Agency for Scandal by Laura Wood

Agency for Scandal by Laura Wood

Author:Laura Wood [Wood, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: 2022-01-15T00:00:00+00:00


PART THREE

Yorkshire

July 1897

CHAPTER TWENTY

When we reached Hatfield, I was half-expecting Morland to spring from behind the ticket office, twirling his moustache like a villain in a vaudeville production, but there was no sign of him or his cronies. I kept a tight grip on Max’s arm, my heart in my mouth as I tried to covertly scan the faces of every single person milling around. We had acted quickly, and Morland didn’t know about the Finches’ involvement, but his network was enormous – he had government resources and apparently no qualms about involving a criminal element either.

Max gave no indication that he was similarly anxious. When we arrived he began an excellent impression of a solicitous husband, so that it seemed all his attention was for me and nothing else. I swallowed a smile when we headed for the third-class carriages – not at all what he was used to, I’m sure – but again he didn’t bat an eyelid, only took my bag in hand and followed me down to our compartment, checking I was settled and fussing over me – was my seat comfortable enough? Did I think I’d rather be facing the other direction? Certainly, I should sit by the window because there was a fine view out over the countryside on this route. Nothing was too much trouble.

I allowed myself to enjoy it. It had been a long time since anyone had fussed over me, even if it was pretend. I was playing the role of a happily cosseted wife, so I told myself it was all part of doing a good job when I sat close beside him, or picked a piece of lint off his lapel, the light bouncing off my gold ring. Max glanced down at me then and once again there was that look, the slight wash of rose pink over his cheekbones. His eyes were soft, his pupils enormous. He was a very good actor.

We drew into Peterborough with plenty of time to connect to the 12.12 to York. I felt my shoulders tense as we changed trains, though I kept my expression neutral. It seemed to me that any of the people thronging the platform could be working for Morland. At one point a man loomed up in front of us, and my hands clenched instinctively into fists, ready to fight, before he handed me a glove that I had dropped. I smiled and thanked him, as Max wrapped an arm tightly around my waist.

When we were stowed safely in our compartment on the next train, with the miles piling up between us and London, I relaxed so far as to actually doze off for a couple of minutes, waking up comfortably propped against Max’s shoulder.

“Oh, sorry!” I exclaimed, springing upright and desperately hoping that I hadn’t been drooling.

“Don’t be,” Max said easily. “You haven’t slept. It’s been a long day.”

He hadn’t slept either, but I didn’t point that out. In fact, as the hours passed and the miles sped



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