Chapter 9

Simone's mind was in a whirlwind as she tried to make sense of what Lucy had just told her. Why shouldn't she trust her father? None of this made any sense. But it was evident by the panicked look on Lucy's face that she was utterly afraid of something. Or someone.

Could that "someone" truly be her father?

No.

Her father was not a bad man. He may be gruff, and hard around the edges, but he had a kind heart. She had seen it before.

Caleb's voice broke through the silence. "Are you all right?" he asked, the concern evident in his voice.

"Yes… no… I don't rightly know," Simone admitted. And for the first time in a long time, she had no idea where to go from here.

Caleb gently placed his hand on her arm, turning her towards him. "What do you want to do?"

"I don't know."

"Yes, you do," Caleb said. "What are your ‘spy senses' telling you to do?"

Simone knew he was just trying to help, but she was at a loss as to what she should do. "It is not that simple."

"It is," he asserted. "What do you want to do?"

As she saw the determination in Caleb's gaze, Simone felt her shoulders slump and she lowered her gaze. Caleb was asking for her to be strong, but she couldn't do it.

Caleb rested his hands on her shoulders and leaned closer. "You must look objectively at this," he urged. "Based upon what Lucy revealed about your father, what would you do next? I want you to think, Simone."

His encouraging words prompted her to take a deep breath. Knowing he believed in her was enough, for now. She brought her gaze up and replied, "I would search his office, and look for any clue as to why Lucy couldn't trust him."

"That is good." Caleb dropped his arms but remained close. "Shall we do so tonight?"

Simone hesitated. Could she truly search her own father's study, as if he were a suspect in one of her cases?

Caleb gave her a knowing look. "You can do hard things, Simone."

"But he is my father."

"More the reason to clear him of any wrongdoing," Caleb responded.

Simone had to admit that Caleb did have a point. She nodded her acknowledgement. "I will search his study tonight."

"We will," Caleb corrected.

"That isn't necessary?—"

Caleb spoke over her. "We are partners, are we not?"

"But this has nothing to do with our assignment," she argued. "I can handle this on my own."

He smiled, as if he found her stubbornness to be amusing. "I know you can, but I would be a lousy partner if I didn't help you."

Heaven help her, but she did want Caleb's help. She knew what needed to be done, but she wasn't strong enough to do it on her own.

"Fine," Simone said, feigning exasperation. "You may help me search the study. It will be easier with two people anyways."

Caleb's smile grew. "That wasn't so hard to admit, now was it?"

"It was, actually," Simone said as she fought the smile that was threatening to form on her lips.

He gestured towards a black coach that was further down the street. "Would you like me to escort you home?"

"And risk my reputation by riding in a coach alone with a gentleman?" she asked. "I think not."

Caleb chuckled. "You are right. Taking a hackney is much more respectable for a genteel woman such as you."

Simone ran a hand down her worn gown. "That is why I wore this gown. No one gives me any heed when I wear these simple gowns."

Caleb perused the length of her and asked, "How do you leave the house wearing that gown without causing unwanted attention from the servants?"

"They have just come to accept that I am odd," Simone replied.

"You are not odd," he said. "Stubborn. Maddening. Clever. Those words describe you better than odd."

Simone heard the humor in Caleb's voice and found herself being drawn to him. She couldn't quite believe that she had only known him for a short time, but he had become so important to her. "Thank you," she found herself saying.

"For what?"

She held his gaze steady while she replied, "For helping me."

"That is what any good partner would do," he said, dismissing her praise. "Besides, I didn't do much."

"You did enough."

A smirk came to his lips. "I think you like me."

Simone rolled her eyes. "Not this again," she responded, attempting to be put out.

"It is all right if you admit it," he teased. "I won't tell anyone."

Taking a step back, Simone said, "I feel bad for you that you need such validation."

"Only with you," Caleb remarked, his smirk showing no signs of dimming. "One day, you will admit it. I know it."

