“It’s fine. I knew what I was agreeing to.” She shivered. “Mostly, anyway.”
He searched her face. “Are you sure you’re ready to start all over again with a new laboratory? Or has this rattled your resolve?”
A faint smile crossed her lips. “You don’t know me very well if you think that. There’s very little that rattles my resolve.”
“Nonetheless, we intend to put the laboratory closer to the house this time and post a guard.”
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll set fire to your expensive manor? You’re very brave, letting me play with chemicals so close to where you live.”
“I’m not brave at all. Every time I think of some chemical accidentally mixing with another and going ‘boom,’ my heart falters.” More for her than for any part of his “expensive” manor. “But since you seem determined to continue—”
“Which I am,” she said stoutly.
“Which I knew you would be,” he countered, “there appears to be no point to arguing with you on the subject.”
“You know me better than I thought.”
Her minxish smile reminded him that he’d spent half of last night in an agony of unfulfilled desire. Combined with the time he’d spent worrying over the threat to her from some unknown villain, he’d had no sleep at all.
With a glance around to make sure no one was near, he lowered his head to kiss her. Just to reassure her, of course. That was all.
But before he could, his damned brother strolled up the path toward them. “I take it that you’re discussing our plan with Olivia? Has she agreed to go along with it?”
“Yes,” she told Grey. “Provided that Thorn can coax Lady Gwyn into being my chaperone, and that he can acquire everything I need to set up my second laboratory.”
“I’ve already sent someone to London to invite Joshua here and to inform Gwyn that Thorn is on his way there,” Grey said. “And fortunately, I kept that list you gave me of what was needed in your laboratory. Thorn will have that to refer to when he starts overseeing the purchase of the materials. So, by tomorrow or the next day, you should be able to leave.”
“And what if Mama gets wind of this sudden change in plans? What if she happens to run into me in London or hears of it from someone local?”
“Is she still in London?” Grey asked. “Surely, she’s returned to the country by now.”
Olivia’s face brightened. “That’s true. I forgot it’s not really the Season. Mama came into London only to join us all at Lady Gwyn’s ball.”
“What’s more,” Grey said, “I can’t imagine who would tell your stepmother that you’ve left Carymont for London. Everyone around here, including my servants, will be informed you went home to Surrey, so why should they mention anything to Lady Norley?”
“Good point,” she said. “I do hope you’re right.”
So did Thorn. Because if the baroness caught him with Olivia again, he knew exactly what she’d do. And this time he might be tempted to sweeten his offer of marriage to Olivia so that she’d actually accept it.
No good would come of that. Olivia had certain expectations about marriage, and one of them was that it meant a great deal more than just a civil union. She seemed to want love and all that it entailed. And he simply couldn’t offer her that.
* * *
Olivia had expected to miss Thorn during the day and night they were apart. But Beatrice and Grey had kept her so busy with preparations and packing for the trip that she’d had no chance to even think about him.
Not until she was on the road with the maid they’d sent with her did she realize that the carriage seemed much less cheery without him. And without her friends, too, of course. She amused herself by going over her notebooks and the journal articles in preparation for what she’d be doing once she did have a laboratory to do it in. But she was relieved when they reached London in record time. She only hoped that after all the trouble Grey’s family was taking to protect her she would finally be able to confirm or rule out arsenic poisoning.
Fortunately, she’d already been to Lady Gwyn’s town house for the ball last week and had felt wholly welcome. Still, the house her parents generally rented for the Season was in a less fashionable—and less expensive—part of London, so it was quite a change to be in Mayfair. She felt decidedly out of her element in the neighborhood, with its elegant facades and costly carriages, although she knew better than to show it.
As soon as the footman helped her down from Grey’s carriage, however, Lady Gwyn was at her side, greeting her with a broad smile. “I’m so glad you’re here at last, Miss Norley.”
“Please call me Olivia. Everyone does.”
“Well then, since everyone calls me Gwyn, you should, too. It sounds as if we’ll be spending a great deal of time together.”
