Chapter 37. Surveillance

L Pov

I did not appreciate the way he looked at her. It was hopeful, protective, even at times enthralled. In short, it was exactly the same look I'd produce when I was unguarded. But I had a right to that expression. I had endured the tender feelings for far longer than this other man. This nobody, this thief.

I was not a fool. Caleb Robert Templeton wanted to be merely friends with Grace like I simply wanted to shake his hand and wish him good luck in his endeavor. Absolutely and under all circumstances false. No one else could see his danger. Grace had doubled over with laughter when I told her of his previous criminal background which had troubled me.

"Criminal charges?" she repeated with a disbelieving grin two days previous. "I demand to know what."

"Well, in 1998, he was caught loitering outside of a chemist smoking a cigarette." I informed her with a burst of pride that her perfect bubble regarding him was about to burst.

"Good Lord! Take him away! Loitering? Smoking? That's all you've got?!" She didn't seem that appalled by my revelation. "I thought you were working whilst in London, not conducting background checks on my friends!"

"I'm surprised you hadn't done that yourself." I had shot back. "How are you to possibly know if he is to be trusted?"

"Well, I rely on intuition instead of criminal records to deem a person's worth." She explained, her smile fading as she hid her eyes from me. "That is if he ever is going to talk to me again, thanks to you."

"You shouldn't fraternize with lawbreakers anyhow. Remember who you are."

"Who am I? I'm a woman who can't get any bloody peace!" She had let out a strangled scream and stalked out of the room. I couldn't understand her exasperation, but then again, there was much about Grace Deacon that I did not understand.

Oh, but they had talked again and then some. I couldn't understand why she was blind to see that his moody, ignoring behavior had only been a ploy to lure her into his net. After all, this man was a salesman by trade. He had to know many tricks to get the end goal he sought. Profit at any cost, that was his type. I could see this plainly.

Who was he, this upstart merchant, this boy of the streets, to feel that Grace was his to concern himself about? Did I need to tell him in no uncertain terms that she was supposed to belong to me? I felt foolish even thinking of the several ways a confrontation such as that would go and his reactions.

A complete disregard for my professed feelings leading to

A physical fight where he would be drastically trounced by my skill in martial arts but cause Grace to despise me for causing him bodily harm and showing off as a result.

A verbal argument in which an assault from my vastly superior reasoning would leave him wordless and unable to reply but would also come under the headline of "showing off" not furthering my suit at all with Grace.

or

2. Recognizing my perceived claim to her affections but still pushing ahead anyway resulting in

A. A physical fight previously described.

B. A verbal fight previously forecasted.

Nothing was producing a positive outcome. I did not have it in me to be kind and respectful of my rival, to allow him to take her out and simply hold on to the hope that she would realize on her own what a drastic mistake she was making-I didn't have that much patience.

Which is why I enlisted help.

"God, what did you do now?" Jude whined as we passed along the streets later that afternoon at a brisk pace. I had collected him at the Cornell residence a half hour before telling him that his assistance was needed desperately.

It hadn't been wholly selfish on my part. Everyone had been making an effort to provide Jude with time to talk about his loss since the visit to that dreadful abbey, but he refused to speak any further about it. From then on, activities to keep him occupied had been the next attempt. The day before, he even had been strong armed into going with the women to watch Anne try on wedding gowns. I knew he hadn't been pleased about that one. He had mostly been infuriated that she hadn't ended up with a final choice and instead had left with a few maybes dancing around her head.

Since it was a choice of either holding his hands apart while Mrs. Haypenny wound the yarn around them into a ball for her next afghan all evening or coming with me, he wisely chose the latter option.

I stopped at a traffic light, my mission making me less affected by the roaring vehicles and crush of people. "I did nothing. I wished to get you out of the house for a bit. The girls said you still don't want to do anything. That everything they suggest to you is thoroughly rejected."

"Well, sorry but I don't want go to a stupid fair or see a film right now. And if I see another white dress in my life, I'm going to bloody scream." He snapped as the light still didn't turn. "Life kind of sucks."

I nodded with feeling. "Agreed, it does. Which is why I asked you to accompany me today. You may not want to do activities that can be construed as "fun", but you may wish to start training."

I thought of only this statement as his eyes found mine. "Training?" his voice betrayed a little excitement. "Like, detective stuff?"

"Precisely." The light changed and my protégé and I crossed the street, his step much more buoyant.

"All right, if you think I'm ready. I mean, the others haven't gone out on any cases yet. Are you sure I won't mess things up?"

