The Formidable Earl (Diamonds in the Rough #6) - Sophie Barnes Page 0,43
cheeks, already flushed, turned a brighter shade of pink. “I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow?”
Simon allowed himself an inward smile as he took his leave, his heart a great deal lighter than it had been in a long time. Ida had been right. Speaking about the past, confiding his concerns and his guilt, had made him feel better. But what really gratified him was the realization that in spite of the pretense, the wedge she’d forced between them, she couldn’t quite hide the effect he was having on her. Not that she hadn’t been trying. She had, to the point where he’d started wondering if he’d been wrong to imagine a shared attraction.
That doubt had been dismissed minutes earlier by her blush, the longing in her eyes, and the need for resolve written in her features. She wanted to surrender, but something held her back, and he had every intention of figuring out what that something might be. So he could destroy it.
A missive arrived from the captain of The Soaring Falcon two days later, much to Ida’s relief. She was desperate for progress in the case so she could get her mind back to it and away from the gorgeous man in whose company she now spent most of her waking moments. During the past forty-eight hours she’d scarcely thought of anything else besides the fact that he’d almost kissed her.
Afraid of where such intimacy between them would lead, she’d quickly sidestepped his advance, which had led to her repeatedly wondering what it might have been like, felt like, if she’d allowed it. To her dismay, the question had even invaded her dreams, where the answer she’d been provided had left her feeling both agitated and wanting when she’d awoken.
If her dream was anything close to reality, she truly was denying herself a splendid experience. Not that this helped alleviate her concerns. Which was why she’d dreaded him broaching the issue the following day when he visited her for their daily deliberations. She didn’t want to ruin things between them, but neither did she dare submit to her own desire until she knew doing so would be worth the risk of a broken heart.
Thankfully, he’d been as eager as she to ignore the subject. With few words spoken between them, they’d reviewed what they’d learned so far. When she’d thought to ask him if he might be able to visit the Old Bailey and inquire about the judge who’d tried her father, he’d promised to have his secretary look into it. The tension Ida had felt since his arrival had eased a little, but then the modiste arrived for her dress fitting and Simon had departed, though not without assuring her he would return the following day.
When he’d done so, the missive from the captain had already been delivered. It suggested a meeting aboard his ship the following afternoon.
“I brought my carriage,” Simon said when he came to collect her. After responding to the captain’s message, they’d agreed to see him together. “If you’re ready, we ought to get going. The traffic on the way over here was dreadful.”
Ida set the new knitting project she’d begun working on aside on the low table next to her chair and stood. Simon picked it up and turned it one way and then the other, studying the work in progress with interest while she went to fetch her bonnet and shawl. As usual, he’d used his own key and had walked in without bothering to knock or make his presence known before locating her in the parlor.
“What are you making?” he asked when she returned.
“You’ll see.” She smiled in response to his frown. “Shall we?”
“Hmm. Yes.” He returned her knitting to where she’d originally placed it and followed her into the foyer. “Do you have the captain’s message with you, just in case?”
“It’s in my reticule,” she assured him.
The tight lines bracketing his mouth underlined how seriously he was taking this. “Good.” He held the door for her. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the judge we’re seeking will be easy to find.”
“Oh?” She turned to face him and was momentarily struck by how handsome he looked with the sunlight pouring over his skin.
“Winthorp, my secretary, spent most of yesterday trying to figure out who he was. When a clerk finally managed to retrieve the correct journal, the page of record was missing.”
“I see.” Disappointment settled deep in her breast. “We shan’t be able to question him then."