Free Don't Look Back by Amanda Quick Page B

discussing was quite riveting?"
    "I believe we were conversing about the pleasures of shopping," Tobias said. With a small but determined movement of his arm, he succeeded in dislodging Celeste's dainty little claws.
    "Shopping?" Lavinia raised her brows. "Not one of your favorite subjects, as I recall." She turned back to Celeste. "Speaking of shopping, I saw your fan just as you were folding it, Mrs. Hudson. Most unusual. May I ask where you purchased it? I should like to find a similar one."
    "I'm afraid that won't be possible." Celeste dropped the fan into her reticule. "I made it myself."
    "You don't say." Lavinia's eyes widened admiringly. "I am extremely impressed. Unfortunately, I possess no artistic talents whatsoever."
    "I'm sure you have other talents, Mrs. Lake."
    There was a distinct edge to Celeste's voice now, Tobias noticed. The rippling-brook effect had vanished entirely.
    "I like to think that I do have one or two humble skills," Lavinia said with patently false modesty. "Take shopping, for instance. I consider that I have a distinct talent for being able to spot cheap, shoddy goods at a glance."
    "Indeed." Celeste stiffened, but her condescending smile remained firmly fixed. "I, on the other hand, have always had a knack for identifying frauds and charlatans. I suspect such individuals are something of a problem in your new line, are they not?"
    "Whatever do you mean?"
    Celeste raised one shoulder in a delicate shrug. "Evidently just anyone can set herself up as an investigator and make claims of expertise that cannot possibly be verified."
    "I beg your pardon?"
    "How on earth is a potential client to know whether or not he or she is dealing with an individual who is actually qualified to make private inquiries?" Celeste asked innocently.
    "If one is wise, one selects an investigator the same way one selects a practitioner of mesmerism," Lavinia shot back smoothly. "One relies upon references."
    "You can provide references, Mrs. Lake? I am astonished to hear that."
    It was time to intervene, Tobias decided. He did not relish the notion of stepping into the middle of this skirmish, but his duty as Lavinia's occasional partner was clear. He dared not stand by and watch her get drawn into a loud and embarrassing scene right here in the middle of the street. She would never forgive him for allowing her to humiliate herself in such a public fashion.
    "Speaking of business matters, Mrs. Hudson," he said just as Lavinia opened her mouth to respond to Celeste's latest goad, "I assume that you and Dr. Hudson have several excellent references from your time in Bath."
    "Yes, of course we do." Celeste glared at Lavinia. "Howard gave therapeutic treatments to only the most exclusive sort. I made certain of it."
    "I doubt if your clientele was any more exclusive than ours," Lavinia shot back.
    "Indeed?" Celeste gave her a pitying look. "I think it is highly unlikely that you can count such distinguished gentlemen as Lords Gunning and Northampton on your list of clients."
    Lavinia opened her mouth to retaliate. Tobias took her arm in a firm grip and squeezed just hard enough to get her attention. She shot him a disgruntled look, but she closed her mouth.
    "Impressive," he said quickly. "Unfortunately, Mrs. Lake has not yet acquired any titled clients, but perhaps she will be lucky enough to do so one of these days. Meanwhile, you must excuse us. We have an appointment."
    "We do not have an appointment," Lavinia said.
    "Yes, we do," he said. "You have obviously forgotten it." He smiled at Celeste. "Good day, madam." • Celeste switched her attention back to him. The sparkling look returned to her eyes, and her voice became warm and husky once more. "Good day, Mr. March. It was a pleasure meeting up with you. I trust that we shall bump into each other again in the very near future. I would very much like to continue our discussion of how one may obtain free samples of certain very special wares."
    "Indeed," he said.
    He