"Good day, Caleb."

Caleb's eyes held amusement. "Good day, Simone." He bowed. "I will come to your townhouse at midnight."

"Do ensure you go undetected."

"I am a spy. That goes without saying," Caleb said.

Simone held his gaze a moment longer than would be considered proper before she started down the pavement. Not that there was anything proper about their situation. She would be ruined if anyone from the ton saw her, but that was highly unlikely. People in high Society would never frequent a place like this.

She lifted her hand and hailed a hackney. The coach came to a stop in front of her. The heavy-set driver shouted down from his perch, "Where to, little lady?"

"Mayfair," she replied.

"Do ye want to be more specific?"

She reached into the reticule that was around her wrist and removed a few coins. "No. Just drop me off in Mayfair."

After she extended the driver a few coins, she cautiously entered the foul-smelling cab, making a conscious effort to disregard the unpleasant sounds of her boots adhering to the sticky floor.

A short time later, she arrived in Mayfair and exited the coach. She kept her head down as she traveled the few blocks to her townhouse. Once she arrived, she went around to the servants' entrance and opened the door.

Felicity jumped up from the round table in the corner. "Good, you are back."

Simone closed the door behind her as she asked, "Have you been waiting for me this whole time?"

"No, but I started getting worried," Felicity replied. "You aren't normally gone for so long."

"Did Mrs. Fernsby notice my absence?"

Felicity shook her head. "No, I convinced her that you were taking a nap, albeit longer than normal."

Simone sat down at the table and glanced around at the servants who were going about their tasks. In a low voice, she said, "You will never guess who I saw."

Felicity gave her an expectant look. "I don't know. Perhaps you should just tell me."

"Lucy," Simone said.

Her lady's maid sucked in a breath. "Lucy?" she asked. "No one has heard from her since she quit two years ago."

"I know, but I saw her in a disreputable part of Town, appearing down on her luck," Simone shared.

"She isn't working as a lady's maid anymore?"

Simone shrugged. "I don't know," she replied. "She seemed rather unnerved when she saw me and told me not to trust my father."

With a stunned expression, Felicity inquired, "Why not?"

"She wouldn't elaborate, despite my many attempts at getting her to do so," Simone said. "She seemed panicked that we were even speaking to one another."

"Lucy was not one to be frazzled easily," Felicity remarked.

Simone bobbed her head. "I agree, but the whole situation was rather odd."

She had just uttered her words when the short, round cook approached her with a teacup in her hand.

"I heated you up some chocolate," Mrs. Reid said as she placed the cup in front of her. "I thought you could use some, considering you look as if you were up to no good in that worn gown."

Simone smiled up at Mrs. Reid. "Thank you," she acknowledged. "I can always use some chocolate."

Mrs. Reid pulled out a chair and sat down. "So you found Lucy?" she asked. "I couldn't help but overhear. The kitchen is rather small."

"I did," Simone replied. "She was buying bread from a vendor."

Mrs. Reid frowned. "I wish she would come back here. I could always give her a job."

Simone took a sip of her chocolate before saying, "I think this is the last place that she wants to be."

"That is a shame," Mrs. Reid acknowledged. "But you best hurry if you want to change out of your clothes before Mrs. Fernsby comes in search of you."

"You are right, as usual," Simone said, rising. "Fortunately, if Mrs. Fernsby did see me in these clothes, she wouldn't even notice anything is amiss."

Mrs. Reid grimaced. "I saw Mrs. Fernsby talking to a wall yesterday. I suspect she thought she was talking to a maid, but no one was there."

Felicity rose. "Let's get you dressed for dinner."

"For what purpose?" Simone asked. "It is not as if my father even dines with me."

"Regardless, you can't keep parading around the townhouse in those clothes," Felicity said.

Simone reached for her teacup and took a long sip. Then she placed the empty teacup onto the table. "Now we can go."

