That evening, Danielle was in Lady Daphne’s bedchamber helping her to prepare for the soiree she’d be attending that night. She’d just finished telling her mistress every detail about the girlish endeavor upon which she’d embarked this afternoon. Specifically, Mary’s encounter downstairs with Trevor.
After she and Mary returned from their shopping adventure, Danielle and Mrs. Huckleberry had arranged Mary’s hair in a sweeping chignon, applied a hint of her new perfume at her throat and wrists, and plied her with instructions. Mary had waited in the corridor for Trevor to come in from his afternoon chores.
“Mary looked absolutely lovely,” Danielle finished. “When he saw her, Trevor nearly dropped the coal buckets. Then Mary worked up the nerve to ask him if he’d like to go walking in the park on Sunday and I’m happy to report, they have an appointment to do exactly that.”
“I do love love,” Lady Daphne said with a sigh. “Do you know Rafe once sent me a little ship?”
“A ship?”
“It was a replica of one we’d both spend time on. The True Love.”
“That sounds tres romantique,” Danielle replied. “Oh, I nearly forgot. I’ll get your hair ribbon back tonight.”
“Oh, no. Please tell Mary she can keep it. I’ve little use for it,” Lady Daphne replied. “Why, I’ve got dozens of hair ribbons.”
“That’s kind of you, my lady.”
Lady Daphne bit her lip. “I’ve been meaning to ask you…”
Danielle’s hands paused on her hair. “Yes, my lady?”
“How was the shopping excursion with Cade?”
Danielle tried to concentrate on perfecting the chignon. “It was … fine, my lady.”
“Fine?” Daphne stared at her in the mirror, one eyebrow cocked.
Was it getting hot in the room? Every time Danielle considered her shopping trip with Cade, she thought of three things. First, the smoldering kiss they’d shared in the coach. Second, the hideous encounter with Miss Jones. And third, the large sum of money she’d seen in his purse. That was not the kind of money a ne’er-do-well carried about, brother of a viscount or no. Was he a thief? A criminal? She doubted he’d robbed his brother. He claimed he was here to help him. But how? By doing something illegal? Cade had something up his sleeve and Danielle intended to find out what it was. It only complicated matters that the man had given her the kind of kiss that could singe off your eyelashes.
“Mary found her perfume,” Danielle offered instead.
“No. I mean did Cade do anything … untoward?”
A vision of his mouth on her neck flashed through Danielle’s unhelpful mind. “I … er, wouldn’t say that.”
“Did he do anything indecent?” Lady Daphne asked.
The words, “Is that all that you’re interested in? Kissing?” burned in her brain.
“No … certainly not,” Danielle lied.
“I hesitated to allow him to escort you,” Lady Daphne continued. “He promised to be on his best behavior. Was he?”
Danielle had to swallow the smile that popped to her lips. She suspected he had been on his best behavior. The man was a complete rogue. “Yes,” she answered emphatically. “Of course. Though he did … meet a friend in the street.”
“Oh, no!” Daphne turned in her seat to face Danielle. “Not some criminal or ne’er-do-well.”
“I couldn’t say, my lady,” Danielle replied. “Her name was Miss Jones. She seemed to be…” Danielle cleared her throat. “Quite close to Mr. Cavendish.”
Daphne shook her head. “Her Christian name wasn’t Amanda, was it?”
Danielle’s eyes widened. “You know her?”
“I’m sorry to say we’ve met once. Under some very trying circumstances. Suffice it to say that Miss Jones mistook Rafe for Cade and it was … quite distressing.”
Danielle resumed the brushing. “Oh, my lady, I can only guess.”
“I didn’t care much for that tart,” Lady Daphne continued. “I cannot believe she’d be bold enough to stop him in the street. Wait. Yes, I can. She was quite bold indeed.”
“Agreed,” Danielle murmured. “At any rate, it was kind of Mr. Cavendish to escort Mary and me to Bond Street.”
Lady Daphne sighed. “I’m pleased to hear that you don’t regret it. I do worry about him.”
That was intriguing. “You worry about him, my lady?”
“Yes, quite a lot. When he first arrived in London we were shocked. You see, Rafe had believed his brother was dead.”
“Is that so?” She continued to brush Lady Daphne’s pretty hair.
“Rafe hadn’t seen him in nearly a decade and had heard he’d been … I can trust you to keep this confidential, can’t I?”
Danielle nodded but a vision of Grimaldi hovered in the back of her mind.
“Rafe had heard that Cade had been in gaol,” Lady Daphne continued.
“Gaol?” Danielle did her best to feign surprise. Surely Grimaldi already knew that.
Lady Daphne wrinkled her nose. “Let’s just say Cade hasn’t always been on the correct side of the law.”
Neither have I. “Yet you allow him into your home, my lady?”
“He’s family. We would never shut him out. Besides, we don’t know of anything he’s done lately.”
“I understand, my lady. I hope you don’t think I’m prying.” She wanted to ask Lady Daphne if she thought Cade would steal from his own brother. “Do you know of any business ventures Mr. Cavendish is involved in?”
Daphne frowned. “Business? No. I mean we always assume he’s up to something. Mostly gambling and the occasional fight, but I’ve never known him to have an occupation. Not a proper one at least. He and Rafe have a complicated relationship.”
“What do you think of him, my lady?” Gambling might explain the large purse. Perhaps he was tres, tres good at gambling.
Lady Daphne tapped her cheek with one finger. “I think.” She sighed again. “I think he’s a good man who lost his way.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry if he’s been untoward to you, Danielle. If he bothers you, please do not hesitate to tell me or Lord Cavendish. I’d like to think we’re friends and you can be honest with me.”
Friends? Yet again, that word. Not only was Danielle pretending to be a maid and hiding in the woman’s house, but she just might be trying to ruin her brother-in-law and send him back to gaol. There was no way beautiful, kind Lady Daphne wouldn’t end up hating her.
“Mr. Cavendish has been no bother,” Danielle said instead. “No bother at all.”