“It does, indeed.”
“But I had to deduce that on my own. When Thorn told me of your arrival, he failed to explain the reason for your visit. I had to wrestle it out of my husband.”
“Oh, dear,” Olivia said. “I hope I didn’t cause any strife between you.”
“Don’t worry yourself over that for one moment. Joshua enjoys having me wrestle things out of him. And he would confirm that if he were here.” She tucked Olivia’s hand in the crook of her arm and led her up the steps. “But he isn’t, of course, because he’s on his way to Carymont to help Grey find the man who blew up your laboratory, isn’t he?”
“Oh, yes, and I’m sure—”
“He’ll put everything to rights, trust me,” Gwyn went on, as if Olivia hadn’t spoken. “Though you must have been in a terror the whole time it was happening!”
“Well, it was rather—”
“I cannot believe that Thorn and Grey took such a chance in the first place.” She shook her head. “They should have asked Joshua to join them from the beginning. You’ve met my husband, right?”
“Yes. He seemed very—”
“But of course you met him. At the ball here last week. I don’t know where my mind is.”
Just as they reached the top step, a new voice sounded from behind them. “I don’t know where your mind is either, sis. Perhaps back with all the questions you keep asking poor Miss Norley without waiting for an answer.”
“Thorn!” Gwyn said as she turned on him. “I thought you were planning to be here when she arrived.”
“I got a bit caught up buying dangerous chemicals and funny-looking glass-bulb things for her laboratory. But it’s finally all on its way to Rosethorn, so we can leave tomorrow.” He met Olivia’s gaze and smiled. “Unless you need some time to rest from your journey, Miss Norley?”
“No, indeed. I’m eager to get started again.”
Thorn winked at her before telling his sister, “That’s how it’s done, Gwyn. You ask a question and then you wait for the person to answer you.” When she lifted her eyes heavenward, he said to Olivia, “Gwyn talks very fast when she’s nervous. Give her a little while to get to know you and to settle down. Then she’ll behave more normally, I swear.”
“Or as normally as I can,” Gwyn said saucily, “when dealing with Mr. Know-It-All.”
Olivia laughed. She was certain she and Thorn’s sister would get along just fine.
The three of them entered the foyer through the open front door. As two footmen scurried to take both Olivia’s cloak and Thorn’s greatcoat, Thorn asked Olivia, “How was your trip?”
“Dull,” she said. “But I read my journals and took more notes, so it wasn’t a complete loss.”
He smiled at her. “Admit it—you missed having me there to keep the conversation lively.”
“Lively!” Gwyn said. “Is that what you call it when you go on and on about the latest plays and such? And that is a rhetorical question, Thorn. No need to answer.” She stopped short. “Oh, dear, I almost forgot—your friend Mr. Juncker has been waiting almost an hour for you.”
That knocked the wind right out of Olivia. Mr. Juncker? Here? She’d never even seen her favorit
e playwright, much less met him. And he was here? Dear heavens! She had to remind herself to breathe.
But Thorn’s face had turned a peculiar shade of gray. “In your house, Gwyn? He’s waiting just down the hall?”
“Of course,” Gwyn said, apparently as surprised by his reaction as Olivia. “How would I know about it otherwise? He’s in our drawing room.” When Thorn muttered a curse under his breath and changed direction to head that way, Gwyn said, “He didn’t make advances toward me or anything, if that’s what worries you.”
“Not a bit. I’m just surprised he knew I’d be here.”
Gwyn hurried to keep up with Thorn’s long strides. “I offered him tea but he said he wouldn’t be staying long.”
“He won’t,” Thorn said grimly. “I’ll get rid of him quick enough.”
Olivia must have made some sound of disappointment because at that moment, Thorn and Gwyn apparently realized she wasn’t right behind them and halted to stare back at her.
“Are you quite all right, Olivia?” Gwyn asked.
“Not . . . entirely.” Olivia thought she might actually faint.
Thorn took one look at her and groaned. “I forgot you’re an admirer of Juncker’s plays.”
