A Most Dangerous Profession(13)

Father may worry about you, but I don’t. I know of no one more driven than you. Considering you’re but a lad of sixteen, that’s a serious statement indeed. It makes me wonder where you’ll end up once you’re a man grown. The world has no boundaries for someone who savors success and is willing to work for it.

Robert stretched out his legs and admired the reflection of the flames in the gloss of his boots. “I wondered when you’d return.”

The man who stood before him on the thick library rug merely grinned. He was a small man with wizened features and shrewd blue eyes. His back was visibly crooked, yet he moved with an unusually quick walk. “Ye said not t’ bother ye until we had some information, so I waited until we was certain.”

“So you found her?”

“Aye. Ye said she had a taste fer luxury and so she does. She’s at the George, sir.”

Robert smiled now. Aha, Moira. I know you too well. “Good work, Stewart.”

“Thank ye, sir. She is using the name of Mrs. Randolph. Och, and she’s turned into a brunette, sir. I almost didna recognize her, except she smiled at the porter and—” Stewart’s face reddened.

“I quite understand.” Moira MacAllister wasn’t the sort of woman one forgot. It wasn’t just that she was beautiful, though she was, spectacularly so. It was the combination of her looks, her spirit, and her vibrancy. One never forgot how she looked, but more important, one never forgot how she made you feel. Just one smile could grab your soul . . . and she would extract it if you weren’t careful.

Fortunately, Robert was careful. He wasn’t as immune as he wished—the way she’d affected him at Bancroft’s sale proved that—but that had been a momentary lapse. He was protected by years of outrage at her perfidy and lies. “Ask Leeds to watch Mrs. Randolph this evening. I have information that she won’t leave until the morning, anyway.”

Stewart blinked. “But, sir, I can—”

“Mr. Stewart, you are one of the few men I trust with my most clandestine efforts. However, this is no ordinary woman. She charms like a cobra and she’s managed to escape more than once by using that charm. I won’t have that happening again.”

“Sir, I can assure you that I’m no’ likely to become a slave to a woman, beautiful or no’.”

“I’m gratified to hear that. But where this particular woman is concerned, I’ll take no chances. Take Leeds to the inn and make sure he sees her before you leave, so he knows whom he is to watch. Then you are to return here to prepare for a journey tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir,” Stewart replied stiffly. “Will there be anything else?”

Robert eyed his offended servant and said softly, “Yes, you can cease being so dramatic.”

Stewart flushed and bowed. “Yes, sir. I’ll take Leeds to the inn right now.”

“And tell him I may visit our little thief before the night is out. I have some questions that need answers and I must start my journey come morning.”

“Aye, sir. Am I to come with ye?”

“Yes. You’ll be playing the part of my groom. Leeds will be a footman. I shall take two more footmen and an undergroom, as well.”

“Very good, sir. If I might be so bold, is Buffoon a-comin’, too?”

Robert sighed. “Stewart, I’ve told you many times that my valet’s name is ‘Buffon,’ which is a highly regarded French name.”

“Beggin’ yer pardon, sir, but I dinna care wha’ the French think.”

Robert hid a grin. “Why do you ask about Buffon?”

“It just seems tha’ whenever we bring yer valet along, we end up in more mischief than usual,” Stewart said in a distinctly morose voice.

“You think him bad luck?”

“Aye. I also think he’s a whey-faced, weak-kneed, poufy-shirted fool.”

“Pray don’t hold back,” Robert said politely. “You can tell me what you really think of my valet.”

Stewart broke into a reluctant grin. “Sorry fer bein’ so forward, sir, but that valet o’ yers is nothin’ but a Frenchified piece o’ lace.”

“I know. That’s why I take him with me.”

Stewart blinked. “I beg yer pardon?”

“People judge one by one’s servants. When they see Buffon they assume that I, too, am a whey-faced, weak-kneed, poufy-shirted fool. That ruse has helped me on more than one occasion.”