A Secret Surrender - Darcy Burke Page 0,22

mother. But then she’d have to say she hadn’t seen his mother… She looked to Mrs. Kinnon. “I’m going to need a package of something—an excuse for not seeing Lady Aylesbury as she left. I was too busy making a purchase.”

“Yes, of course. I’ll wrap something up for you.” She went back into the shop, leaving Selina lingering in the corridor.

Selina had told her about assisting Mr. Sheffield with his investigation. Mrs. Kinnon was an enormous help, and Selina simply couldn’t manage the size and scope of her enterprise here in London without the woman’s help.

A few minutes later, Mrs. Kinnon returned with a wrapped package. “Orange and honeysuckle soap. It will suit you well.”

Selina had never indulged in the luxury of extravagantly scented soap. “Thank you.”

“Luther stopped by earlier,” Mrs. Kinnon said with a smile. She, of course, knew him from when they were children. “He said you finally visited him yesterday.”

“It was good to see him after so long.” He’d been thrilled that she’d visited. In fact, his enveloping embrace had gone on a bit too long for Selina’s comfort, prompting her to extricate herself. Then he’d offered his help in whatever way she required, and Selina had relaxed.

She’d barely recognized him after eighteen years. He was no longer the tall, skinny boy with the jet-black hair and onyx eyes. While he was still quite tall and his eyes and hair were still dark as pitch, he’d filled out into a handsome, athletic man. The crinkles around his mouth revealed that he must laugh as much as he’d done when they were children. He and Rafe had always been joking—a bright spot in their often harrowing lives working as thieves for Samuel Partridge.

The familiar stab of loss cleaved into her chest, but she’d become accustomed to ignoring it—mostly. She hadn’t mentioned her brother to Luther and was glad he hadn’t brought him up either.

“Luther said he’s pretending to run your home for wayward children.” She winked at Selina.

“Yes, he’s doing me a great favor.” Now she just needed Sheffield to visit the “home” and confirm it was real. Or appeared real, anyway. Selina looked toward the shop window. It was most fortuitous that he was waiting outside. She’d planned to tell him about the home after “learning about it” in her meeting with Madame Sybila. Selina looked to Mrs. Kinnon. “Will you send a message to Luther posthaste and tell him we are on our way?”

“Of course. I’ll send Joseph at once.” She took herself back through the curtain to direct the errand boy to accomplish the task.

Confident that enough time had elapsed for Selina to have had an appointment with Madame Sybila after Lady Aylesbury, Selina walked out into the bright afternoon. It was a glorious spring day with blue sky and puffy white clouds. Even so, it wasn’t as pretty as the countryside. Selina doubted London ever could be. And yet there was a bustle and excitement to the city that she was surprised to find she enjoyed. Perhaps that was due to the way her mind never seemed to cease working.

She’d barely walked twenty steps before Mr. Sheffield intercepted her. Stopping short, she feigned surprise. “Good afternoon, Mr. Sheffield. I wasn’t expecting to see you.”

He took her hand and bestowed a kiss on the back of her glove. While it was more rapid than the one he’d delivered the other night, the result was the same—a frisson of anticipation raced up her arm. “Lady Gresham. I’m afraid I was impatient and decided to walk by in the event your inquiry for an appointment led to an actual meeting with Madame Sybila today. Were you able to see her?”

“I was, in fact.”

“You must have encountered my mother. She came out a while ago.”

“I did not, but then I was busy making a purchase.” She held up the package. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to exchange pleasantries with her.”

“It’s just as well.” He tipped his head to the side, his tawny eyes narrowing slightly. “Except, perhaps she would treat you as a confidante if she knew you were also seeing Madame Sybila.”

“I’ll look for her when next I visit.” Selina tucked the package into her reticule.

“Splendid. May we walk for a bit while we discuss your meeting?” He offered her his arm.

“Certainly.” She clasped his sleeve and ignored the jolt of awareness that was not unlike what happened when he’d kissed her hand.

“Well?” he asked expectantly. “What did you learn about your future?”

“That Beatrix will marry exceptionally