Felicity laughed. "I don't know what you would do without chocolate."

"I hope there never comes a day that I have to find out," Simone joked.

Mrs. Reid remained in her seat as she asked, "Do you want a tray sent to your room or will you be eating in the dining room?"

Simone hated the two options that were being presented to her. But that was her lot in life. "I suppose I will eat in the dining room."

"I shall see to it, then," Mrs. Reid said.

As she headed towards the servants' stairs, Simone glanced over at Felicity and asked, "Do you know where Mrs. Fernsby is?"

"I saw her last in the library," Felicity replied. "She was sleeping by the fire in the hearth."

Simone walked up the narrow, uneven stairs as she headed towards the second level. She opened the door and stepped into the empty corridor.

In a few strides, she arrived at her bedchamber and stepped inside. Felicity followed her into the room, closing the door behind her.

"What are you going to do about your father?" Felicity asked.

Simone went to sit on the bed. "I'm going to search his study tonight. I can't just rely on Lucy's words."

"Do you think that is wise?"

"What choice do I have?" Simone asked. "The fear was palpable in Lucy's eyes when she spoke of my father."

Felicity walked over to the wardrobe and retrieved a pale yellow gown. "Well, if you are going to engage in espionage, you must at least look good doing it," she said with a smile.

"You are very wise," Simone joked.

"I won't contradict you," Felicity remarked.

Caleb stayed in the shadows as he approached the window of Lord Hungerton's study. Simone had provided him with instructions on the specific window, assuring him that it would be left unlocked.

He knew that Simone would rather work alone, particularly when it came to investigating her father. However, he felt compelled to help her. He was all too aware of the toll it took on a person to investigate one's own father. It was a path that no one wanted to go down. At least not a sane person.

As he approached the window, he saw that no light came from within. The room was enveloped in darkness. He went to open the window and was met with no resistance. Just as he had expected. Simone had done as she had promised.

He climbed in the window and saw a shadowed figure sitting in the chair.

Simone's voice broke through the silence. "It is about time you arrived."

"It isn't even midnight," Caleb defended.

Rising, Simone closed the distance between them and said, "My father went out earlier and hasn't returned. We must be extra diligent."

The moonlight hit Simone's face, lighting up her eyes, which now gleamed brighter than any star in the night sky. He wondered if she even knew how truly captivating she was. Perhaps what made her so beautiful was not her appearance, but her courage, and the audacity to believe that there was good in people.

Simone arched an eyebrow. "Why are you staring at me?"

"Was I?" he asked, clearing his throat. "I was distracted by something."

Not looking impressed, she said, "That is foolish. Spies are not supposed to be distracted by anyone- or anything."

Caleb couldn't agree more with Simone. Spies had to rise above temptations, especially ones that they were assigned to work with. "Where shall we start looking?"

Simone gestured towards the large desk that sat back in the square room. "I thought the desk would be a good place to start since my father spends much of his time there."

"I concur," Caleb said as he moved closer to the desk.

Simone reached for one of the drawers and slid it out. "It isn't locked," she said. "Either my father has nothing to hide or…"

"He is overly cocky that no one will come looking," Caleb said, finishing her thought.

With a tip of her head, she responded, "Precisely."

Caleb smirked. "Great minds think alike."

"In this instance, but we do not usually see eye to eye," Simone remarked as she started rifling through the files.

Caleb wasn't sure what he was looking for, but he assumed he would know it when he found it. He started browsing through the papers on the desk until he saw a piece of paper that looked like a contract of some sort. He picked it up and held it towards the moonlight.

Simone glanced over at him. "What do you have?"

"This contract is for the sale of the Earlshall estate," he read. "Does that mean anything to you?"

Simone's voice grew hesitant. "That was my grandmother's estate in Scotland," she revealed. "It boasted the most magnificent castle."

"It lists your name as the seller," Caleb revealed.

"That can't be right," Simone said as she held her hand out. "My grandmother left the estate to my mother, which rightfully became my father's."