"You are superbly suited for this assignment, I assure you." I told him as we walked along the Thames. I noticed my suspect further up the street, popping off of a bus and holding out a hand which was grasped by an auburn-haired woman stepping off behind him in a fitted black coat and a knitted hat newly made for her by Mrs. Haypenny. She gave the tall man a friendly smile, letting go of his hand and then together they continued on ahead of us.

Jude swore under his breath. I was pleased by the quickness of his mind. "Goddammit, L, how did I not see this coming?"

I glanced sideways at him, feeling my lip lifting up into a smirk. "Because your gift may be powerful, but there are ways to keep motives hidden from you." I had luckily learned of that in the last month after practice.

He wasn't the least bit impressed or interested. "I don't want to stalk them. Be a weirdo yourself. I don't see why you can't let them have fun together. It's not like you ever show Grace a good time. You don't need to make everyone else miserable with you."

Crossly, I kept my focus on the two of them dawdling by a street vendor. Grace stood on her tiptoes peering into the man's aluminum cart. I grimaced. Was she really going to eat something so foul? She had a known delicate stomach. "I had a full intention to do that this evening, but she already was going out with him. I would have done anything she cared to, but she didn't choose me."

Jude groaned as Grace pointed to something in the cart with a noticeable laugh. "L, first of all, she had no way of knowing that was what you were planning. It's not like you're predictable. Second, you didn't give her a choice. Why isn't she allowed to have friends? You're really selfish." Templeton purchased two repulsive looking sausages wrapped in paper and handed one to Grace. She accepted it warily and made some comment of gratitude that made him beam. I found him completely a fool for buying something barely edible when such finer bakeries or chocolate shops were nearby. She was sure to be ill later consuming such sketchy food.

"He is not a friend." I answered, gritting my teeth. "He's a threat."

Jude made a noise of scorn. "Why? Because he's nice to her? You should be happy that she's happy, instead of following them around like she's carrying explosives or something! Why don't you just let her go, L? It's obviously not working between you two anyway."

My glare in his direction was ferocious and unguarded. He backed up a few steps. "Because, I do not give up. I've waited far, far too long to step aside for any reason."

It was evident that Jude recognized the years I had silently stood by in his expression and rolled his eyes. "Geez. this is worse than I thought. You have her initial tattooed on you and you still meander around like she doesn't mean anything. Why don't you just tell her?! This is really getting dumb!"

"Oh what exactly am I supposed to say? "Grace, by the way, I love you?" She could laugh in my face. I won't tell her until I'm sure, until I'm one hundred percent certain that my advances won't be rejected."

"All right, what percent are you at now, then?" he asked rather patiently for him.

I raised my thumbnail to my lips as the Usurper stopped to point out the Parliament buildings across the water to Grace. To her credit, she appeared impressed. "Thirty-three percent acceptance, sixty-six percent rejection."

Jude whistled between his teeth. "Right, what about the one percent left over?"

"That's Grace declaring herself before me. A very, very small likelihood of that, but I rounded up anyway. However, every moment that she's with him, my acceptance percentage decreases. It was at fifty percent before she came here."

"Well thirty-three is better than nothing, I reckon." My companion allowed but then turned to give me a frosty look. "But you better be expecting that number to drop like mad if she catches you following her."

"Catches me?" I chuckled mirthlessly. "I am going to make my presence known shortly."

He smacked his hand against his forehead. "God, you're the most mental person I've ever met!"

"You've obviously have not met many people in your short life." I winked at him as the other two sat down on a bench to eat the sausages. I stopped walking and moved into the shadow of a vendor selling wild Union Jack hats pulling the boy in behind me. "She refuses to listen to me about him. Since she continues to ignore me, I'll make it impossible to do so."

"He's going to kill you." Jude stated in a matter of fact tone as his eyes followed a fairly attractive girl skipping by with a grey and red balloon. "He already thinks you're the lowest of the low. This will make you the person he hates the most."

"Well, then shockingly, we may have something in common after all." I remarked as up ahead Grace took another bite of the variation of a hot dog in her hands and chewed it slowly. Her companion hadn't taken his eyes off her, which was most likely the reason she hadn't spit it out yet.

"What's he thinking now?"

Jude stopped watching the girl to give me a pained look. "That's why you wanted me to come, isn't it? Well, hard luck. I'm not going to tell you."

I had expected such defiant behavior and rolled my eyes. "I meant can you tell through his behavior what his motives are? Consider it your first lesson if you must."

His attitude lessened and he looked back at them now standing up. "He thinks she's really clever, that's she's different from the girls he usually dates…"

"He'd be right about that." I brooded, the old dull ache returning to my heart.

