.
Leah was aware she was being followed, but she didn’t try and lose the person who pursued her. William had introduced her to Mr. Graves, after all, which meant he wanted her to know she was being watched.
So, she walked her usual pace and finally reached her destination on the very edge of Mayfair. Leah was always warmed by the sweet and savory smells that greeted her at Alvin’s bakery. The shop was usually full of customers and even more when the Season was in session, which it was. Leah took her place in line and waited until it was her turn. Lucy Alvin greeted her warmly and took Leah over to her selection after telling Polly to assist the rest of the line.
“How is Clara?” Leah asked after she asked after Lucy herself.
Lucy sighed and the wrinkles around her blue eyes became more visible. She was only forty and yet the stress of her previous marriage had left its mark, along with a cut that ran underneath Lucy’s chin. The cut, along with Lucy’s slight limp, had come by way of Mr. Alvin himself. Lucy had been only half alive when her sister had dropped her in front of the Spinster Home two years ago. No one else knew she was there and over the course of four months, Maura and Leah had worked to make the woman whole again, but true peace had only come when her husband died three months ago. Upon the news, Lucy had wept with gladness and quickly moved back into the home that her spouse had left her, taking over the bakery he’d once owned as well.
And now, she took in women herself, though no one was to know. Clara had been brought here yesterday.
“She’s already made comments about writing her husband,” Lucy whispered as she grabbed the bread Leah had come for. “If she does, she’ll have to leave. I can’t endanger the other women.”
“Of course.” Leah frowned. She’d been surprised when, after Mr. James’ release, he’d not come looking for Clara. Perhaps he was keeping away… or maybe he already knew Clara was no longer at the Spinster House.
It hurt her heart that Clara could continue to love someone who hurt her so easily. She was such a sweet girl.
“I don’t know what to do,” Leah confessed.
Lucy’s smile was sad. “You can’t save everyone, Leah. I thank you and the other women in the home for everything you did for me, but sometimes you have to let people go.”
The very thought rocked Leah to the core. No. She couldn’t let anyone she loved go. She never would. She’d find a way to help Clara, just as she would find a way to help Julius. Only then would she be free and at ease. “I’m leaving for the country in a few days. I’ll take her with me,” Leah readily decided. Perhaps all Clara needed was a change of surroundings. Away in the country, she would probably find the peace she needed to come to her senses where her husband was concerned.
“A fine idea.” Lucy crossed her arms. “I’ve already spotted a man or two standing idly around the shop more than once. I pray these men have nothing to do with Mr. James.”
So did Leah. “I’ll speak to her. Add a biscuit to the order as well.”
Lucy did and when Leah tried to pay, the money was refused. “It’s a gift, just as it always is. The bread goes to the House. It’s the least I can do.”
She couldn’t fault the woman for wanting to help. Leah would give her last coin to help as well.
Lucy looked her over and smiled. “That is a very lovely dress.”
Leah looked down at the pale blue muslin garment with its simple white lace. “Thank you.” It had been the first dress to arrive that morning. The rest were on their way and set to be delivered before the party. How William had given measurements to the dressmaker without her present for a fitting, she didn’t know, but the dress fit wonderfully. Leah had only accepted the gifts because she hadn’t been able to afford them herself, and also because she needed them just in case she had to don a new disguise in the future. Newer dresses would make her stand out less in higher-ranking company, and she never knew where her search for Sarah would take her.
Deciding to worry about one problem at a time, she pushed the thoughts away and turned back to Lucy. “At least let me pay for the biscuit.” Again, she held out her money.
Lucy shook her head. “No, now out with you.” Then she turned away and moved to help the next woman in line, leaving Leah to stare at her retreating back.
Leah pocketed the money and thought to go upstairs and speak to Clara, but what could she say that hadn’t already been said?
Sighing, she started for the door. Spotting Mr. Graves in the corner, she gave him the biscuit, which he took easily.
“Thank you.” Touching his hat, he bit into his treat.
“You’ll need it,” she told him. “For I plan to do quite a bit of walking today.”
And she did just that. It had been days since she’d left the House, and now that she was certain that she had William’s loyalty, her spirit felt light.
She grabbed a few more things for the House and then returned before setting out again.
She visited two more of the women who’d once lived at the House then started back.
Graves caught up with her on Bond Street. “How much more of this are you planning?” He looked tired.
She smiled at him. “I thought you were a Runner. All we’ve been doing is walking.”
He glared even as he smiled. “You’re lucky I’m loyal to Sir William. Otherwise, you’d be on your own.”
“What do you mean? Didn’t he hire you to follow me?”
“More like protect you,” Graves said. “He doesn’t even care to know where you’ve gone, so long as you return to the house safely.”
That touched Leah. It had been another two days since she’d seen William. “I miss him.” It was only after the words left her lips that she realized she’d said them aloud. She looked over at Graves and hoped he’d not heard.
But Graves’ smile said everything.
“Don’t tell him I said that,” Leah instructed.
Graves looked away and didn’t respond to her plea. “I’m glad he has someone who cares enough to miss him. His rank in the army set him apart from us, but even still, there was something about Sir William that set him apart in a deeper way. He seemed very alone.”
Why he was sharing this with her, she didn’t know, but neither did she stop him. “Why do you think that was?”
“He’s a very focused man,” Graves offered, frowning as though he recalled something. “Once he set his mind to something, it was as though nothing could persuade him otherwise. He won battles and forced his injured men to stay alive through sheer will.” He laughed then. “We called this strange power the Will of William Tift.”
Leah laughed and thought she knew much about that will firsthand. He kept asking for the truth from her and, slowly, she was giving in. Even as a child, he’d been focused. She caught herself before she said the last out loud. It wouldn’t do well for William to find out that she’d known him before she’d become Leah Wells.