"Then why is your name on the contract?" Caleb pressed.

Simone looked up from the paper. "I don't know, but I intend to ask my father."

The sound of a door closing in the distance drew their attention and it was followed by a pair of men's voices.

Placing the contract down onto the desk, Simone's eyes roamed the room as she said, "I think the voices are getting closer. We need to hide."

Caleb's eyes darted to the one place that was big enough to conceal both of them. The drapes. He gently reached for Simone's arm and led her towards the window.

"You cannot be serious—" she started.

He put his finger up to his lips, urging her to be quiet, as the men's voices drifted into the room. Whoever was speaking was coming to the study, and they needed to hurry.

Caleb pulled Simone behind the drapes and ensured they were both hidden. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer, and tried to ignore the delightful scent of lavender that drifted off her person.

Simone was tense, not that he blamed her. This situation was not ideal, but they had to manage. If they were caught, the consequences would be dire. No doubt Lord Hungerton would demand that they be married at once.

Their faces were inches apart, but Caleb couldn't think about that right now. He was trying to distinguish the voices that he was hearing. There were definitely two men speaking. One he recognized as Lord Hungerton and the other voice he hadn't heard before.

Lord Hungerton laughed loudly as he entered the study. "Give me a moment. I know the contract is somewhere on my desk," he said. His words were slightly slurred. It would appear that the lord had been drinking before returning home.

The other male voice spoke up. "You need to organize your desk better."

"Why start now?" Lord Hungerton joked.

Caleb could hear the sounds of paper shuffling until Lord Hungerton shouted, "I found it. It is all signed and ready for the buyers' signatures."

"Are you sure you want to sell the Earlshall estate?"

Lord Hungerton huffed. "I hated that place. It is so cold and damp. I cannot see a reason why I would want to ever visit it again."

"It was a castle," the man pointed out.

"Well, it is not my problem anymore," Lord Hungerton said. "Just sell it and be done with it."

There was a silence before the man asked, "Dare I ask if you even asked Miss Delacourt about this? After all, it was her grandmother's estate and has been in their family for generations."

Lord Hungerton clucked his tongue. "She is aware, and she wants it sold as well."

Simone sucked in a breath, but she remained quiet.

"The buyers are on holiday, but when they return, I will finalize the sale," the man said.

"Very good," Lord Hungerton responded. "Shall we celebrate with a drink?"

"No, I have had enough to drink, and I suspect you have as well," the man replied. "I need to be going. It is late, and I have much work to see to in the morning."

"You are right. It is late. Allow me to walk you to the door on my way to bed," Lord Hungerton said.

Caleb stood still, not daring to move, as silence filled the air. It was broken only by the distant closing of a door.

Simone looked up at him and whispered, "I think it is safe. You can release me now."

He dropped his arm but remained close. "Did you recognize the voice of the man who was speaking with your father?"

"No, I did not."

"What did you make of that conversation?" he asked.

She let out a sigh. "My father lied about me knowing about the selling of my grandmother's estate."

"I assumed as much, based upon your reaction."

"Why would he do such a thing?" Simone inquired. "I would have objected since I loved that castle more than anything."

"More importantly, why were you listed as the seller on the contract?" Caleb asked. "Are you sure your grandmother didn't leave you the estate?"

"I am sure since my mother was still alive when my grandmother died. It would have been left to her since she was the only child."

Caleb furrowed his brow as he thought of something. "When did your grandmother pass away?"

"A few months before my mother drowned," Simone replied. "It was hard losing them both so closely together."

"How did your grandmother die?"

"The doctor said it was cancer," Simone replied. "She was suffering greatly towards the end of her life and she just wanted to die."

"And your mother died a few months later?" Caleb pressed. "Does that timing not seem odd to you?"

Simone shrugged. "It was terrible timing, but death is unexpected. It is not something you can plan."

