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boots, got out. He crossed the street toward Ursula. Light glinted on the lenses of his spectacles, making it impossible to read his eyes.
    â€œI see your new client allowed you to leave on time,” he said. “Excellent. I was concerned we might be obliged to wait upon Lady Fulbrook’s convenience.”
    He took Ursula’s arm, his strong, leather-gloved fingers tightening around her elbow. It was the first time he had touched her in a deliberate manner. She was caught off guard by the jolt of intense physical awareness that shivered through her.
    He did not grip her tightly but she sensed the power in his hand. Perhaps it was just the relief of being free of the Fulbrook household, at least for now, that stirred her senses. But she suspected the real reason she was suddenly a little lightheaded with excitement was the knowledge that Slater had come for her today.
    The spark of pleasure faded when common sense and logic poured icy water on the tiny flame. It was, she knew, highly unlikely that Slater was here simply to escort her back to the office. In the short time that she had been acquainted with him she had learned that, despite appearances, there always seemed to be something else—possibly something quite dangerous—going on underneath the surface.
    She dug in her heels, literally, refusing to move toward the carriage. Slater was forced to stop, too.
    â€œWhat are you doing here, sir?” she asked. “And pray do not tell me that you felt obliged to protect me from the necessity of traveling by public cab. I have been climbing in and out of cabs for years all by myself with excellent success.”
    â€œCould we perhaps discuss this matter when we are both inside the carriage? There is no need to stand out here in the street in full view of whoever is watching us from inside the Fulbrook household.”
    â€œGood heavens. Someone’s watching us?”
    Automatically she started to glance back over her shoulder.
    â€œBest not to let anyone know that we are aware that we are being observed,” he said. “Also, it would probably be a good idea not to make it look as though I am kidnapping you. It would, perhaps, be useful to give the impression that we are very good friends.”
    She hesitated, wondering if he had spent so much time out of the country that he did not know that the phrase
very good friends
was a euphemism that was often employed to describe an illicit relationship. She studied his hard, unreadable face and concluded that he knew exactly what he was implying. She was quite certain that Slater always knew precisely what he was doing.
    Whatever the case, the last thing she wanted to do was cause Lady Fulbrook or anyone else inside the mansion to wonder if she was engaging in a public quarrel in the street.
    â€œVery well, sir,” she said. “But I will want an explanation.”
    â€œOf course.”
    Slater steered her across the street to the carriage. Griffith greeted her as enthusiastically as if she had just returned from a long voyage.
    â€œA pleasure to see you again, Mrs. Kern,” he said.
    â€œAnd you, as well, Griffith.”
    Ursula collected her skirts, went up the steps of the vehicle and sat down inside. Slater followed her into the shadows of the interior. Griffith stored the steps and closed the door. He vaulted up onto the box, moving with an amazing agility for a man of such enormous size, and shook out the reins. The carriage rolled down the street.
    Ursula looked out the window. She thought she saw a curtain shift in one of the windows of the Fulbrook mansion. A chill went through her.
    â€œIt seems you were right, Mr. Roxton,” she said. “I believe someone may have been watching my departure.”
    â€œIt’s possible that the observer was motivated by simple curiosity,” Slater said. “But given your suspicions, we must assume the worst.”
    She looked at him through her veil. “
We
must