The Watchmaker's Daughter (Glass and Steele #1)(67)

"He could be lying."

"Why would he lie?"

His gaze slid away.

"Because he doesn't like you," Duke said with a shrug.

Cyclops shifted in his seat and Duke winced then glared at him. I suspected his friend had just kicked him under the table.

"Yes," I said, deciding to tackle the issue head on. "But why doesn't he like me?"

"Because you're a woman," Willie said quickly. "You're cleverer than he is and you challenge the rules he lives by. You threaten the foundations of the patriarchal system he profits from."

"Patri-what?" Duke asked, screwing up his face. "Willie, you going all educated on me?"

Cyclops grinned. "She's been hiding her light from you, Duke."

"She's been hiding something. Not sure it's a light though."

"And I'm not sure that explains why Mr. Abercrombie dislikes me so intensely," I said. "But I can see that no one wishes to tell me." I pushed back my chair and made my exit. I didn't turn around, even though I could feel their gazes boring into me.



I nodded at Mr. Dorchester when I spotted him sitting at the back of Grosvenor Chapel as we walked past. He smiled.

"Who's that?" Mr. Glass whispered.

"An acquaintance we met at the gambling house," I said as we took our seats three pews in front of Mr. Dorchester.

Mr. Glass looked over his shoulder and nodded a greeting then turned back to me. "Was he involved in the incident that caused Willie to draw her Colt?"

"He'd left by then."

I didn't speak to Mr. Glass again until after the service as we made our way out. As we exited the narthex, he suddenly caught my elbow and steered me to the right. It wasn't until we drew clear of the crowd of parishioners that I saw Mr. Dorchester on the left, waiting.

He spotted me and waved. I waved back. "One moment," I said to Mr. Glass. Mr. Dorchester had come to Grosvenor Chapel specifically to see me. The least I could do was exchange a few pleasantries with him. It would be rude not to.

I pulled away from Mr. Glass and met Mr. Dorchester as he approached. "Good morning," I said, smiling.

"Good morning, Miss Steele." He doffed his hat. "It's lovely to see you again. I'm glad I came." His gaze rose. He nodded in greeting.

I turned to see Mr. Glass standing behind me, all dark scowl and hard features. I made the introductions.

"You play poker?" Mr. Glass asked.

"Not at all," Mr. Dorchester said on a laugh. "I went to learn what it was all about, but decided the game is not for me. It was an, er, interesting night though. Wasn't it, Miss Steele?" His cheerful manner had me wondering if he was referring to something I'd not been aware of. As far as I was concerned, nothing cheery happened that night.

Mr. Dorchester's gaze flicked from my face to that of Mr. Glass behind me. He cleared his throat more than once, and the silence stretched. It seemed rude to leave immediately, so I searched for something to say.

"It looks like being a pleasant afternoon," I began.

Mr. Dorchester smiled. "It does. Perfect for a walk around Hyde Park. Miss Steele, may I be so bold as to invite you to join me?"

I opened and shut my mouth without words coming out. Then suddenly Mr. Glass was right at my back, so close that I could feel his warmth. Fortunately he didn't answer for me. If he had, I would have been quite cross.

"I'm afraid I'm busy all afternoon," I told Mr. Dorchester. "But thank you for the invitation. It's appreciated."

He lifted his brows, not at me, but at Mr. Glass. His jaw hardened. "I see." He touched the brim of his hat. "Good day, Miss Steele. Mr. Glass." He strode off.

Mr. Glass came up beside me and offered me his elbow. "Ready?"

I hesitated. Now that the moment had arrived, I wasn't sure if leaving with him was a wise idea. We would be alone in the carriage the entire afternoon. There would be no opportunity to go to the police and tell them my suspicions about him being the Dark Rider.

And there would be no opportunity to escape.

Duke, Willie and Miss Glass decided to walk back to the house, while Cyclops climbed onto the driver's seat. He pulled his crumpled map out and I pointed to the areas we would cover. Mr. Glass held the door open for me then shut it as he sat opposite. As the carriage lurched onward, he scanned the street out the window.

"Every time we go out, your nose is glued to the window," I said. "Are you expecting the intruder to follow us?"

I thought he wouldn't answer, or would dismiss me with a story, but he sat back with a resigned sigh. "I've had word that someone I know is looking for me."

The sheriff. I nodded quickly, but could no longer meet his gaze. Why had I not gone to the police before now, particularly after learning about the lawman who'd followed Matt here? I was a bloody fool, that's why.

"That fellow, Dorchester," he said stiffly. "What interest does he have in you?"

The question caught me off guard but not as much as his earnest, piercing stare. There wasn't a hint of tiredness in it now as he focused on me. "I know you Americans are bolder than we English, but I think even you know that your question is overstepping the boundaries of our relationship." I sounded like a prim schoolmistress, and yet I couldn't help my clipped tone. "His interest in me is none of your affair."