It was too much to hope her brother had fled the country never to be seen again. The coward had created a scandal and left Eva to suffer the shame.
How could one’s sibling be so callous, so cruel?
“Remember, we must dangle the bait if we’re to lure vermin into our trap,” Mr Ashwood said as he opened the wrought-iron gate leading to the alley between the goldsmith shop and the apothecary.
Eva nodded, a sudden rush of confidence filling her chest.
Mr Ashwood was the most capable, most sincere man she had ever met. She had been waiting for the moment he proved a disappointment, and yet the more time she spent in his company, the more she admired him. Every kind and competent action restored her faith. And despite being a sensible woman, she struggled to fight her growing attraction.
Foolish gal!
“And if Mr Hemming is not the rodent we seek?” she asked. Her publisher had wandering hands but lacked the backbone necessary to commit a crime.
“We dangle our bait elsewhere. Namely, Lord Benham’s door.”
Lord Benham!
Heavens above. Now she knew why Mr Ashwood’s colleagues called him Dauntless. Lord Benham had money, connections, rights that came with his position. The viscount could afford to prosecute her for defamation. Could ruin her for good. Had she not suffered enough in her brother’s name?
“I doubt a gentleman of Lord Benham’s standing would hire someone to steal my boots.” And what would he have to gain from the murder of her cobbler?
“It’s highly likely he’s responsible for your brother’s disappearance,” Mr Ashwood countered.
She could not argue. It was only a matter of time before the lord sought vengeance. “Still, you cannot pry into a peer’s affairs.”
Mr Ashwood came to an abrupt halt beside the shiny brass plate bearing Mr Hemming’s name. He faced her and arched a reprimanding brow.
“Miss Dunn, I will give you another piece of advice. Learn to use your weaknesses to your advantage. As I have done.”
Eva snorted. “If you have weaknesses, sir, I’ve yet to see them.”
“When your father is a shameless devil, you have two choices. You can hide in the corner, afraid to meet anyone’s gaze, or you can let people believe you possess the same dangerous streak.”
She considered this tall, broad-shouldered man, with his determined eyes and firm jaw. Beneath his devastatingly handsome face lingered a deadly force. Yes, she could imagine people fearing what he might do.
“No one respects a coward,” he added.
“What should I do, sir? March into Lord Benham’s house and demand to see his sister?”
She knew the answer before he spoke.
“If Miss Swales is important to you, then yes. Climb onto your plinth of shame, shout and scream and incite the crowd to riot. Do what you must until you have Lord Benham’s attention. Be clever about it. Use your brother’s recklessness to your advantage.”
Eva stared at him, a little in awe of his strength and resolve. He proved a conundrum. Never had she met anyone so fascinating.
“You’re right,” she said, aware she was gaping like a besotted fool. She could not recall ever wanting to kiss a man. But she had an urge to kiss Mr Ashwood. “I should not have given up so easily.”
“No.”
Their gazes remained locked.
The nervous tension in the air grew palpable.
“Well, Mr Hemming will be waiting,” she eventually said before she took his advice and did something unbelievably reckless. “And how will we bait my publisher?”
“We will improvise.” He opened the door leading to the tiled hall and narrow flight of stairs. “I prefer to let the suspect’s actions determine how I proceed.”
Mr Ashwood sneered at the brass plate on the wall before gesturing for her to enter the premises. As she mounted the stairs, it took every effort not to trip for she could feel the heat of his gaze scorching her back. A glance behind confirmed Mr Ashwood was watching the sway of her hips, not minding his step.
Mr Hemming’s clerk sat at a cluttered desk in the room opposite the stairs. He pushed to his feet, straightened his spectacles and wiped his hands on his trousers before hurrying forward to greet them.
“Good m-morning, Miss Dunn.” The young clerk bowed and then fussed with his mop of blonde locks to hide his receding hairline.
“Good morning, Mr Smith.” Eva motioned to the commanding gentleman beside her. “This is Mr Ashwood. He will join me when I meet with Mr Hemming today.”
The clerk’s eyes widened as he scanned the breadth of Mr Ashwood’s chest. His nervous tic made him wink incessantly. “Is Mr Hemming aware you’ve b-brought company?” Mr Smith’s voice trembled the way it always did when speaking of his employer.
“Not to my knowledge.” Eva offered a reassuring smile.
Mr Smith glanced at the door at the end of the hall as if it were the entrance to Hades. “Then I had best inform him of—”
“There’s no need,” Mr Ashwood interjected. “Miss Dunn has an appointment, and I am here at her behest.”
“Yes, sir, but—”
“Rams butt, Smith. We haven’t time to waste lingering in the corridor.”
“N-no, sir,” the clerk stuttered.
Mr Ashwood placed his hand at the small of Eva’s back. “Lead the way, my love.”
The clerk frowned with confusion upon hearing the endearment, while Eva shivered with delight. Oh, her reaction bordered on ridiculous. Clearly, Mr Ashwood wished to make it known he had a vested interest in her welfare.
It was a warning.
A claim of ownership.
Bait.
“Follow my lead,” Mr Ashwood whispered in her ear as they neared Mr Hemming’s office, though it must have looked highly inappropriate to the poor clerk watching while shuffling his papers. “Play the role.”
Eva swallowed deeply before knocking on the publisher’s door.
“Enter,” came the usual lofty reply.
“You enter,” Mr Ashwood muttered. “I’ll wait in the shadows.”
Eva pasted a smile and burst into the room. She looked to the desk only to find the wingback chair empty. Then she spotted the devil, who thought his handsome countenance gave him a right of entitlement, relaxing on the
