Oh, what should I do?
“I… that is to say you—” Before she could finish the awkward response, a young man pelted up the museum steps, and upon seeing and recognizing the viscount, he rocked to a stop clutching Lord Wainwright’s arm.
“Lord Wainright! Have you heard the news?” The rather breathless gush of words managed to convey an urgency that even Fanny felt.
“What news?” The viscount frowned. “What is amiss, Mr. Dockery?”
The man flailed a hand in some agitation. “It’s Lord Coxhill. There is something afoot near the Serpentine, and it doesn’t look good.” The newcomer gasped for breath. “I stopped at your townhouse but was told you’d be here, so I came straightaway since you’re his best friend.”
“What?” The viscount’s face blanched. “I’ll go with you immediately.” With a backward glance at Fanny, he said, “Please hire a hack home?” Then he dashed off behind the frightened Mr. Dockery.
“Well, that was rude.” Fanny frowned as they both jumped into a closed carriage. Then the vehicle took off down the street at a fast and dangerous clip. “He is definitely not a gentleman regardless that he has a title.” She glanced up at the sky. Fat gray clouds gathered on the horizon. Rain was in the offing, and soon, and she hadn’t brought an umbrella. “Just my luck.” There was nothing for it except to walk until she reached a hansom cab stand.
“Oi! Miss Bancroft!”
She snapped her head in the direction of the booming hail. A sleek black carriage came to a halt at the curb as she slowly and painstakingly descended the front steps of the museum. William jumped from the vehicle and waved an arm. “Inspector?”
As she approached, he grinned. “Good afternoon, Miss Bancroft.” He lowered his voice. “Francesca.”
Genuine pleasure lit his stormy eyes as he raked his gaze up and down her person, taking in her neat ivory cotton day dress stamped with tiny blue diamonds. The matching pelisse provided adequate protection from the chill, but she shivered anyway, for seeing him again had her traitorous body reacting.
“What are you doing here, Inspector Storme?”
“I was on a drive, and while the carriage was stalled in traffic, I happened to glance over and spy you, standing alone seconds after a certain viscount fled the scene as if the hounds of hell were after him.”
Heat slapped at her cheeks. “There was an emergency he had to attend to.” She waved a hand as if it didn’t matter. Then another thought occurred, one that both incensed her and flattered her. “Were you following me?”
“No.” A red flush rose past his collar. “Of course not.” He even went so far as to tug on the knot of his cravat. Clearly guilty.
“You were.” Fanny grinned. Her silly heart squeezed. “Either you’re jealous of the viscount, you don’t trust me, or… you don’t trust Lord Wainwright.”
“Perhaps.” A growl accompanied the word. “Suffice it to say I’m looking after you. Take no offense in my objective to keep you safe.”
Now that was a proper gentlemanly thing to do even if it was this side of high-handedness. “Maddening man. Now you’ve found me. What do you want?”
Please say me.
“Is Lord Wainwright returning?” He glanced about the immediate area as if the viscount would suddenly pop in from thin air.
“I rather doubt it. He told me to take a hired cab. He received bad news regarding a friend. A Lord Coxhill.”
“Interesting.” But worry and consternation clouded William’s eyes. What did that mean?
“Indeed.” She pressed her lips together.
The inspector cleared his throat. “Would you care to accompany me to a tea café? There’s a nice one near Covent Gardens. It’s private enough that we can talk.”
“About your case?”
“That and other… things.” A wicked gleam appeared in his eyes.
Fanny’s stomach fluttered. Did he wish to secure her undivided attention? “I would like that exceedingly much.” She finally joined him on the curb.
“So would I.” As he handed her into the carriage, the scent of bay, citrus, and spices wafted to her nose, and again, tingles went through her lower belly. Oh, he smelled good! As soon as he gave a direction to his driver, William climbed into the carriage and seated himself on the bench next to her instead of taking the opposite one.
Surely that meant something.
Once the door closed and the carriage lurched into motion, he turned his head and held her gaze. His grin was positively mesmerizing. “Now I have you all to myself until we reach our destination. There is such scope for scandal here, don’t you think?”
Apparently, he wasn’t as uninterested in her as she’d thought, but what should she do about that?