"Who was with your mother when she drowned?"

"No one," Simone said. "She used to go swimming in a lake near our country estate every morning. When she failed to return, they went in search of her."

Caleb held her gaze. "Who found your mother?"

"Sadly, they never found the body. No doubt it is somewhere in the depths of the lake."

"Simone—"

She put her hand up. "I know what you are going to say, but the coroner did not suspect any foul play. The water was unusually cold for that time of year and it was just a terrible accident," she said. "I once thought as you did, but my investigation yielded no results. I was forced to conclude that my mother did, in fact, drown."

"Where were you when this happened?" he asked.

Simone dropped her gaze. "I went to visit a friend in the next town over and I will always regret not being there."

Caleb could hear the pain in her voice and he wished he had the power to wipe it away. "It was good that you were not there."

"I doubt that," she replied. "My mother would often invite me to go swimming with her. If I was there, I might have been able to save her."

"You don't know that for certain."

In a shaky voice, Simone said, "The only thing I know for certain is that my mother is gone, and I will never see her again."

Feeling the need to provide her some measure of comfort, Caleb raised his hand and gently cupped her right cheek. "I have heard that ‘time heals all wounds,' but I do not agree with that sentiment. The wound remains. But, in time, it will scar over and the pain will lessen. But it is never gone." He stopped, hoping his words were enough.

Simone leaned into his hand. "I just miss her so much."

"That is to be expected, but you are strong enough to go on without her."

"I don't feel strong," Simone sighed.

Even in the dim light, he was able to see the sadness in her eyes, causing his heart to ache. "You are the strongest person that I know," he uttered, his words sincere and low.

"You must not know very many people," Simone joked.

His thumb started caressing her cheek as he replied, "There is no shame in grief. The only way out of the pain is going through it."

Simone's eyes searched his, as if she were looking for the answers to her questions. "I don't think I can."

"Perhaps you can't by yourself, but I can help you," Caleb said. "You just have to trust me and let me in."

Her voice was soft as she admitted, "I do trust you."

Caleb felt elated by her words, knowing he was making progress by tearing down Simone's walls. He had seen the dents and worn edges of her past, but he had no desire to run away. If he had his way, he would never let Simone fight another battle alone. "Then you need not fear. I will be by your side, always."

"Why?" Simone asked.

"Because we are partners."

Simone's eyes held vulnerability as she said, "I will be fine on my own."

"Yes, you would be fine," Caleb agreed, "but you deserve to be more than ‘fine.' You deserve to be happy."

"I haven't been happy for so long, not since my mother died," she shared.

Caleb felt a tear slide down Simone's cheek and he wiped it away. "Then we must work on that," he said.

They stared at one another, and in that moment, Caleb felt as if time seemed to stop. It was a feeling that he never wanted to end. He didn't know what he was doing with Simone, holding her in his arms, but it felt right.

It felt like he was home.

Simone blinked, as if she had just realized the precariousness of the situation. "I think it is safe to leave our hiding spot."

"Yes, of course," Caleb responded as he reluctantly dropped his hand.

After Simone stepped out from the drapes, Caleb took a deep breath as he tried to gain his composure. He didn't know what had transpired between them, but something had shifted. And he was different because of it.

Caleb tossed back the drapes and approached the window. "It is late," he said. "I shall call upon you tomorrow."

Simone watched him closely. "I have no objections."

"Very well."

After Caleb climbed through the window, he turned back around to Simone and said, "Try to get some sleep tonight."

"I'm not sure if I can, especially after what my father revealed," Simone remarked.

"We will get to the bottom of it," Caleb assured her.

Simone nodded. "I believe you." She hesitated before adding, "I know I was against you helping me, but I am glad that you were here this evening."

"As am I." Caleb smiled. "Goodnight, Simone."

"Goodnight, Caleb."

Knowing that nothing else needed to be said between them, Caleb stepped into the shadows and headed towards the back gate.