Minerva felt her face warming. She doubted her old friend would place a wager on how matters would develop with Chase. Minerva had no idea herself, especially now. Last night she debated at length with herself, weighing her ache for intimacy against all the reasons ever going to him would be a mistake. For both of them now.

“I don’t blame you,” Beth said. “I just wish he were a merchant or a fishmonger or doing anything other than these inquiries that seem to touch on you.”

“As do I, Beth. As do I.”

Beth lifted the undressing gown and carried it to the wardrobe. “Why not wait a few days, and see if that dressmaker writes to tell you they were sent by mistake. If she doesn’t, you can always send them back next week if you choose to.”

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

The letter from Chase contained one terse sentence. I demand that you explain why you had cause to inquire as to my cousin Kevin’s whereabouts last month. Nothing indicated when and how she was supposed to provide that explanation. By letter, presumably.

He had reached the point on his list where he checked his relatives’ stories, apparently. On learning about Kevin, he had realized her own reasons for visiting the packet office.

Their conversation after he found her there had not been one that any decent man would conclude with an interrogation on her reasons for that visit.

She rather wished she had blurted the lie she had devised as an explanation, should he ever ask about that. I was wondering if I could find out where my uncle and cousins landed when they left England. He would never know that she had looked into that when she first came up to London five years ago, to no good conclusion.

She sat down to write to him, but after a few jottings her pen paused. How cowardly to give bad news this way. She was about to hand him a problem worse than he imagined. He had a right to ask his questions and have quick answers.

She pulled forward a clean sheet of paper. I will call at eight o’clock this evening to tell you what I know.

She sent Jeremy off to deliver the note, then tried to concentrate on the rest of her day. A new client called, sent by Mrs. Oliver. This woman, Mrs. Jeffers, wanted to find her cousin, with whom she had been long estranged. Minerva was glad for the new inquiry, and grateful for the distraction. Once that meeting ended, she had nothing but thoughts about her next one in her head.