“I told him there was nothing between you and me.”
That brought his thoughts to an abrupt halt. He didn’t like the sound of that. The only reason, of course, was because they had to work together on the assignment. Not because she seemed too comfortable with throwing that statement out there.
He would give himself time to consider that later. Right now he had a very bad feeling about the Ambassador, and it had nothing to do with the investigation. “Lydia. We must work something out. I don’t like the idea of you and the Ambassador sitting in his dark box in the theater. Alone. Or his carriage, either.”
“Then I will bring a chaperone.”
“Excellent. I will make a wonderful chaperone.”
She sighed again. “Not you. You cannot be my chaperone.”
“Why not?”
“I will bring my maid.”
“Does she carry a gun?”
She laughed. Actually laughed like this was a comedy and he was reciting all the funny lines. “No. My maid does not carry a gun.”
“Then I shall go with you.” He held up his hand. “Just hear what I have to say. Hunt has a box at the theater, so I can attend the same evening. There wouldn’t be anything odd about that. I’ve used it before.”
Her jaw tightened and she flashed an angry look in his direction. “Dante, this is becoming ridiculous. I am able to take care of myself. You act as though you suspect the man will attempt to kidnap me.”
“Bloody hell.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I never thought of that.” He looked up at her. “Suppose he knows about our investigation, and it is his intention to silence you?”
She stared at him with her mouth open. “You are becoming downright deranged. I know we suspect him of gaining secrets from the Home Office and passing them along to his government, but now you have him as a lecher and possibly an abductor, or murderer.” She drew herself up and glared at him. “I fear you are becoming unhinged.”
He huddled in the corner, arms crossed, and stared out the window. Mayhaps he was starting to sound a tad overprotective and suspicious. However, he still intended to follow the carriage from her house to the theater and then avail himself of Hunt’s theater box. He had no idea where his brother’s box was in relation to the Ambassador’s, but if he arrived early and hung about the lobby, he could wait for them to enter, and then follow them.
‘Twas probably best not to let Lydia in on his plan.
She reached over and patted him on the knee. “It will be fine.” She fumbled in her reticule and withdrew a hat pin. “See. I was prepared.”
He laughed. And she laughed with him. The tension eased in the carriage, and they had a pleasant ride back to her house where he left her with a reminder that they were to attend the Davidson ball that evening.
Dante instructed his driver to take him to the Rose Room. He needed to get away from the investigation, the Ambassador, and most of all, Lydia.
She was driving him crazy and he was turning into a loon, acting like some sort of a besotted lover. Of course nothing untoward would happen in the dark theater box with Lydia and the lecherous Ambassador with heavy curtains between them and the rest of the theater. He had no need to worry. None at all.
Like bloody hell he didn’t.
Lydia had to admit she was a tad nervous as she awaited Dante’s arrival for them to attend the Davidson ball that evening. Now that she had made peace between her and the Ambassador, she was concerned she’d overplayed and now the man thought she had a romantic interest in him.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Not when it was Dante who occupied her dreams, both when asleep and awake. Why had she allowed the man to get under her skin?
When they’d first met, she had a firm opinion of what he was like. His reputation had preceded him. A rake, a libertine, and a rogue. He and his two brothers, especially Hunt, had built up a reputation among the ladies of the ton. It had always amused her that Dante evaded the ton, yet he remained one of their darlings.
His bastard standing seemed to mean nothing; if anything made him more of a reprobate. Then they were paired on the assignment and she found a funny, caring, honorable man. Certainly not what she’d been expecting.
And his kisses! She’d had her share of kisses over the years, but none moved her the way Dante’s had. She’d allowed him liberties she would never have dreamed of allowing a man not her husband.
She tried to tell herself he was the same with other women and he found nothing special about her. Except she’d seen the surprise on the faces of the women he’d turned away to dance or walk with her.
It was just the investigation. He needed to make it appear as if they were courting so he had a reason to be in her company all the time so they could gather the information the Home Office needed.
“Mr. Rose has arrived.” One of the footmen tapped on her bedchamber door. Lydia gathered up her things and with her shawl resting over her arm, she left the room and headed to the front parlor. Before she made it to the bottom stair, she could hear Dante and Father conversing.
This was troubling. The two of them were conversing like old friends. They both held a brandy and were quite relaxed on two chairs facing the fireplace.