Page 56 of His Improper Lady

“He was clumsy, though, as one would expect a gentleman to be,” Desiree replied.

“True. It seems bizarre, but I’m beginning to wonder if we might have two different sets of people following us—this Pax person, who was obvious, and Falk’s man, who was skillful.”

“That would require a good deal of coincidence,” Desiree pointed out. “Falk looking for this envelope and this other fellow, Pax, looking for...what?”

“It wouldn’t be such a coincidence if they both want whatever’s in this envelope. Maybe the envelope has to do with your past. With your father.”

She looked at him doubtfully. “Such as?”

“Such as...” He thought for a moment. “Proof of some sort that you’re Alistair Moreland’s daughter?”

“Why would Pax care about my parentage? Or Falk, either, for that matter?”

“What if this lawyer chap found out about you and he wants to extort money from the Morelands?”

“And Falk found that out and is trying to do the same thing?” Desiree straightened. “Now, that would make sense. Let’s say that Blackstock discovered our parentage, so he sent proof to the Morelands, and whatever it was, Falk found out, as well. Falk wants this letter so he can be the one to swindle the Morelands. But what about Pax?”

“He found out, too.”

“I must say, this doesn’t seem a very well-kept secret,” Desiree said. “But let’s say that’s so. Why would Pax want the letter? He’s a gentleman, not a crook. And Alistair was his friend.”

“I have to point out that a gentleman can be every bit as much a crook as a lawyer or a kidsman. However, let’s say our Pax is the loyal friend and gentleman. Maybe he wants to get this proof so that he can destroy it and save his friend’s reputation.”

Excitement fizzed in Desiree’s chest. “Falk could have learned my father’s identity from servants’ gossip. He buys information as well as stolen jewelry from servants. It’s invaluable for breaking into people’s houses. This Blackstock fellow or maybe Pax let it slip in front of his valet or maid or whoever, and they sold it to Falk.”

“Falk would notice anything that had to do with the Morelands. He’d be glad to do them a disservice. Especially if it would bring you back to the fold.”

Desiree gazed at him intently. “I wouldn’t have done anything to hurt the Morelands. Even before I met them.”

“I know.”

Warmth spread through Desiree’s chest at his belief in her. She smoothed her hands over the wood. “I wonder what’s inside.”

“Open it and see.”

She shook her head. “It’s locked. We’ll have to break it.” She sighed. “I hate to damage it, but I suppose it doesn’t matter with that scratch already there.”

Tom picked it up and studied the tiny keyhole. “I can probably pick it with a hairpin. This is the sort of box the Greats were always wanting to open. Diaries and keepsake boxes.”

“Of their sisters, no doubt. And you helped them!”

Tom cast her a grin. “You should try withstanding their pestering. Besides, they didn’t really care what was inside—they just wanted to figure out how it worked. In my defense, I’m only a few years older than them.”

“How many years?”

Tom shrugged. “I don’t know. No idea when I was born.”

Desiree put her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right. Just a fact of life. I don’t know anything before I was at Falk’s. I don’t even know when I wound up with him.”

Desiree’s chest ached for him. No wonder Tom was a suspicious man. Growing up in Falk’s world without anyone to call your own would make you raise impenetrable barriers. “Have you ever tried to find out? I could help you.”

“I wouldn’t know where to start. Falk tried to bribe me with information about my mother when he wanted me to steal from the Morelands, but I’m not going to do anything for him, and there’s no way he’d tell me something for free. Besides, I wouldn’t trust anything he said. He could just pluck a name out of the air, and I wouldn’t know any different.”

Desiree wanted to say something to make it better, but she could think of nothing.

Tom smiled at her and reached over to take her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Don’t look so sad.” Tom leaned in and kissed her lips softly. He lifted his head, gazing into her eyes, and for a moment she thought that he would kiss her again. Everything in her rose in anticipation. But then he sighed and sat back, his hand dropping from her chin. “I’m my own man—no one to curse and no one to thank.”