Page 90 of A Devious Secret

“That is the odd part,” Stephen said. “When I went to visit his family, I discovered that Benjamin Heathcote is alive. He somehow evaded capture and death on that fateful day. I don’t know how he managed such a feat.”

“Didn’t his family know where Benjamin was?”

“Unfortunately, not,” Stephen replied. “His sister did inform me that he frequented the Scarlet Lady, hence why I went there. A tip there led to a boarding house where we met someone that was masquerading as his wife.”

“It sounds as if Benjamin doesn’t wish to be found.”

“It does, which makes me wonder what he is about. Your cousin, Hawthorne, is helping me to track down Benjamin.”

“My cousin?” Gemma asked. “What does an earl know about tracking down someone?”

Stephen chuckled. “You would be surprised. He is a man with many abilities and even more secrets.”

“I’m afraid I do not see it.”

“I didn’t either until I needed use of his particular skill set,” Stephen said. “He is not a man that I would want to cross.”

Gemma wasn’t convinced. Nathaniel was many years older than her, but he had always been kind to her. She may question his sense of fashion, with his tattered clothing, but he had never been secretive around her.

“I see that you don’t believe me,” Stephen remarked lightly.

Gemma gave him a questioning look. “How did you know?”

Stephen smiled. “A line in your brow appears when you are deep in thought.”

“Oh,” she murmured. “I hadn’t realized.”

In a low voice, Stephen said, “It is just one of the many things that I have noticed about you.”

She felt a slow burn crawling up her neck, suffusing her face. “I’m afraid to ask what else you have noticed,” she said, pleased her voice sounded steady.

“There is no reason to be afraid,” Stephen said as he leaned closer to her. “You are the perfect mix of everything that I have ever desired.”

Gemma felt a smile come to her lips at his words, but it quickly disappeared when she saw her father approaching them with a disgruntled look on his face.

“Gemma!” her father shouted. “What is the meaning of this?”

Stephen removed his hand from hers and rose. “It was entirely my fault—”

Her father cut him off. “Do you mean to compromise my daughter, Mr. Wycomb?” he growled.

“I do not,” Stephen replied.

“Yet you are alone with Gemma in the gardens, unchaperoned, holding hands,” her father said. “What were you hoping to do?”

Stephen swallowed slowly. “I was hoping to press my suit with Lady Hawkinge.”

“Absolutely not!” her father exclaimed. “You are not worthy of her.”

“I would agree, sir, but—”

Her father huffed. “There are no ‘buts’,” he said. “You shouldn’t even be here, not after what I just read in the morning newspaper.” He waved his hand. “Leave us and do not return.”

Gemma had just about enough of her father, and she wasn’t going to stand by and let him treat Stephen so horribly.

“Father,” Gemma started, rising, “you will not talk to Mr. Wycomb that way.”

“Or what?” her father challenged. “You seem to have overlooked that he is nothing but a shipbuilder.”