you studying to be a barrister next, Elinor?”
“All I am saying, Jago, is that I’ve known you for years and have never seen you look at a woman with anything other than courtesy. It is clear to me that you find this young woman—as unconventional as she is—appealing.”
No, Elinor, I find her damned near irresistible.
Fortunately, Jago didn’t say that. Instead, he said, “I hope my interest in her isn’t as clear to everyone else as it is to you.”
“Don’t be silly, I noticed because I know you. What I am trying to say is this: we neither of us chose a normal path in life—at least not compared to our peers. I know the circumstances are less than ideal, but sometimes you need to look outside of what is comfortable to find what you need.”
Jago thought about the fascinating, clever, and mysterious woman who’d kissed him in Truro that night. Indeed, he’d done little but think of her ever since. He knew almost nothing about her, but what he did know, he liked.
He admired her dry wit and humor, he enjoyed pitting his—admittedly inferior—wits against her at a chess table, and he found her inherent dignity and attractive person eminently desirable.
But surely what Elinor was suggesting was not only madness, but impossible?
He saw that his friend was studying him. “You say that you’ve never seen me evince interest in a woman. You forget that I offered to marry you, Elinor—twice.”
“I know you did. But you offered out of friendship, not love. I’ve watched for years as women—young, old, pretty, plain, rich, and poor—flung themselves at your feet and not once have you so much as blinked. Yet now, my dear, dear friend, I believe you are blinking very hard, indeed.”
Jago chewed the inside of his cheek and thought about what she was saying rather than simply refuting it on principle. Elinor was one of the smartest people he knew and he respected her.
He sighed at the knowing look in her eyes. “Lord.”
She laughed.
“That’s not nice, Elinor.”
“Oh, it’s not mocking laughter—I’m happy for you. You are such a magnificent person, Jago. You deserve happiness.”
“You are putting me to the blush.”
“I don’t know why, for it is only the truth. As for your Ben—” She frowned. “Did she tell you her name?”
“She claims her name is Benna.”
“Hmm, interesting.”
“Yes, very.”
“You say claims, does that mean you don’t believe her?”
“I’m hesitant to believe anything she says, at this point.”
Elinor gave him a sympathetic look. “I daresay you are feeling, er—”
“Like an idiot?” he suggested.
She chuckled. “Well, if it’s any consolation, you are not alone in being taken in. My husband prides himself on being up to all the tricks and he hasn’t guessed. Would you consider keeping her as your secretary? She seems to do well at it.”
“I think she would do well at anything. But, no, I shall do the wise thing and find her work elsewhere.”
“Is that what she wants?”
“I haven’t mentioned it to her,” he admitted. “But surely she will appreciate the opportunity to make a fresh start in the city?”
“Oh, Jago. We women like to make our own plans. Or haven’t you learned that?”
He smiled wryly. “I daresay you are right and she’ll tell me to go to the devil. For all that she appears so compliant she possesses a strong will.”
“A woman after my own heart.”
Jago snorted. “Indeed.”
“Well, my friend,” she said, pushing herself to her feet with a groan. “I had better return home before Stephen sends out the hounds. You are still coming to dinner tonight?”
“Yes, tell Mr. Worth I’ll bring my updated plans. You and I will then gang up on him and convince him of the necessity of adding a separate natal wing.”
Chapter Nineteen
Carlisle
February 1817
Nine Months Ago
“Not much to look at, is she?” Willy Karp asked Geoff, having to force the words around a huge mouthful of ham.
“I could say the same about you, mate,” Benna retorted.
Rather than be offended, Benna’s massive captor—Michael’s errand boy—let out a snort of laughter, forgetting that he still had food in his mouth.
Geoff grimaced with distaste and flicked a piece of half-chewed pork off his cuff. “I still do not understand why the bloody hell you are traveling at night.” He’d been edgy all day, anxious to be shed of both of them.
“Ye don’t need to understand,” Willy said, not for the first time.
The first thing the huge ruffian had done after arriving that morning was hand Geoff the blunt for selling Benna.
He’d then informed Geoff that he and