She’d yearned to pepper the girl with questions about Caleb: Where was he? What time had he risen and come down? Had he eaten already? But she hadn’t thought she should seem too interested in him, so she’d politely, casually asked after him and Miss Jones. Miss Jones was out shopping, but the girl wasn’t positive about Caleb, so Caroline was anxiously wondering when she’d bump into him.
She was so happy! She kept pinching herself to be certain she wasn’t dreaming.
A footman greeted her in the foyer and guided her to the dining room. She strolled slowly so she could furtively assess Caleb’s home. The prior day, she’d been too distraught to notice much of it. It was spacious and comfortable, with big windows, thick rugs, and colorful paintings on the walls. She’d be very content residing in it.
As she entered the room, she was surprised to find Blake Ralston in it too, and he’d just finished his meal. In all her musings about Caleb and when she might cross paths with him, she hadn’t pondered his brother who was obviously still on furlough.
“Miss Grey!” he said. “I heard you were here.”
“Hello, Ensign Ralston.”
“That sounds terribly formal. You should call me Blake.”
“I’d like that, and please call me Caroline.”
She nearly added, You’re about to be my brother-in-law, so we can be on familiar terms, but she didn’t. Caleb should explain the situation to his brother.
“There’s a rumor circulating,” he said, “that you experienced some problems after Caleb and I departed your wedding celebration.” He grinned, appearing a tad wicked. “It’s the gossip the servants are spreading anyway.”
“Yes, I had some trouble. I cried off from my betrothal, but my uncle and fiancé were vexed about it.”
“I can imagine. Have you been looking for Janet?”
It was an odd query, and it startled her. “Well. . . ah. . . yes, I have been looking for her. She left before I learned of her address in town. I had hoped to locate her, but I couldn’t figure out how.”
“She saw your advertisement in the newspaper, but she was scared to reply. She was afraid it might be her father tricking her so he could catch her and drag her away.”
Caroline was astonished. “How do you know all that?”
He leaned in, as if they were conspirators sharing secrets. “Don’t tell my brother—he’d wring my neck—but I helped her run away.”
“You scamp! It never occurred to me that she had help or that it might have been from you. Where is she living?”
“She’s renting an apartment over in the theater district.”
Caroline was stunned. “Is she all right?”
“She’s grand.”
There was a desk in the corner with a writing tray on it. He jotted down the directions, and she tucked them into her skirt.
“We could visit her later this afternoon,” he said. “I could take you to her. How about around five?”
“Five would be fine.”
“She’ll faint when you waltz in.” Blake lowered his voice. “Don’t forget: Not a word to my brother.”
“My lips are sealed.”
He gave a mock salute and sauntered out, and once the air settled behind him, she realized she was ravenous. A pair of footmen seated her and plied her with food until she was filled to bursting. She thanked them profusely, then fled, but she wasn’t entirely sure how to keep herself busy.
She spent some time snooping through the various parlors, but despite how she lingered, there was no sign of Caleb or Sybil Jones. She decided to head up to her bedchamber. The housemaids had laundered and mended the dress she’d worn the previous day, and she had to check how badly it had been damaged.
The inspection only took a minute though, then she was at loose ends again. She went out to the hall to investigate the other bedrooms. It would be her home very soon, and she doubted Caleb would mind.
She started up the stairs to the next floor, and when she was nearly at the top, she noted two people were talking. She stopped and listened, discovering it was Caleb and his brother.
She considered marching up the rest of the way and blustering into the middle of their conversation. She almost stepped toward them, when suddenly, Blake said, “Miss Grey is here. What a coincidence.”
They were discussing her! Would Caleb mention their engagement? What would he say? How would his brother respond?
The old adage rang out: Eavesdroppers never hear anything good about themselves. Yet she couldn’t tear herself away.
“After we left Grey’s Corner,” Caleb said, “some problems arose for her. She sought my assistance, and I’m happy to give it.”
His brother snorted. “Is that what you’re calling it? A bit of assistance?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I mean I walked by your bedchamber last night, and I conveniently noticed you weren’t in it. It’s interesting how her door was closed tight. Would I be surprised to learn you were in there with her?”
There was a painful silence, then Caleb said, “Watch your mouth. I won’t have you denigrating her.”
“Who’s denigrating her? I like her. You know that. I just find the situation curious. Was it her wedding night? Did you win your bet with Gregory?”
She frowned, as Caleb warned, “Shut up, Blake!”
“I never assumed you’d collect on that stupid wager. You weren’t planning on it, were you?”
There was a loud crash, and a grunt of dismay. It sounded as if someone had been punched, then Caleb said, “I told you to shut your mouth.”
“I think you broke my nose!” Blake complained. “It’s bleeding like a cracked pipe, and you’ve ruined a perfectly good shirt besides.”
“Get out of here or I’ll hit you again.”
“She invited you to join her? Seriously? The wager had naught to do with it?” There was another loud crash, then Blake said, “Sorry! Sorry! You’re such a prick anymore. Your sense of humor has completely vanished.”
She was frozen in her spot, too shocked to creep away as she ought, and before she could blink, Blake was on the landing above her. He had a kerchief pressed to his nose,
