She came up with dozens of excuses why he appeared to be giving up the pursuit. He couldn't get an invitation because he wasn't even gentry. He was so hideously ugly that he was ashamed to show her his face. He was a coward after all who didn't want to bother with someone who had such a dangerous father. He didn't want to settle for just friendship, which she had assured him was all she was offering this year. All of her other beaus knew that, too, and only a few had given up early on. The rest were confident they could change her mind given enough time.
There was still no gossip about her mystery man either, though a few debutantes mentioned to her that they'd noticed him at the masked ball and wondered who he was. But even they were more interested in asking her about her father, since he was still the prime tidbit for the week.
Giles was the first of her beaus to approach her. He was one of the more handsome young lords pursuing her, and she liked his wit and humor. She even hoped he'd still be unattached next year when she would get around to choosing a husband. It was likely he would be since he was a professed rake.
"Are you ready to marry me yet?" he whispered beside her so Jeremy wouldn't hear.
"You can't maintain your rakish reputation if you keep asking me that," she scolded with a smile.
"I've sworn I'll give up everything for you, Jack." But then he glanced around, no doubt to make sure James wasn't there, before adding, "I couldn't help but notice how intimidated my competition was last night by your father. I'm not, you know. In fact, I was thinking about inviting him for a round or two at Knighton's Hall to get to know him better. I've heard he enjoys exercising there occasionally."
///
Jack laughed. "If you want to call it that. But you'll have to wait until he returns to London. He's away for a few months."
Giles looked thrilled and swept her onto the small dance floor. Jack chuckled to herself. She'd have to warn Giles that he ought to watch one of her father's matches before he took the plunge-if he was actually serious about such a silly notion.
THE NEXT DAY, JACK rode in the park again just in case her mystery man showed up, but she didn't stay long this time. With a shrug, she decided she'd wasted enough time and thoughts on a man she didn't know and would likely never know. It was time to forget about the curious stranger and get on with enjoying the Season.
Returning home, she found another single red rose on the side table in the front hall. Jacqueline laughed and ran upstairs with it, placing it carefully on her bed while she quickly changed out of her riding habit and into a comfortable skirt and blouse for the rest of the afternoon, until she had to dress for tonight's party, which was still hours away.
She opened the new note and read:
Circumstances have conspired to thwart me. I must leave England on a family matter and don't know when I can return, or if I should. Only you can draw me back to London, Jacqueline Malory. I merely require a little bit of hope that you might want me to return and you can give me that if you will come to bid me farewell. My ship sails at dusk with the tide and is anchored in the Thames near the London Docks at Wapping. I will await you at the Wapping dock stairs until the last minute.
Once again, he signed off with Yours truly. And once again he underlined truly. Jacqueline smiled to herself. Of course she was going to go and . . . She paused. The docks? At dusk?
She read the note again, then again. Why the devil would he suggest such an unsavory location? And his handwriting seemed vaguely familiar in this longer note. She compared it with his first note and still felt she'd seen it somewhere else, she just couldn't remember-and then she did.
Her smile was back. She was definitely going to meet him at the docks; she just wasn't sure how yet.
Chapter Eight
OUR PLAN IS IN motion, so there's no turning back now," Jeremy remarked. "Nervous?"
"Not even a little." Jacqueline sat beside him in the chaise, offering a grin to prove it.
"I hope you're right about this, Jack."
"So do I. But in either case, we're prepared."
"But if it is the blackguard who abducted you and we capture him, just imagine what the elders will say. They'll see I'm as capable of handling a dangerous mission as my father. Much obliged for the opportunity to prove it, minx."
She grinned. "My pleasure."
It was still a long ride to the docks at Wapping. But any of London's docks or riverfronts could be dangerous even in the bright light of day, let alone near dusk, so she and her brother were well armed for their mission. And well protected. She glanced behind her to make sure all four of her big, muscular guards were keeping up with them on their mounts. They were.