“Miss Leigh’s ankle!”
Giff looked round. “What about it?”
“It will slow them down.”
A measure of satisfaction entered Giff’s breast as this proved true. They gained the lee of the building and were soon walking down the side.
“We must be out of sight now.” Delia stopped and took her arm from his, moving as if she would peep around the corner.
Giff seized her hand. “Don’t! No need to draw attention to ourselves.” He began to pull her onwards, quickening his pace.
She freed her hand. “Giff, wait! We must appear casual.”
Accordingly, she adopted a saunter, looking up at the building as she went. Giff followed suit, glancing back. “No sign of the others yet.”
She moved closer and a frown creased her brow as she looked at him. “I was going to ring such a peal over you today, but I’m too worried to do it now.”
“What, that we might be overtaken?”
“No, that Piers might find means to have you set upon.” The frown intensified. “You think it too, or you wouldn’t have had your servant escort you back to your lodging last night.”
She’d surprised him yet again. Admiration licked within him. “How came you to guess that?”
“It wasn’t difficult, Giff. You were so busy making a stir — flirting with every female who came near you as well —”
“Ha! You noticed!”
“I’m not blind! But never mind that. I thought —”
“You do mind it or you wouldn’t have mentioned it.”
To his intense satisfaction, a flush crept across her cheeks, covering the freckles.
“Be quiet, horrid creature! And pay attention. That’s hardly germane.”
“It’s germane to me.”
“Giff, will you behave?”
He grinned wickedly. “I love it when I put you out of countenance.”
Her blush deepened and she looked ready to strike him. But her tone was cool. Falsely, he was persuaded.
“We were discussing the prospect of your demise, Mr Giffard.”
“If you had a dagger, you’d accomplish it yourself at this moment, wouldn’t you, my valiant flower girl?”
She drew in a breath and let it out in a rush. He could hear the tremor in her voice. “No! I want you alive, Giff. Stop teasing me.”
Warmth pooled in his chest. He reached out and captured her chin, lifting her face. He dropped his tone to a murmur. “Forgive me?”
Her smile was tremulous and he was touched. “Always.”
He hesitated. For two pins he’d kiss her. He wanted to. Only there was that cub Tarporley and his companion, just turning the corner. Too far to hear, but near enough to see. He released Delia’s chin. “What were you saying?”
On the words, he turned to resume walking and she followed suit, no longer looking at him.
“I’m not sure.” She sounded a trifle breathless. Then her voice became more certain. “Yes, I am though. Giff, do you think there might be a spy in the Assembly Rooms? One of the waiters, perhaps? It would not take much for Piers to bribe one of them.”