“Shall I wrap it for you, my lady?” the clerk asked.
“Please do.”
Selena leaned against the display case and, casting a quick glance around, whispered, “Do you truly want to know? Then I shall tell you. That irksome fellow has been following us this entire time.”
“What irksome fellow?” Harriet’s eyes widened. “Oh.Thatirksome fellow.”
Leonora leaned in as well. “Who are we talking about?”
Selena cast a glare at the shop windows. “The Earl of Warrick.”
Leonora glanced around. “The Earl of Warrick is following us? Why? Oh, wait. This is anheiressthing, am I correct?”
“Quite right,” Harriet said.
“Don’t look around!” Selena admonished. “I don’t want him to know thatIknow he has been clinging to my shadow. I want to teach that wastrel a lesson first.”
“Have you spotted him today?” Leonora asked.
“He is lurking somewhere behind a carriage off yonder.” Selena shook her head. “He thinks he is so smart. That man must have a pea for a brain.”
“Well, at least his motives seem to be protective. You can rest at ease,” Leonora said.
“Speaking of protective men, you should take the book off my hands as well. Leeds is already uneasy with White’s”—and Cromby—“searching for the book. Do you know how uneasy I am? Every time he enters the bedchamber I stare at the bed, and he misinterprets my gaze. He thinks I have an obsession with it.”No need to say more.
“Me?” Selena shook her head. “With my brother hounding me and that brick of a man following me around, I can’t. Besides, my brother knows all my hiding places.”
“So, find one he would never expect,” Harriet pressed. She wanted to get rid of that blasted book. “Think about it. You could taunt your brick-shadow man with those wagers. Your brother as well. A bit of reading and you’ll see what they’ve been wagering.”
“I never thought about it that way.” Selena’s eyes suddenly brightened. “I’ve seen the wagers about us, but I never combed the book for other entries. It would be interesting to see what silly things those two have been betting on. Perhaps I might get some blackmail material to put that dog on a leash.”
Harriet laughed. “Then it’s settled. After we are done here, we’ll go and fetch the book.”
“Still not comfortable keeping secrets from your husband?” Leonora asked.
“Would you be?” The clerk handed over her parcel, and Harriet dropped the coins in his hand. She nodded as she turned to leave. “Besides, have you looked into Leeds’s eyes? It’s as if they stare straight into your soul. I can’t even be certain hedoesn’tknow.”
Selena chuckled.
Leonora bit her lip. “Can I have a peek at the book?”
Selena nodded with a sly grin. “Of course. Do you have someone specific you want to search for? A certain rake, perhaps?”
Leonora scoffed.
They exited the shop and spotted Lady Ophelia and Lord Rochester.
“I didn’t think I’d run into you today,” Ophelia exclaimed in surprise and smiled at Harriet. “Are you taking your mind off those nasty gossip rags with shopping? You shouldn’t believe everything they print.”
Harriet blinked. “I beg your pardon?” What nasty rags and what were they saying?
“Ophelia,” Rochester said, shaking his head.
Ophelia paused. “Oh.”
Harriet’s heart skipped a beat. “What have the gossip rags said now?”
Ophelia tugged at her skirts. “Perhaps you should—”
