Free Saving Persephone (The Haberdashers Book 4) by Sue London Page B

Important, and took the opportunity to focus more keenly on her own entertainment. At night she drank, flirted, and danced as though she hadn’t a care in the world. In the mornings she crawled about on cousin Violetta’s floors playing games with the boys. Anyone who encountered her at any time of the day would assume that she was the happiest, most vivacious woman of their acquaintance. Even cousin Vi remarked that Imogen had blossomed in the convivial company of London Society.
    Alone at night, however, she was often restless. She took to sleeping with a pillow over her hip so that upon awakening she could imagine it was an arm.
     

Chapter Fifteen
    Periodically Robert continued to receive little missives, always delivered by a different young boy. They hadn’t discovered anything based on the boys yet. Children who would do odd deliveries for a bit of coin were prevalent throughout the city. It was clear that his tormenter M. Amicus wanted the Keys and was becoming progressively insistent. Rather than supply the information at the suggested sites and times, Robert had them monitored. Nothing had come of it yet.
    What was odd to him, however, was that his response to the threats was merely irritation. He had yet to even report it to the Home Secretary, because it seemed more nuisance than anything else. What he spent most of his late-night time on was poring over the reports of Miss Grant’s activities. She had not been disingenuous when she said her cousin had a full schedule planned for her. Her nights were taken up with balls and entertainments, her days with rides, trips to museums, and shopping. Robert reviewed every single detail his agent provided. Names of the men she danced with, women she spoke to. And the assurance that, once she was in the Chester home for the evening, she did not venture back out. She did not have any late night rendezvous, nor any scandalous liaisons while attending the ton’s numerous entertainments. She was, in short, not acting the woman he knew she could be. A woman of adventure and lusty appetites.
    In his more paranoid moments he considered that she had targeted him purposefully. That she hadn’t been drawn to him by attraction, but by assignment. However, everything in his records on her, which were becoming quite voluminous, indicated that she was precisely what she presented herself to be. A wealthy heiress of a Scottish laird and American business magnate. She was discreet enough in her affairs that he actually had no record of them, although he could testify himself to her prowess and experience. Of particular note was the charity work she did in Boston with unwed mothers and orphans. He had not yet ascertained why that particular charity had captured her interest. She was a strange and interesting woman.
     
    * * *
     
    When Imogen finally did receive correspondence from a Bittlesworth, it wasn’t from the one she wanted. This one now went by Telford.
    “What is it?” Violetta asked, on pins and needles. As far as her cousin was concerned, the duchess had ignored Imogen while only weeks ago had been treating her with favor. Little did Vi know, but the first and only time Imogen had spoken to the girl they had been ghastly rude to one another.
    Imogen pasted a false smile on her face to report, “She wants to take a carriage ride and reminisce over our time together at Belle Fleur.”
    “Splendid!” Violetta enthused.
    But was this note actually from the duchess, or did Robert hope to steal her away for an afternoon? Neither idea filled her with delight, but both made her curious. Either way she would be gone in another week. She penned her acceptance.
     
    * * *
     
    As soon as the liveried servant handed her into the carriage, it was clear that this was, in fact, Sabrina Bittlesworth. Her Haberdashers were with her, the countess sitting next to the duchess, leaving the open seat for her next to the blond virago.
    Imogen sat down with a nod.