Dangerous Liaison (Lords of Whitehall Book 2)

feign a megrim and remain home. Neither will remark on my absence. I’m known to be sickly.” The lady waved a hand in front of her face, transforming her countenance into a pained grimace then gave a delicate cough. “Have your agent meet you in the mews. Tell him to escort you to the garden door off the ballroom. I’ll be there waiting at ten o’clock.”
Moreham decided to try one more time. “Your presence is not required. All you have to do is hand me the keys. I can search much more quickly without you underfoot.”
Gillian halted her horse and glared at him with eyes the color of climbing ivy. The lady had a temper. He’d never seen a more tantalizing sight. Moreham wondered if that emotion translated into passion.
She pulled back on the reins. “My presence for the duration of your time in the duke’s home is non-negotiable. If you cannot accept that condition, then our ride is over. Return me to my groom.”
An unladylike growl caught him by surprise. Gillian clucked at her horse. Before the animal could turn around, Moreham reached out and took hold of her reins to stop her from leaving. “Stay. I agree to all you have said. You can’t blame me for attempting to save you, can you?”
To his surprise the lady didn’t claim victory but remained stoic. Any other lady would have preened at getting the better of him.
She nodded. “No one will see you enter. I’ll be the one to open the door.” Her voice called to him in a sing song cadence. He could listen to her all day long. Gillian didn’t pause but continued. “I do not trust you anymore than you trust me. You’ve said you are suspicious of my reasons. I’m equally concerned. You refuse to entertain the possibility that my uncle is not guilty. Surely, you can understand why I worry about your insistence on destroying Uncle Whitney. You see, my lord, we are two sides of the same coin. Can’t have one without the other. Now, shall we continue our ride?”
Two sides of a coin? Where did she come up with such? Gillian was unlike any lady he’d ever encountered. Her loyalty and trust in her uncle while she fearlessly confronted him whom she distrusted spoke of her courage. Though he was wary of her, Moreham found his esteem for her increasing the more time he spent in her company.
Lady Gillian reined in her mount and headed in the direction of her groom at the other end of the riding track before continuing, “Uncle Whitney conducts all his business in the bookroom. His strong box is where you’ll find his most confidential papers. I have a key for that lock as well.”
Moreham pulled on Paladin’s reins, stopping in the middle of Rotten Row. He didn’t care who saw him glaring at the chit. “I’m in charge of this endeavor. You will do as I say. I’ll take possession of the keys, otherwise we end this folly now.”
She shrugged, not giving any sign she was intimidated by his demand. “Very well, I’ll return home and tell my uncle all. You won’t be finished with your breakfast before the summons will come from Whitehall. You’ll be chastised for harassing a duke and his family. Removed from your precious investigation post haste. I doubt if that is how you want your morning to go.”
Moreham wanted to tell her he had no need of her, but she wasn’t bluffing. He had no doubt she’d tell all. This one time, he’d have to give control to another.
Moreham would require his agent swear an oath not to reveal Miss Browning’s role. Should his fellow agents ever learn of a mere lady leading him around by the nose, he’d never hear the end of the jesting.
The sooner Whitney was in Newgate, the closer he’d be to finding the leader of the 1804 Social Club. Moreham had sworn to protect the Crown and Great Britain. He fully intended to make whatever sacrifice that vow required of him, including forming an alliance with Gillian.
He flashed her his most charming smile or so his mother declared when he beamed the same toothsome grin in her direction. To his surprise, Gillian laughed.
“Does that smile work with other ladies?” Her laughter faded and her eyes hardened. “I assume you’re attempting to charm me. After wading through the social quagmire of four seasons, I’m well beyond succumbing to such a blatant flirtation.”
Speechless, Moreham had nothing to say or do in response. Gillian’s blunt talk had caught him off guard. Men spoke so, not ladies. No wonder the girl remained unmarried if she confronted every gentleman thusly.
He threw his hands up in the air in a sign of surrender. “I have tried to protect you at every turn while you continue to reject my efforts. In all good conscience, if we are found together in that room, please know we shall marry as soon as the archbishop signs a special license.”
Gillian’s glare intensified. “I hardly think threatening me with marriage is necessary. All will be well. What could possibly go wrong? You are a trained agent of the Crown. One night’s work and we’ll be well rid of each other.”
“Do not promise that which you cannot deliver.” Moreham motioned for her to urge her mount to return to Rotten Row. “We are attracting too much attention. Race you to the other end. First one there gets a boon of their choosing from the loser.”
Gillian, with a twitch of her whip, sent her horse into a full gallop. He sat back in the saddle and watched as she leaned over and became one with her horse. He waited for a minute then gave Paladin his head. He wanted her to have a fair chance of winning.
For the first time, in what seemed like a very long time, he wanted to win. For a single moment, coming in first was about more than doing his duty for king and country. He