“Is she really?” Gwyn smirked at her brother. “How intriguing.”
“I—I don’t suppose it would be . . . possible for me to meet him, would it?” Olivia asked.
“I can’t imagine why not.” Gwyn lifted an eyebrow at Thorn. “You can introduce them, can’t you?”
Thorn uttered a heavy sigh. “Certainly. Just . . . give me a moment alone with him, all right?”
Olivia bobbed her head. She would give him an hour alone with Mr. Juncker if that was what it took. Because for the first time in her life, she was actually excited about meeting someone who wasn’t a chemist.
Now if only she could keep from making a fool of herself in front of him.
Chapter Ten
After Thorn entered Gwyn’s drawing room and shut the door, he wasted no time coming right to the point. “Why are you here, Juncker? How did you even know where to find me?”
Juncker, wearing his usual “romantic writer” attire, was sprawled unrepentantly across the settee. “I heard you were in town, so I went to your house, where your servants told me that you were over here. And you know why I came. Vickerman blistered my ears for not having the play finished. So, did you get any writing done during your travels?”
“Keep your voice down.” Thorn walked over to sit across from Juncker. “Gwyn doesn’t know about my writing, and neither does her guest.”
“I could remedy that if you like,” Juncker drawled.
Thorn scowled. “And I could cut off all your funds. Just try me. See how you like not being able to use credit at half the taverns in town.”
“Fine.” Juncker straightened on the settee. “But you still haven’t answered my question. Did you finish the damned play?”
“I have the final scene mapped out in my head,” Thorn said truthfully. “But I haven’t had a chance to write it.”
“Your sister said you and she and your mysterious guest are off to Berkshire tomorrow. Is there any possibility you can write it there?”
“Perhaps,” Thorn said. “Give me a few days, and I swear I’ll try to have it to you. But after this one, we need to start a new sort of play with new characters. And that’s all I’ll say about that for now.” He rose. “I do have one favor to ask of you before you leave.”
Juncker eyed him suspiciously. “What sort of favor?”
“Our mysterious guest is an admirer of the plays. She’s seen every one performed, and probably more than once, given her extensive knowledge of them. She wants to meet the author.”
“You mean me.” Juncker laughed. “That must really gall you.”
“If it does, it’s only because she’s a fetching young woman whom I don’t want to see you take advantage of.”
“You think I will take advantage of her more than you would? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. You must be getting prudish in your old age.”
“I’m a year younger than you,” Thorn said dryly.
“Still prudish. A fetching young woman, eh? She’s not a friend of Vanessa’s, is she?”
“Grey’s cousin Vanessa? As far as I know, they’ve never met. Why?”
“Just making sure.” With a broad smile, Juncker stood and smoothed his trousers. “Vanessa will be the death of me. The chit’s got some fool notion that if I marry her, she’ll be able to manage my writing life the way she manages her mother’s household. And God forgive me, but even though she’s rich as Croesus and a pretty little thing, I am not ready to be managed by her.”
“If it’s any consolation,” Thorn said, “Grey would probably break you in half if he thought you were courting his beloved cousin. She’s like a sister to him. So if I were you, I’d keep my hands off her.”
“Ah, but you’re not me, are you?” Juncker said with a wink. “That’s the trouble, old chap. So bring on this other damsel. I’ll decide if she’s fetching or not.”
God help him. If Thorn wasn’t careful, this could end very badly. But the look of awe and anticipation on Olivia’s face when she’d heard that her idol was here . . . He had to do this, even if it meant risking her figuring out who’d really written the plays.
He could just tell her the truth. Ask her to keep it quiet.
Right. As soon as he did she’d realize that Lady Slyboots was meant to be her, and it would wound her so deeply he’d probably never get near her again. Hell, she might not even do those tests for Grey if she knew. She’d certainly not go with him to his estate.
So it was best to continue as he had until now. He opened the door to let both women in.
