A Spy's Devotion (The Regency Spies of London #1)(33)

But why was he again strolling through this part of town? Julia had heard it whispered that men sometimes came to the East Side of town for licentious activities. The question remained: What was he doing here?

There seemed only one way to find out; she would have to follow him.

“I do believe we have arrived at your destination, ladies. I shall return to escort you back to your coachman in half an hour.”

“Oh no, that won’t be neces—”

“I must insist, I’m afraid, after our little incident a moment ago. And so I shall return.” He tipped his hat to Julia and then waited for her to ring the bell at the Bartholdys’. She did so and then smiled and nodded farewell to Mr. Langdon when the servant let her inside.

As soon as the servant closed the door, Julia impulsively whispered to Miss Appleby, “Please tell Monsieur and Madame that I shall return in a few minutes.”

Before Miss Appleby could protest, Julia quickly let herself back out the door just in time to see Mr. Langdon turn the corner to the right. She followed after him, hurrying quietly to the corner, peeking around it, and then scurrying after him while keeping her distance.

What would she tell him if he caught her? She could tell him the Bartholdys sent her on an errand. But no, she couldn’t tell him a blatant lie.

He walked to the next corner and turned right again. A brick building was straight ahead. It looked to be an old residence, its fa?ade crumbling. A sign over the door read CHILDREN’S AID MISSION. Mr. Langdon strode up to the door, opened it, and went inside.

Children’s Aid Mission? What was Mr. Langdon doing at a charity mission for children? She could hardly imagine.

“Miss Julia!”

Julia spun around to see Henry Lee at her side. She pressed her hand against her chest to keep her pounding heart from running away as her face heated guiltily.

“Henry. You startled me.”

“I was on my way to the mission. I come here every day.”

“And Mr. Langdon? Does he come here every Tuesday?”

“Course. Mr. Langdon comes to play with us lads. He is a most excellent ball player. Have you come to play tea party with the girls?”

“I’m afraid not, Henry.”

She glanced up to make sure Mr. Langdon wasn’t watching her. She didn’t see him anywhere, so she turned her attention back to the little boy. He had such large brown eyes. Even with one tooth missing in front, and his clothing worn and faded, he was an adorable child.

“Henry, why does Mr. Langdon come here to the mission? I don’t quite understand . . .”

“He comes to play ball with us, as I said, miss.” Henry looked quizzically at her, cocking his head to one side and then nodding like a wise old man, as if a new thought had come to him. “Now you say it, I do think Mr. Langdon and Mr. Wilson, the parson who runs the mission, are old chums. Mr. Langdon wants to help his friend, I s’pose, and he likes playing with us, so he comes here to the mission. He gives us a few coins sometimes too. He’s a good bloke, Miss Julia.”

Julia swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat and hurried to say, “Oh, I’m sure he likes playing with you very much, Henry. You are a fine lad, to be sure.”

“Miss Grey.”

Julia jumped and whirled around. Mr. Langdon stood just behind her, an accusatory half frown on his lips.





CHAPTER FOURTEEN


Though Mr. Langdon frowned, a glint of humor sparkled in his eye. A red-haired gentleman stood beside him.

“I was—” Julia tried to catch her breath. “I was talking with Henry, but I must be going back to the Bartholdys’—”

“Miss Grey, may I introduce my friend and the director of the Children’s Aid Mission, Mr. John Wilson.” Mr. Langdon spoke the words stiffly, as though suppressing his true thoughts.

Julia forced herself to be composed and nodded, meeting Mr. Wilson’s clear blue eyes. “How do you do?”

Mr. Wilson bowed. “The pleasure is mine, Miss Grey.” Amusement and surprise flickered over his boyish face. “I shall leave you two to converse.” He looked down at Henry. “Shall we see what mischief the other children are getting into?”

Henry nodded and took Mr. Wilson’s hand as they walked toward the redbrick building.

Julia felt her face tingling as she delayed meeting Mr. Langdon’s gaze for as long as possible.

“You were spying on me.” The surprise in his voice was unmistakable. “Miss Grey, this is most shocking. I had thought your purpose for coming to the East Side was to visit your dear music instructor, Mr. Bartol—”

“Mr. Langdon, you overstep your bounds with your insinuations.” Julia drew herself up with as much fake dignity as she could muster.

“Come now, Miss Grey. You must admit to following me. What were you hoping to discover?” His look was piercing.

She felt herself blushing furiously. Of course, he had caught her, and she’d be lying if she denied it, but it was most ungentlemanly of him to say so. Should he not be flattered that she had followed him? She might have expected him to tease her and laugh at her silliness in following him. Instead, he looked at her as if she had truly done something wrong.

“Hoping to discover? Why, nothing. That is, you would not tell me your business in the East Side, and I did not know any other way of finding you out.” She longed most fervently to disappear, or to at least wake up and find that she had been dreaming. Why had she let her curiosity get the better of her?