my father was. That’s the sort of twist of the knife that Falk enjoys.”

“What envelope did he want?”