this villain. He means to go after the man himself. I tried my best to contain him, but I failed.”
“Do not be hard on yourself, Miss Ralston. No one could have done a better job than you. But now that we are on to this villain’s false trail, we have the advantage. We shall make him believe we have been duped and are letting down our guard. This will lure him out of hiding. He will be emboldened and prone to making mistakes.”
Mr. Barrow patted her hand. “I’ve never had you on such a difficult assignment before. You’ve shown exceptional poise and cleverness. Continue to keep your wits about you. Use this villain’s haughtiness to your advantage.”
She cast him a grim smile. “I would not call it haughtiness but madness. To so coldly take on an accomplice for their resemblance, all the while knowing he would kill this poor man. To so coldly go after a little boy just to destroy the father. To ever think Lady Vera’s heart belonged to him and hold on to that belief for years when…”
She’d almost let slip that Vera had loved someone other than the marquis. “Um, when it obviously belonged to another,” she finished, hoping Mr. Barrow had not noticed her stumble. “But Lord Gordon does not realize who he is up against now.”
“Aye, Miss Ralston. The marquis is no man to be trifled with.”
She shook her head. “No, Mr. Barrow. I was referring to you, the best Bow Street man in England.”
Her employer actually blushed. “I do my job, Miss Ralston. That is all.”
She did not wish to quibble about his impressive talent and integrity, for he was a modest man and would want her mind back on her important duty. “What is our next step, sir?”
CHAPTER TEN
GAVIN WAS STILL holding his son in his arms when Taffy walked back in. He rolled his eyes toward the boy, silently warning her not to discuss what had happened outdoors. She gave a quick nod to assure him she understood.
Of course, he knew that she would. This girl was quick to catch on to everything. Who was she? Would they ever find out who her parents were? Not that it mattered to him other than for idle curiosity.
He was going to marry her no matter her lineage. It was obvious she came from extraordinary parents. A beautiful housemaid and a married lord, perhaps?
It truly did not matter to him.
She had his heart.
She would protest, believing he’d come to the conclusion too quickly and not given it proper consideration. But he knew his own mind. More important, he was not going to deny his heart and what it was telling him.
“Rafe, why don’t ye let Taffy continue reading the pirate story while I find Mr. Barrow? I need to finish off a little more work with him.”
Rafe nodded, unwrapping his arms from Gavin’s neck and reaching out to be taken in Taffy’s arms. “Och, lad. She canno’ carry ye. Ye’re too big. Hold her hand, if ye must.”
He noticed how readily Taffy and his boy took to each other, how naturally his little hand curled in Taffy’s and comfortably rested there. Her response to Rafe was the same, completely natural and affectionate. Indeed, she exuded affection for his little boy.
He ran a hand through his hair, feeling dismayed. It hurt his heart to know that a lass with so much love to give had not been given it unconditionally at any point in her life. But he set aside his concern and found himself grinning when she pursed her lips and began to tap her foot impatiently. “My lord, Mr. Barrow is more than able to attend to his work without your assistance.”
“Och, dinna box my ears, lass. Ye know I canno’ sit by and do nothing.”
“I do wish you–” She immediately broke off when they heard shouts in the hall. Her manner no longer impatient but protective of his son. Immediately, she drew Rafe behind her.
She wanted to protect him, as well. But he was not about to hide behind her petticoats. “My lord! Stay here and hide with us. Please.”
He frowned. “No, lass. Bolt the door and dinna let anyone in but me or Mr. Barrow.”
“I’ll do no such thing!” She scuttled around him and put her body between him and the door to block his escape.
“Och, ye’re a little thing.” He picked her up with ease and set her aside gently.
She weighed little more than his son, but the feel of