“And tomorrow we will go again to look for Mr. Wattings, I promise,” Della said, touching her friend on the arm and squeezing. “I feel that he is out there somewhere, we just have to leverage the power of the duke’s heir to get the information.”

Sarah snorted. “The power of the duke’s heir sounds like some kind of dark magic.”

Della waggled her eyebrows. “Captain Handsome is some sort of dark magic, and I intend to let him cast a spell on me.”

Sarah laughed as she poked Della in the shoulder. “Stop it, I don’t want to know.” A moment as she tilted her head in consideration. “But you will tell me everything, won’t you?”

“I will.”

Della looked at the clock, then picked up her skirts and began to walk out the door. “I don’t want to be late. You are certain I look all right?”

“You know you are gorgeous. Captain Handsome is lucky to have captured your interest.”

Della felt a warmth right around her heart at hearing her friend’s words; Sarah didn’t care about Della’s ruined reputation or that any gentleman might think she was fair game given said reputation. She only loved and supported her, and she would doubtless object if Della tried to settle on someone who wasn’t—in Sarah’s eyes, at least—worthy of her.

Della knew that situation would never happen, since she wouldn’t settle herself, but it was nice to know her friend was so solidly in her corner.

And she had to repay the love by finding out what happened to Sarah’s husband.

Dear God. Griff nearly said the words aloud, but they choked in his throat.

She had been waiting at the door for him—apparently she was relieved of door duties only the once—and he had stepped inside without registering her appearance.

But now that he had—Dear God.

She was a spectacularly beautiful woman, he knew that already, but in the gown she was wearing she was practically irresistible. The fabric was shiny, in a color that looked somewhat like a bruise on its third day.

Not that he would tell her that.

It was molded to her figure on the upper half, and cut low enough to please even him. She wore an enticing strip of black fabric around her neck, and her hair was swept up, showing the graceful lines of her neck and the earrings that bobbed as her head moved.

“Are you going to stand there gawking?” she said, but in a tone that indicated she knew what he was thinking, and she was glad he was thinking it.

“If you’ll let me,” he replied honestly.