“I’m afraid we can’t allow you that courtesy, sir,” Wylde said apologetically. “The Admiralty wants them back with all haste.”

“Pity. I’d give my eyeteeth to meet the man who designed such a contraption.”

“That would be an American by the name of Robert Fulton,” Georgie said. “Unfortunately, he’s back in his homeland now.”

Harrison sighed. “Ah well. If I can be of any further assistance, do let me know. I always enjoyed working with your late father, God rest his soul, and I’m glad you’re following in his footsteps so admirably.”

Georgie blushed. “Thank you, Mr. Harrison, that means a great deal. I shall call on you again soon. Good day.”

Wylde rolled the plans and replaced them in the tube, and together they stepped back out onto the street. Georgie took a deep satisfied breath. “Well, that was a stroke of luck. I never dreamed we would be quite so successful.”

He shot her a condescending look. “Beginner’s luck.”

She punched him playfully on the arm. “Unkind, Mr. Wylde! Give credit where it’s due.”

He sighed theatrically. “Very well. You have been enormously helpful. Thank you.”

She accepted that with a jaunty smile. “My pleasure. Now, since Caversteed Shipping’s offices are just around that corner, how would you like to see my warehouse?”

Pieter, holding the head of the lead horse beside the carriage, rolled his eyes at her shameless attempt to prolong the outing, but Georgie ignored him.

Wylde offered her his bent arm. “I would be delighted.”

She shot Pieter a winning smile. “I do believe we’ll walk, Pieter, and I know you don’t like to keep the horses standing. Perhaps you can take them for a slow drive until we’re done? We shouldn’t be above half an hour.”

Pieter sent Wylde a frowning glare that clearly warned him to be on his best behavior or face dire consequences, and climbed reluctantly up onto the driver’s seat. “As you wish, miss.”

Georgie smiled up at Wylde. “This way.”

Chapter 24.

As soon as Pieter had driven off, Georgie turned to Wylde. “So, next stop Limehouse?”

He let out a bark of laughter. “No chance. My Bow Street colleagues, Alex and Seb, and I will take things from here. We need to proceed with caution, not just go blundering in there, asking questions and frightening people off.”

“I wouldn’t do anything like that.”

His skeptical look made her want to stamp on his foot.

“Believe me, I’ve dealt with situations like this before,” he said. “We need to know how many people we’re dealing with, for starters. You said it yourself; Johnstone could have a whole team of people working with him. They could be armed. I’m not putting you in that kind of danger, Georgie, so you can forget about trying to convince me otherwise.”