Constance stared at her, then a slow smile spread. As if realizing someone might notice, she immediately sobered. "Oh, dear," she murmured. "I fear you are right." Her hand fluttered to her brow. "Oh, never to see dear Lord Hastings again. Never to gaze upon his wise brow. Never to hear words of encouragement from his noble mouth. Never to smell the sweet aroma of … "
"Yes, dear," Katherine snapped as her stepsister once again warmed to her role, "we know how much you dote upon Lord Hastings. You must try to contain yourself."
"I regret that I cannot allow you entrance," the captain said consolingly. "But 'He that waiteth on his master shall be honored.'"
Constance fell immediately out of character, beaming at him. "Proverbs 27:18," she said. "I used to quote that verse whenever my governess seemed too strict."
Katherine grit her teeth and nudged her as the captain smiled approvingly. "I think the captain is using it to remind you that we must return later. Is that what you want, Constance?" She could feel Sir Richard and Bixby watching her stepsister as if they held their breaths.
Constance blinked, obviously recalling herself. Her shoulders slumped. "Later?" she breathed, gazing up at the captain as her hand fell limply to her side. "But you do not understand. Later would be entirely too … late."
"Precisely," Katherine said. "Now, come away, Constance, before you drive yourself to a complete collapse."
"I … I … ," Constance murmured, eyes rolling back in her head as her voice faded away. "I fear I am beyond help." She crumpled elegantly toward the floor. The captain heroically scooped her up into his arms.
"How very embarrassing," Sir Richard lamented, moving to block the edge of the door from the captain's view. "My niece has such tender sensibilities. I apologize, Captain Randolph."
Bixby took up sentinel on his other side to prevent the fellow from moving away with his burden. "Poor little mite," he murmured, giving Katherine the elbow. "She needs a strong shoulder to lean on."
"Completely understandable," the captain assured them as Sir Richard waved Katherine past behind his back. She did not wait to hear more but slipped inside and closed the door behind her.
She was in a small antechamber. A neat walnut desk and chair stood squarely in her path, but no one sat at it. She could not know whether the captain was its usual occupant or whether its owner was behind the only other door in the room. She tiptoed across the thick blue carpet and leaned her ear against the panel. She could hear nothing from inside. That was not surprising, she supposed. When one led a spy ring, one probably invested in sturdier doors to prevent eavesdropping. She should really look into such doors for their town house.
So, what to do? She was afraid to knock. What if the occupants refused to answer? Worse, what if there was another guard who turned her away? If she wanted to know what was happening, there was only one thing for it. Squaring her shoulders, she pressed down on the handle and opened the door.
And was just in time to hear Alex announce, "I cannot tell you where I was at the Willstencraft ball, my lord, and that is my final word on the subject."
"But not mine," Katherine declared.
The older man behind the desk looked up, and Alex jumped to his feet at the sound of her voice. The only other occupant of the room, a slender gentleman at the back, started forward, but the older man held up his hand to stop him. Then he too rose to confront her.
"Do you have something to add to this conversation, young lady?" he asked politely
Alex moved to her side, face stern. "She does not. I am certain her interruption was a mistake, wasn't it, madam?"
She met his deep blue gaze and thought she saw concern for her in it. Didn't he know it was far more important for her to save him? She raised her head in determination, then peered around him. "I believe I may have something to say, sir. If I might stay?"
Alex shook his head, then turned to the older man. "My lord, I protest. This was to be a private meeting."
"Then why is he allowed to be here?" Katherine replied, nodding toward the man at the back of the room.
The older man smiled. "Stand aside, Borin. Let the young lady speak her mind. She appears to be rather good at it."
Ignoring Alex's glare, Katherine scooted around him and spread her grey skirts in a curtsey. "Thank you, my lord. You would be Lord Hastings?"
He bowed. "Your servant, madam. As we are in the middle of a discussion, I shall not introduce my associate. But if I might know your name?"
"It is unimportant," Alex started just as she replied, "Katherine Collins, my lord."