“Will you get in trouble for sharing this with me?” Leah asked. She didn’t want anything to happen to him.
Graves shook his head and grinned. “I’m only sharing this with you because I know how he feels about you.”
She stopped walking. “Did he say something about me?”
Graves chuckled. “Perhaps, but that I won’t tell you. After all, everyone is entitled to their secrets.” Was he implying that he wouldn’t say a word about her confession of missing him? She hoped so.
“Do you know where he is today?” Leah asked.
Graves shrugged. “No idea, though he did say something about getting ice.”
They walked another block together before Leah turned around and began to move in the opposite direction. She had to force herself not to run, even while panic set in.
“What can I do for you?” Levander Cross stood by his window with his arms crossed as he stared at William. His brown eyes, which were usually warm, held a coolness that William could feel.
William stood across the room, his hands in his pockets. The office was larger than he’d expected it to be from the outside, even with the presence of heavy furniture, most of it imported. “I want to know what your connection to Leah is.” He’d used her first name on purpose, to see the man’s reaction.
And there it was. A flicker of something. Good. There was no pretending.
Would it always be a woman that brought Cross into conflict with the Men of Nashwood? Over a year ago, he’d been in pursuit of Genie, but Genie’s heart had already been owned by Francis. Still, he’d been invited to the lavish wedding where he’d met all the men. William had also watched him speak with some other very powerful men in the room and had begun to wonder at the value of ice.
He’d found out quickly that ice was very valuable indeed once summer arrived.
“Leah is a friend,” Levander said. “Now, if there is nothing else, I’ve business to attend to.”
Oh, there was so much else, and if William didn’t get the answers he wanted… He fisted his hands in the pockets of his breeches to keep from laying them on Levander. “How do you know her?”
“I don’t have to tell you that.” Levander smiled. “Why not ask her yourself?”
William pulled in a breath. “Don’t make me threaten you.”
The man who made his fortune in importing ice and other luxuries narrowed his eyes. “What would you do if I don’t answer?”
“Many things,” he said. “At the moment, I’ve no shares in companies that sell ice, but that could change, routes could be redirected if I pushed for it.”
Levander smiled slowly. “No shipping company would dare cross me.”
That gave William pause, and he wondered how the merchant could be so sure of himself. Was there more to the man than met the eye? He’d heard him referred to as the Ice Man but put the name down as simply a reference to his business. Was there more?
“I know men who could ruin you in other ways,” William said, thinking about Allen Blackfall. The solicitor was a genius. “Everyone’s guilty of something. I wonder what I could find about you?”
Levander turned to the window, and William grinned.
But that grin fell with Cross’ next words. “If you start a war with me, be sure that, in the end, both of us will be bloodied and left worse for wear… And Leah will not be pleased.” Cool brown eyes returned to him.
Using Leah as a shield was likely the most effective move the man had, and Levander was very right in his assumption that he didn’t want to upset her. But neither did he want her hurt.
“I’m trying to protect her,” William said. “If you can answer my questions, I can do that more effectively.”
Levander cut his eyes away to think. Then he returned them to William. “Why do you feel she is in danger?”
“There’s a woman she’s protecting.” William moved forward. “Someone is… causing trouble and that person could hurt her. Telling me the truth will only keep her safe.”
Levander sighed and moved toward his table. “This trouble you speak of doesn’t sound very dangerous. I’m sure she can manage it on her own.”
William stared at Levander and felt his temper rising once again. “I tell you she could be hurt, and you say she’s in no danger? Tell me now if you care nothing for her, and I’ll handle this on my own.”
Levander blinked. “What evidence do you have that someone is after Leah?”
William thought about what he could reveal. “I… saw her with a woman. They were having a disagreement.”
“Women tend to have those.”
“When Frank caught up with the woman, she pulled out a blade and cut him open.”
A flash of something in Levander’s eyes turned his whole expression aggressive. But in a blink, he got himself back under control… but only barely. The hand he’d rested on the back of his chair tightened. “Is Frank hurt?”
“He’ll live.” And he saw no need to share that it had only been Frank’s hand cut.
Levander cursed. “She didn’t tell me the woman was violent.”
William froze. “Tell me. I’ll not have her harmed.” He couldn’t bear it.
Levander opened his mouth just as the door opened and Leah rushed into the room, followed by a winded Graves.
Leah’s cheeks were red, her brow slightly damp, her dress— the first William had picked out— was slightly wrinkled but not majorly so. She was still beautiful. Her golden gaze flew to Levander, and she pointed a finger. “Not another word.”
Levander narrowed his eyes at her. “You didn’t tell me someone got hurt in all of this.”
Leah looked slightly embarrassed at being caught… as she should.
Graves came over to speak to William, but he silenced the soldier and paid attention to the argument before him. There was so much passion in both their faces. Were they actually only friends?
Leah shook her head. “Mr. Lockwood only suffered a slight cut to his hand.”
Levander cut his hands through the air. “No, Nat— Leah, this ends now.”
Leah’s eyes widened, and she began to plead. “Don’t do it, Vander.”
Vander?
William cut in then. “My friend was attacked and yet you still protect this woman?”
Leah turned to him. “I’m dealing with it.”
He frowned, not understanding what she was saying. “Does she work for you? Are you both in on the blackmail?”
“You think Leah the blackmailer?” Levander asked.
William turned to him. “That’s what she told me.”
Levander shook his head. “Leah,” he said calmly. “This has gone on long enough.”
Leah went to him then and took Levander’s hand, her eyes wide. “Please, Vander. Don’t—”
William snatched her away from him. He hadn’t even realized he’d crossed the room until he was there. He held Leah close to him, claiming her. His arm went around her with clear possession.
Then he looked at Levander. “Tell me everything.”