“Much obliged.”
“However, it bears reminding that you didn’t create the list of heiresses,” Mortimer said as Warrick rose to his feet. “Whatever guilt you may be feeling, don’t be too consumed by it. What’s done is done.”
Yes, Avondale’s mother had created the list, he thought as he strode to the table where the new betting book rested. However, he had participated, his scrawl had accompanied their fun, and he had lost the list. And it was time to put it in the past.
Now his handwriting once again accompanied a list, one of his creation. And he would, once again “lose” the list. The impact would probably be minute, but this wasn’t about impact. He couldn’t find the words for a letter, so let this be his apology. Not just for his part in the original list, but also for the look in her eyes as he walked away from her, her brother, and the mess he had created.
Let it be the beginning of his redemption.
Chapter Twelve
Selena hadn’t seenWarrick in six days, thirteen hours, and—she glanced at the pocket watch clutched between her fingers—twenty-five minutes. Her behavior would surely be considered disturbing to some, keeping track of time in such a manner. And certainly, she found her constant attention to the watch rather alarming, too, but after watching Warrick stride out of the library with his back straight and without so much as a backward peek after his last words, her awareness of every hour, minute, and at times even seconds in a day had become a torturous burden she could not escape from.
He had also stopped following her.
Or rather, he’d stopped a while back, when they’d come to their agreement, but he hadn’t resumed his lurking after that day in the library. Every day she went out for a stroll on Bond Street. Not once had she caught a glimpse of his hulking body behind any of the lampposts. She didn’t know if he still had servants following her. She doubted he did. She hadn’t spotted his red-headed footman anywhere either.
Theodosia tapped a finger on the watch, drawing Selena’s attention away from the ticking hands within the golden case. “I don’t think he will come.”
Selena returned the watch to her reticule, where a crumbled note that had been delivered to her earlier that morning lay nestled. “He will come,” she said with more confidence than she felt.
Hehadto come.
She didn’t believe—couldn’t believe—that he would cut ties so cleanly. The man must still be observing her movements from the fringes, mustn’t he? No, she dared himnotto show his face today. He’d receive word one way or another that she’d revisited the alehouse, and he’d rush over. Like the last time.
“We’ve been waiting for three hours.” Theodosia peeped through the carriage window, pulled up outside The Rose. “Why not wait inside? Leonora said their ale is good.”
“The place belongs to those people.”
“Those people? You mean the club you desire so desperately to join.”
“I’m not desperate.” Her fingers worried the material that held her pocket watch. Could she truly claim such a thing?
“Determined, then.”
Selena glanced at her friend. “I’ve decided to take your advice.”
“That’s a terrifying thing to hear. What advice are you taking exactly?”
“Finding out what the club is aboutbeforeI join.”
“Oh, that. Indeed, good advice if I say so myself.” Theodosia’s voice was dry as sand. “What changed your mind?”
“I’m not sure. This place, I suppose. What secret club owns an alehouse on the docks?”
“Perhaps the women love beer?”
Selena wasn’t so sure, but then, she couldn’t rule it out either. Also, there was the note she’d received the morning... which she hadn’t shown her friend yet. So, she couldn’t blame her for her impatience.
“Forgive me for pointing this out.” Theodosia leaned forward a touch. “You detest Warrick. Why are we attempting to lure the earl to us? Has your youthful passion perhaps returned?”
Selena ignored the dangerous question. “I never detested him. I was annoyed by him for a time, but there was no detesting.”
“Then what is this about?”
Selena picked at her reticule. “We have unfinished business.”
“Then why not call on him? Why go to this length?”Why drag me into this, her eyes demanded.
