“I expect Miss Darrow will come tonight,” he said, dismissing the pang of excitement as simple anticipation. “Like Rothley, the lady has something to hide. I’m determined to discover what.”
“Why do you care?” came Aaron’s direct reply.
The question stumped Theo.
The wager had nothing to do with the contents of the box.
Besides, how interesting could the modiste’s secret be?
“Delphine credits Miss Darrow with helping her find happiness,” he said, struggling to think of another answer. “Though I have a personal gripe with the woman”—which had vanished into the ether when they’d kissed—“I respect their friendship. I would hate to think Miss Darrow is in trouble.” Particularly since he had been treating their verbal spars like a game.
Aaron did not dismiss the notion as folly. “Although Miss Darrow expressed regret over the shooting outside her shop, I found it odd she abandoned her work to nurse you. When she comes for the box, I suggest you ask her directly.”
He had every intention of doing just that. “I’ve given Miss Darrow a key. She should arrive within the hour. All I ask is that you remain in the study and allow her to reach my chamber unchallenged.”
Witnessing Lord Deacon edging covertly towards the door, Aaron said, “I need to deal with that reprobate. I’ll ensure Sigmund knows not to wrestle Miss Darrow to the ground. Come to my study once she’s left. I expect a full explanation.”
Theo nodded, though he doubted Miss Darrow would tell him her darkest secret. They had forged their bond in the fires of distrust. Every wary glance and guarded word was a testament to their fragile relationship.
Besides, there was nothing sinister in the box. Perhaps the threads concealed small gems, the simple cotton wrapped around her life’s savings. Perhaps she was toying with him, keen to rouse his concern and teach him a lesson.
After ushering the last gambler out of the club and securing the door, Theo could not shake the suspicion that he was a mere pawn in her intricate game.
Should that be the case, his next move would be seduction.
At the very least, he would claim another kiss tonight.
That thought kept him warm as he stripped off his clothes, washed and climbed into bed. He looked inside the box and studied the wooden appliqués on the sides and lid but found nothing of interest.
Then he waited in the gloom.
Miss Darrow was right.
When a boy was forced to sleep on the streets, he used the shadows to hide from predators. At night, it was easier to evade detection. In the darkness, he was the same as everyone else, not the weakest of the pack.
He must have told her that while mumbling in his sleep. Lord knows what he’d said while dosed with opium. Miss Darrow undoubtedly had more weapons in her arsenal. It was just a matter of time before she used them.
Theo cupped his hands behind his head and relaxed against the mound of pillows. Midnight came and went. Every creak and groan drew his attention to the bedchamber door. The anticipation roused a host of erotic thoughts.
Miss Darrow had a body made for sin.
She had luscious lips and bountiful breasts.
All made sweeter by the fact she had no need to marry.
Those thoughts occupied him for a few minutes. He made no excuse for the subject of his fantasies. Tonight’s game with Miss Darrow had sparked a fire in his blood.
Long minutes passed.
He climbed out of bed, strode to the window and peered through a gap in the curtains. Across the road, candlelight shone in an upper window of The Burnished Jade. Perhaps that was the reason for Miss Darrow’s hesitance. Was she waiting for the lights to dim, knowing that’s when Aaron would drag himself from the study and fall into bed?
More time ticked by as Theo studied the deserted street.
Miss Darrow wasn’t coming. Having honed his instincts over the years, he felt it with absolute certainty. It made no sense. The desperation in her eyes and voice was undeniable.
My troubles are my own.
An icy chill shivered down his spine.
Had those troubles caught up with her tonight?
He would not rest until he knew.
Dressing quickly, he snatched the box off the bed and descended the stairs to the study. He found Aaron lounging in his throne-like chair in the dark, cradling a large glass of brandy, watching Miss Lovelace’s club.
Theo didn’t dare question his eldest brother’s actions. Aaron’s preoccupation with the beautiful owner of The Burnished Jade was his own business. Only a man with a death wish would demand to know why.
“I have a strange suspicion Miss Darrow isn’t coming,” Theo said. His breathlessness came as no surprise. His heart raced, the sound beating in his ears like a drumroll. A sudden sense of foreboding gripped him, refusing to let go. “I’ve decided to return the box to her tonight. I’ll not bother rousing Godby.” He could not wait for their coachman to ready the carriage. “It’s a thirty-minute walk to Miss Darrow’s shop, and I could do with the air.”
If he quickened his pace, he could cover the distance in fifteen minutes. Yet a persistent voice in his head told him to run.
Aaron stood and returned his glass to the drinks tray. “To win the wager, you must keep the box until midnight tomorrow. That’s what you told Miss Darrow. Perhaps you were mistaken and housebreaking isn’t on her agenda tonight.”
“Then why come to the theatre?” No, she was desperate to see her treasured item returned. Why else would she kiss a man she despised? And in a public corridor, to boot?
Aaron perched on his desk, where he had a clear view of The Burnished Jade. “Why spend days at your bedside mopping your brow? She is using the box as an excuse to see you. The woman turns doe-eyed whenever you enter the room.”
Yet nagging doubts took root in his mind. Miss Darrow had melted into the kiss, though it said more about his skill and her intentions than any genuine desire.
