“I went through all that trouble fornothing?”
“Not nothing, no.” His gaze met hers. “You met me.”
“That ought to be my misfortune then,” Caroline muttered.
Mason chuckled.
“Are you going to press charges against Caroline?” Kate suddenly asked him.
“I have no patience to be linked to scandal. Besides, Christmas is almost upon us.”
“Thank you,” Caroline said. “I suppose we are in your debt.”
A thought occurred to him. “Did you accept the money offered?”
Kate perked up. “That’s right! Counterfeit or not, they never paid us!”
“Do not sound so aggrieved, Miss Harwood,” Mr. Hunt said. “No transaction took place. That’s a good thing.”
“Caroline?” A small figure with spectacles appeared in the doorway. She shifted an uncertain gaze over the men.
“Clair?” Caroline rose and rushed to the little girl. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing . . .Someonesaid they’dwakeme when you returned.” She shot a glare at Kate, who looked sheepish.
“Oh, right, I forgot about that.”
Amusement swelled in Mason.
And something else.
Anger.
He shot a glance at Hunt, who seemed to have the same thought as himself—what bloody father would leave three pretty, innocent daughters to fend for themselves? But Mason had seen too much of the world not to know the sort of bastards that walked the streets of London.
Caroline Harwood had his respect.
Christ knows, he should have walked away from her the moment she left Bow Street, but he hadn’t. He had followed her like a moth to a flame. No, not a moth. Icarus flying too close to the sun. Because shewasthe sun. Warm. Bright. The centre of her family. A beacon of temptation. The promise of scorching nights.
Caroline turned to them. “Since you won’t be charging us, then the matter is settled?”
“There is still the matter of the men who came to your home,” Hunt said. “I don’t like it. This is dangerous business.”
“Agreed,” Mason seconded.
“We can handle ourselves just fine,” Clair piped up from behind Caroline’s skirts. To Caroline, she whispered, “Who are they talking about?”
“I’ll fill you in later,” she said softly before looking at Hunt. “They have the watch so they ought to leave us alone.”
Mason nodded. That didn’t meanhewould to leave heralone. If one thing had been made clear tonight, it was that he had already been engulfed by bewitchment of Caroline Harwood. The moment her gaze had first connected with his, he had drowned. He was drowning still. And he hadn’t gotten his breath back. He’d well and truly donned the title of wretched fool tonight.
“Then it’s settled.” Mr. Hunt rose to his feet. “May I trouble Miss Kate for a detailed description while the memory is still fresh?”
Kate nodded.
“Then that’s settled.” Mason rose and strode over to Caroline. “Can I have a word alone?”
She gave him a look of surprise before nodding. “Kate, take Clair and Mr. Hunt to the library. There should be paper and pencils in the desk drawer for the sketches.”
