She ate dinner with Beth and Jeremy. When it ended, she went to her chamber to wash and change her garments, and to settle the errant strands of hair that had escaped during the day. For some reason she became all thumbs and did a poor job of it. All the signs of nervousness plagued her, so much that she almost left without her reticule. Finally she went down and asked Jeremy to go out and bring her a hired carriage.

“I don’t need to,” he said. “One will be here in a few minutes. It came half an hour ago and has been waiting. The coachman decided to walk the horses a bit but will be back soon.”

“How thoughtful of you. Such foresight.”

“Not my doing. I didn’t know you were leaving, did I?” He gave her appearance a suspicious scrutiny.

The carriage rolled to a stop in front of her house. Jeremy accompanied her outside and helped her in. “Don’t you be walking home late at night,” he said.

“I expect to be back in an hour at most, and I think my return will be accommodated just as my departure has been.”

“Let’s all hope it happens that way.” He stepped away and gestured for the coachman to go.

* * *

He paced the library. It was not a large one, so he kept pivoting and retracing his steps. His agitation threatened to create a valley in the carpet.

Anger sent him on this hike to nowhere. So did a different kind of fury. Upon receiving Minerva’s note, his first thought had been Finally. Only she was not coming for the reason he had hoped. She wasn’t even calling out of friendship. He had demanded an explanation and she intended to give it to him. Nothing more.

If his body did not accept the truth of that, it probably had to do with the way in which anticipation over the last few days had primed it to ache for relief. Telling himself he was an ass hardly helped. Desire did not have a logical mind.

“Sir, I prepared some negus. I will keep it warm until your caller arrives.” Brigsby appeared out of nowhere to announce that. “Should I plan for two for dinner? I have some fowl that would not take long to cook.”

Would she have eaten already? Hell if he knew. He doubted she had invited herself to dinner, though. “I don’t think so.”

“Perhaps you would like me to cook it for you, then. For after your caller leaves.”

“Do whatever makes sense to you. I don’t give a damn right now.”