The Unquiet - J. D. Robb [62]
“You, virtuous?” Nesbitt shook his head. “No more than I am, only better dressed.”
Chase prayed that wasn’t true, but left Nesbitt thinking what he liked. He had convinced more than one former adversary to join his ranks, but he doubted Nesbitt would ever be so inclined.
Just as he was congratulating himself on a more than successful outing, Griffin burst his bubble of complacency.
“My mother and sister plan to visit Mrs. Chernov today.”
“Why?”
“Because she has shades of purple cloth like no other. And possibly they are intrigued because I may have mentioned that you had helped her out of a predicament.” Griffin had the grace to look sheepish at his uncharacteristic storytelling.
“For all that is good, Griff! That’s the last thing I need.”
It was Griffin’s turn to ask, “Why?”
“Because she thinks I’m simply Mr. Chase. She has no idea that I’m related to the Duke of Bournemouth.”
Griffin nodded but looked puzzled. “I don’t see how that’s an insult.”
“Because you are not a lady shopkeeper.” He rubbed his brow and wondered what Lydia Chernov would make of the information. “Speaking to a Mr. Chase, perhaps even taking tea with him, would be risqué enough, but to do the same with Lord Chase would invite all sorts of unwelcome speculation.”
“Huh. I know the niceties of behavior, but she is only a shopkeeper, Chase. Do the same rules apply?”
“Yes, for her they do. I am not at all sure she is ‘only a shopkeeper.’ She has at least as many secrets as I do.” He thought for a long moment before he spoke again. “Griff, what would you say is your most valued possession?”
“That’s easy. My mother and my sister.” Then he frowned. “But then they would be offended if I called them such.”
“So, some thing you treasure above all else.”
“The timepiece my father left me.” He patted his pocket. “I carry it with me all the time even though it has not worked for a year. I do keep meaning to have it repaired.”
“Yes, you carry it with you all the time. Mrs. Chernov wears a necklace her husband gave her but she says it has no value.” But how did she know that for sure? “I think I must have a look at it. In any case, we need to determine what is her greatest treasure. I do not think our villain will abandon his plot.”
“But if she has no idea, how can you know?”
“If”—Chase emphasized the word and glared at Griff—“if Mrs. Chernov will talk to me now, I think a fresh discussion of the subject will help.”
“Good evening, my lord.” Lydia hoped his lordship could hear the frost in her voice and it turned him to ice.
“Good evening, Mrs. Chernov, and I see you have found out one of my secrets.”
“One of them, my lord?”
“I would never have thought those two words could ring with such condemnation. It was an innocent error I thought wiser to leave alone.”
So you could seduce me and I would think there was a future, Lydia thought. Just like Alexei. “I have learned from experience that there are very few innocent omissions, my lord.”
“Then I will tell you the truth about my name,” Lord Chase said, his voice hardening.
Where had the irritation come from? Lydia wondered. She reached for the coin around her neck.
“I do not mean to frighten you.” He came around the counter and took her hand. He bowed over it. “You are as much a lady as any woman I have ever met. I suspect that your origins are one of your secrets, but everything about you is as wellborn as my aunts and sisters. My reasons for not announcing my courtesy title have everything to do with me.”
It would have been churlish to pull her hand away. She could not doubt his sincerity and wondered how he had managed to see what so few others had ever noticed.
She softened. “Come into the back room. There is some tea and cakes.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Chernov.” He followed her through the door.
“Ida, close up for me today. Lord Chase and I are going to have tea and talk. You may go home as soon as you have drawn the curtains.