Gwyn wasn’t swayed by Juncker’s supposed fame at all, but Olivia stared at the chap with the smitten expression women often wore with Thorn. He didn’t like it one bit. Which was ridiculous, considering that the writer she was smitten by was him!
Not that Juncker cared about that fine distinction. No sooner had Thorn performed the introductions than Juncker began flirting, damn his hide.
“I am so very pleased to meet you, Miss Norley,” Juncker said as he took Olivia’s hand. “Thorn tells me you’re quite the admirer of my plays.” He kissed her hand Continental style.
When Olivia, who rarely blushed, did so furiously now, Thorn wanted to throttle his friend. Especially when Juncker shot him a taunting smile.
“I’ve seen them all, sir, and found them to be most entertaining,” Olivia said in a breathy flurry of words.
“And which is your favorite?” Juncker asked.
“Oh, don’t make me choose!” she cried. “I like them all equally. Although if I were to choose one, it would probably be The Wild Adventures of a Foreign Gentleman Loose in London.”
“Ah,” Juncker said. “The one where they steal fireworks on Guy Fawkes Day, only to have them all go off in an inn yard in the middle of the night because someone threw a smoldering rush light into the wagon.”
“That one, yes. Although that wasn’t my favorite part, to be honest, since the chemistry wasn’t correct.”
Thorn bit back a laugh. He’d forgotten about that scene, which Juncker had written. Thorn had wanted to have a real chemist read it to be sure, but Juncker had said there was no time, so they’d fudged it as usual.
Now Juncker was eyeing Olivia askance. “And what would you know about chemistry, Miss Norley?”
“Quite a lot, actually,” Thorn put in. “Miss Norley is a chemist. So trust me, she knows the chemistry firsthand.”
“I see,” Juncker said, though it was clear he was still miffed. “If I may be so bold, madam, what was your favorite part?”
“Oh! Well, the part about the farmer going to gather the hen eggs and finding billiard balls in their place.”
Thorn nodded. “And then the fellow thought the hens had laid billiard balls because of an attack of the pox.” It was his favor
ite scene of all the ones he’d written. “I like that part myself.”
Olivia cocked her head at him. “For a man who at first claimed not to have seen any of the plays, you certainly know a great deal about them.” She set her hands on her hips. “I think Grey is right—you are jealous of Mr. Juncker.”
Thorn snorted. “You said it yourself in the carriage—why would I be jealous of a playwright?”
“Ah, but I believe Miss Norley has hit upon the truth,” Juncker said, with a grin as wide as his stupidly big head. “You’re utterly jealous of my success. Aren’t you, Thorn?”
Thorn glowered at him. “Didn’t you tell me you had somewhere to be, Juncker? At the theater perhaps?”
“No, no, I don’t think so,” Juncker said gleefully. “I would much rather chat with Miss Norley for a while about my plays.”
At the moment, Thorn would much rather shove a manuscript down Juncker’s gullet. But that would probably just reinforce Olivia’s ridiculous idea that Thorn was jealous of Juncker’s success.
“Actually,” Gwyn put in, her eyes suspiciously gleaming, “I thought we might invite Mr. Juncker to stay for dinner. You would enjoy that, wouldn’t you, Olivia?”
“Very much so,” Olivia said, and beamed at Juncker.
She’d never beamed at Thorn like that, except for when he’d told her they’d preserved extra samples in Grey’s icehouse. What would it take to have her beaming at him because she was excited about being with him? What would he have to do to gain that?
He grimaced. Now he was being absurd. Go to extremes just to get a woman to smile at him? Never. He’d seen his brothers and his brother-in-law do it, and that was all well and good for them. Personally, he was cynical about how long their cream-pot love would last, though he supposed they might get a few good years out of it.
But he knew instinctively that gaining such devotion from a woman required exposing one’s many foibles and flaws. The very idea made him shudder. Bad enough that Juncker knew exactly how to use his flaws against him. Thorn didn’t have to live with Juncker, thank God.
“That settles it,” Gwyn said, jerking Thorn from his depressing thoughts. “And you’ll join us for dinner, too, right, Thorn?”
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