Ah, she was back to the task. Obviously still hurt, but she was the one not ready to commit to marriage.
She could change it all with a word. He wasn’t going to do it for her. She had to take this first step on her own.
This was cruel of him, perhaps. He could have just told her that he loved her. It might have changed things for her.
Or just bogged down matters without solving anything.
“Two packets? Why?” he asked.
“It is always good form to have a spare. But if you think I am going to involve Hermia without being certain she can handle the responsibility, then you can forget your idea.”
“She can handle it. I think she is a master at distraction and creating illusions. She even has you fooled, hasn’t she?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll see. It is time we let Hermia in on all that has been going on.”
Florence cast him a worried look. “Must we tell her everything?”
“Yes. What you are doing is dangerous. She cannot walk into the lion’s den and not know the lion is watching you both and waiting topounce. But I’ll do my best to protect you.”
“How? You cannot join us for tea.”
“I can peer into the parlor, can I not? Weren’t you doing just that when I found you stuck in the tree? Although you had your binoculars trained on his bedchamber. Did you think the letters were in there?”
“It was a possibility, but I believe he has them in a safe in his study.”
“Perhaps Lady Frampton can confirm this.”
She nodded. “I’ll try to get as much information out of her as I can.”
“Be careful when you do. Her ogress maid will be listening in. Take no risks.”
“So you’ve told me at least three times during this conversation.”
“Because what you are doing is risky, and I honestly hate this, Florence. How can I make you stop?”
“You cannot, so do not bother to try. But can you imagine if after all our plots and contortions, all Lady Frampton ever thought to give me in those rose cuttings was a tin of biscuits?”
“Hilarious,” he said with obvious sarcasm.
“Perhaps I’ll have Mrs. Palmer bake some biscuits and bring a tin of them to Lady Frampton.”
“Now you are just riling me.”
“Sorry. I couldn’t resist. All right. No more teasing you. Just business. Do you know that you look irresistibly attractive when you are serious, and even more so when you are irate and frowning?”
“Florence…”
She sighed. “The duplicate packets. An ingenious switch. And Aunt Hermia to create a distraction if one proves necessary. Satisfied?”
He glanced up at the heavens. “Let’s pray this plan works.”
She had leaned forward again and was now practically tipping out of her chair. “You are so very clever, Trajan. I cannot thank you enough for all you are doing for me.”
Blessed saints.“Enough with the compliments. I will not be happy about this, no matter how much you think to soften me up.”
She would not think he was so smart if he got her killed.
