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Lady St. John nodded eagerly. “I shall let him know.”

“Thank you. For your hospitality.” Ian tipped his head.

Lady St. John grimaced. “Oh, apologies. I didn’t even offer you tea. I just thought that you wanted to see Helen and since she’s not home…” She seemed to have a habit of not finishing her sentences.

“She isn’t?” Ian cursed himself internally for asking. He hadn’t wanted to get caught showing interest in her. And yet, here he was, eagerly jumping into a trap.

“No, she took Laney to the park. They often go for a walk by the Serpentine. Laney loves feeding ducks.”

She pursed her lips and blinked a few times, as if waiting for him to leave, now that she’d told him what he wanted to know.

“Thank you very much, Lady St. John. It was a pleasure.” Ian tipped his hat again and swiftly walked out the door.

She was rather helpful, Ian had to admit. And he appreciated that she didn’t waste his or her time on niceties and politeness. Their exchange couldn’t have taken more than five minutes. If every exchange he’d ever had was this efficient, he would have saved a lot of time for things that actually mattered.

Such as finding and speaking to Helen.

Ian’s heart jolted at the thought. He pressed his palm over his heart, forcing it to calm down. He needed to temper his feelings toward the woman.

In a short time, she had become a prevalent part of his life, and a very pleasant one at that. But their liaison would have to end soon. The moment he caught St. John as a Shadow, it would all be over anyway. He needed to focus on his priorities, and Helen St. John was not one of them.

He saddled his horse and cantered toward the park.

What if he got caught in the house while snooping around after the viscount returned? He’d need an excuse to be there. And the only excuse he could use was his involvement with Helen.

Perhaps, he shouldn’t end the affair just yet.

His heart ached as if a thousand prickly needles were poking at it all at the same time.

Perhaps, he shouldn’t end the liaison at all.

Helen needn’t find out that he was involved in the catching of her traitor cousin-in-law. If he did everything right, she would never know.

Ian grimaced. He couldn’t imagine consoling her through the scandal that would be created when that happened. And not only her.

The smiling, glowing woman he’d just seen a few minutes ago, the viscountess, would be a wreck, too.

Ian had never considered the consequences of his actions before. Probably because he had never gotten this close to a target before.

And why would he be the one considering the consequences? They weren’t his. They were on the shoulders of the men who betrayed their King, and they deserved whatever came their way after they were caught.

Except it wasn’t that easy to distance himself from the aftermath in this case.

He knew these people.

He liked Lady St. John.

And he’d come to admire Helen. Dare he say, cared for her?

They’d only known each other for a few weeks, but his continuous thoughts about the woman led him to believe that he’d suffered from temporary insanity.

An infatuation.

He urged his horse to a trot.

And that’s why he needed to stop his liaison with Helen. He needed to cool his feelings toward her.

Ian turned the bend and saw a small figure in an adorable little bonnet slowly making her way down toward the ducks by the Serpentine. Her mother was holding her by leading strings, guiding her carefully on the uneven ground.