“It’s not something I wish to discuss,” he continued. “Yet the pain served as inspiration for my creative efforts.”
Not all desires were sexual.
Not all desires were obtainable.
Her blue eyes softened. “Again, we both have reasons to distrust people’s motives,” she said as if hearing his thoughts. “We will be at my publisher’s office soon, and so I should finish telling you what happened to Miss Swales.”
Noah welcomed the change of topic as a miner welcomed fresh air. “I presume Miss Swales succumbed to your brother’s desire to express their love in the physical act.”
“Unfortunately, yes. The lady is with child and has removed to Northumberland to continue her confinement. Though you must not breathe a word of this to anyone outside the Order.”
“You can trust me.” His tone echoed his assurance. “Are you certain your brother hasn’t ventured to Northumberland?”
“Most certain.” She bit down on her bottom lip to stop the sudden tremble. “Howard cares for no one but himself.”
Noah removed his handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Miss Dunn just as the silent tears trickled down her cheek.
“I do not weep for myself, you understand, but for the infant.” She took the silk square and dabbed her cheeks. “My brother added to our family’s humiliation by refusing to marry Clara. I can assure you, there is not a respectable bone in Howard’s body.”
Silence ensued while the lady dried her tears. She offered to return Noah’s handkerchief, but he insisted she keep it.
“If I had a sister and a rogue abused her in such a cruel fashion, I would kill him with my bare hands.” He paused. “Are you certain you want me to find your brother?”
Was Howard Dunn not best left to conduct his nefarious business elsewhere? Assuming he was still alive. A fact that was becoming increasingly doubtful.
“I am not certain of anything, sir, not anymore.”
Noah glanced out of the window. It was a mere five-minute journey to Tavistock Street, and so he would have to return to the subject of Lord Benham being a suspect once he’d dealt with Hemming.
He pulled his gold watch from his pocket and checked the time. “We can continue this conversation later. Unless there is another secret you wish to divulge.”
“No, no more secrets.” She hesitated. “There is something you should know about Lord Benham, but we can discuss it after the appointment. I hope you understand why I was reluctant to speak of this matter. I hope you understand why this was a hard tale to tell.”
“Indeed.”
Noah wondered how she fared living across the road from the hospital. Did witnessing the women’s struggles firsthand remind her of Miss Swales’ ruination? Did seeing proud mothers cradling their babes rouse painful regrets?
He cleared his throat. “As we’re fast approaching our meeting with your publisher, I must ask a few personal questions, if I may.”
Miss Dunn nodded confidently, though he sensed an underlying tension at the mere mention of Mr Hemming.
“What do you want to know?” She gripped the seat.
“Have you given Mr Hemming any indication you would be open to his romantic overtures?”
She straightened abruptly. “Certainly not.”
“And have you ever embraced, ever kissed?”
“No!”
“Has he mentioned marriage?”
“On occasion.”
“And has he touched you intimately without your permission?”
Miss Dunn’s cheeks flamed. She closed her eyes briefly and nodded. “He said he misread the signs. That I gave the impression I was open to his advances, particularly after accepting his gift.”
“Gift?” Noah muttered a curse. It was a common ploy used by a seducer to shift blame.
“A pretty silver bookmark in a velvet case. I returned it the moment I realised it gave him an excuse to manhandle me in a rakish fashion.”
Noah’s hands throbbed to manhandle the blackguard, too.
“Are you loyal to Mr Hemming? What if I found you another publisher?”
Hope sprang to life in Miss Dunn’s eyes. Indeed, her whole countenance brightened. “You know a publisher who is willing to consider a woman’s work?”
“I do,” he said, his heart feeling suddenly full at the prospect of helping her. “Mr Lydford is a forward-thinking man, and a friend. He published my poetry when most thought it unsuitable reading material.”
She smiled. “And yet I’m told every man in London owns a copy.”
“Mr Lydford did not regret his decision.”
“I would be eternally grateful if you could arrange a meeting with the gentleman. The sooner I untangle myself from Mr Hemming’s web, the better.”
“Excellent.”
Miss Dunn’s contented sigh became a groan when the carriage rattled to a halt outside the goldsmith shop in Tavistock Street.
“How will this work?” she said, the sudden onset of nerves evident. “I do not want Mr Hemming to know I sought the help of a professional investigator.”
Noah had no intention of revealing the real reason they were meeting with the publisher. “How are your acting skills?”
She blinked in surprise. “Poor at best. Why, what would you have me do?”
“All I ask is that you agree to everything I say. That you support whatever claims I make regardless how ludicrous. You must be convincing if we’re to establish if Mr Hemming is guilty of a crime against you.”
“A crime?” She fell silent, though he could almost hear the cogs turning in her mind. “You think he might have sent the blackmail note?”
“He is one of the few people who know you write as Cain Dunnavan. When frightened, women tend to seek help from men they know.”
“You think he wrote the note to lure me to his office?”
“I think it’s worth testing the theory, worth laying a trap. Don’t you?”
Chapter 6
Telling Mr Ashwood of her family’s shame brought a surprising sense of relief. For the last month, ever since Clara had been spirited away to Northumberland in the dead of night, Eva had lived with the guilt. She should have done something to protect her friend. She should have
