Page 43 of His Improper Lady

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

AFTER THEIR KISS, Desiree had trouble going to sleep. She hadn’t expected it, which had only added to the pleasure. However irritating Tom Quick was, he stirred her. She spent an inordinate time remembering the moment, remembering, in fact, every encounter with the man, and as a result sleep eluded her for hours. Despite that, she popped awake earlier than usual the next morning, surging with energy. She dressed and went downstairs to eat alone, both her brothers still sleeping.

Afterward, she ordered the carriage brought around. They needed transportation to Percy Circle, so it made more sense for her to pick up Tom at his office than to wait for him to come to her. Besides, she had a certain fondness for that office. It had been a challenging exit. She’d like to see it in the daylight. And there was even the possibility that she might get a look at the Moreland of Moreland & Quick.

Today Desiree entered the building in a more conventional way, going in the front door and up the stairs. As she reached the top of the stairs and turned down the hallway, she heard the sound of male voices and a laugh. One voice belonged to Tom; she knew that immediately. The other voices puzzled her; there seemed to be two of them, but they sounded almost the same.

She understood when she stopped in the doorway and saw Tom talking with two men who looked exactly alike. All three glanced over at her—the two dark-haired men with mild inquiry and Tom with alarm.

They were twins. Like her and Wells. Desiree’s heart picked up a beat. Tom hadn’t mentioned that there were twins in the Moreland family. For these must be Morelands; one of the men was sitting behind the desk farthest from the door, suit jacket off and looking very much as if he belonged here. His brother lounged against that blasted squeaky-doored cabinet.

“Desiree!” Tom jumped to his feet. “I—um, I didn’t know you were coming here this morning.”

“We’re going to the Percy Circus area, aren’t we?”

“Well, yes. I just thought...”

“That I would wait like a good little girl for you to fetch me?” Her eyes twinkled. “Surely you know me better than that.”

“I do,” Tom replied in a grim voice.

“Percy Circus. You’re the one who wanted to know about that house?” This remark came from the twin who was standing.

“Yes.” Desiree turned to him. “Are you the architect who’s a friend of Mr. Quick’s?”

“I am, indeed.” He had laughing eyes. So did his brother. It felt very strange to be looking at people who might be her...what, brothers, cousins? Did she feel a connection? She couldn’t see a resemblance to her. Their eyes were green, but a different shade. Their hair was black as midnight and they were tall, both things unlike her. The man went on, “I’m Alex Moreland.”

“I’m sorry,” Tom inserted quickly. “Miss Malone, allow me to introduce you to my business partner, Con Moreland, and his brother Alex. Gentlemen, Miss Desiree Malone.”

Desiree had the distinct feeling Tom wanted to ward off any attempt by Desiree to tell the men who she was. She had a very strong urge to do just that. But Tom clearly didn’t want her to, and while it shouldn’t matter to her what he thought, the truth was that it did. Also, she had implied that she wouldn’t confront the Morelands if Tom agreed to help her find her father, even though she hadn’t actually said those words. So she would not, even if she was so conveniently (and through no fault of her own) meeting them.

Con had already risen from his chair, curiosity bright in his gaze. “Tom’s helping you locate a house?”

Desiree nodded, not sure what to say.

“Yes,” Tom inserted quickly. “It’s where her brother lived when he was young.”

“It’s an interesting puzzle,” Alex explained. “There were certain parameters—the location of a triangular park and an intersection of multiple streets, as well as some other things.”

“That sounds like Percy Circus, right enough,” Con agreed. “What’s the story?”

Desiree hesitated and glanced again at Tom. He looked pained.

“I’m sorry,” Con said. “No doubt it’s a private matter.”

Tom muttered something under his breath, let out a sigh and said, “The thing is, Miss Malone is looking for her father.”

“Ah, a missing persons case.”

“Not exactly. Miss Malone believes, well—”

“I’m the person who broke into your office,” Desiree announced.

Both the Morelands gaped at her. Tom began to laugh. “Well, there’s an accomplishment. You’ve rendered the Greats speechless.”

“I couldn’t think of any subtle way to say it,” Desiree told him. She turned back to the brothers. “I didn’t take anything.” She explained about her search for the envelope from the attorney named Blackstock, ending with, “I couldn’t find any envelope like that.”

“No doubt because it wasn’t here.” Con seemed more confused than upset as he looked over at Tom. “Was it?”