"If you'd let me finish, he looks like he's nervous but that he's excited about what's to come. And just so you know," he smirked. "He's not a horny bastard like you are about her."

I felt my skin flushing warm at his accusation. "I didn't need to know that. I didn't want you to use your ability in that exercise, just your eyes."

"But I use my eyes to see into people's thoughts." Jude protested, and I groaned.

"Never mind, never mind. They're on the move. Let us be off."

"Really, the amount of time you spend thinking about her is unnatural." Jude joked as we kept a safe distance.

"Based on what?" I snapped as Grace and Templeton got in the queue for the London Eye, a remarkably tall observation wheel that turned while revealing the city more with each climb of the cars.

"Uh, every other guy's thoughts about people they like." He wrinkled his nose. "That and cake. Why do you think about cake so much? There's limits, mate."

I was finding myself more inclined to push him into the river if he carried on. "That is truly none of your business. Now come, we're taking a ride. My treat."

If Jude was capable of murder through his returning look, Grace would have succeeded me instantly. "I still can't believe you're making me do this." he grumbled. "A film sounds so much better right now."

"I'm not making you do anything, you wished for training. I'm showing you how to keep close tabs on someone."

"But it's someone we know, not a suspect!" Jude hissed as we lined up behind three other people. "Grace is guilty of nothing other than making you angry because for once she's putting herself first and having a nice time out with somebody. Instead of waiting for you to finally end all this bullshit which with all that percentage crap will take freaken years! And Caleb's done nothing either apart from being a good friend! That's not a crime."

"Caleb is an opportunist." I glowered as I watched him laugh with her. "Just like his calculating friends. Only he appears the most innocent even though he's more driven than the pair of them combined."

"God, L, seriously, those blokes like anything that moves. Caleb is nice…he would be good for Grace to be around. Everyone thinks he's an all right chap."

"I don't care. When have I ever been swayed by others' opinions? People like me too."

"Not as many." Jude snorted and I thought back on one person who was on my side even if no one else was.

The Italian restaurant, less than a week in the past. Smells of cheese and tomato sauce drifting up from the tables, lively music and friends. One of whom was pulling up another to drag to the dance floor. I watched with amusement as Grace strode purposefully out to the polished wooden floor and began to dance with Liam, who seemed terrified. She did not even have to concentrate on her steps, it was effortless and she eyed Liam with a cool look as she thought of the first words to say to begin her interrogation. Even if she berated me endlessly, I would do anything to take his place. She was captivating.

"I'm so glad Gracie came out," Anne mused as she sat down in Grace's chair and watched the two of them. "She's always putting the kids' happiness and fun before her own. She deserves it!"

"Yes." I mumbled watching her face soften as she continued dancing with Liam. I wondered what they were talking about.

"And she looks so pretty tonight, doesn't she?"

"Mmm…yes.." I half replied transfixed on her twirls and laughs and red dress. I heard a slight giggle next to me and turned to Anne. "Did I say something humorous?"

"Just that you think Gracie's pretty." she replied lightly, her brown eyes twinkling. "You know what, L? I think you like her."

"Erm, why would you think that?"

"A lot of reasons." she sighed, and cruelly did not complete her thought.

Irritated at her comfort at leaving such a statement hanging in the air, I pressed her further. "Would you care to indulge me?"

She watched the dancers dreamily, her chin resting on her hand. "No, it's just a feeling."

Blast! "Right." I went back to emptying two sugar packets into my water.

"Okay, here's one reason" she eyed me with a knowing smile. "I think you were jealous of Andrew."

"Hargrove? Don't be absurd. I have more wealth than he does and I'm not a buffoon."

"It's not about money, L. You didn't like him because he was always hovering around Grace."

I coughed. "I simply could not see why she would keep him around. There are much more suitable suitors for her than that man."

"Like you?"

"Yes." It had left my lips before I could snatch it back. Anne's face went slack, then she punched me in the arm laughing. She was always a playful soul, but I hated to admit the blow had caused me some pain.

"I knew it! You fancy Gracie! I had said to her that you had changed a ton since you came back in the spring! What changed your mind?"

"Erm, I'd rather not say."

"Oh okay." she was respectful as always. "It's just so funny, when I think of how you two used to be enemies...and now!" she grinned at me. "Why don't you ask her to dance?"

"Oh, uh well…she might not care to."

"Of course she would!" she urged. "She doesn't want to dance with Lee all night you know."

The prospect was terrifying but irresistible at once. Instead of observing her from afar, to actually have to opportunity to dance with her. My many reservations started to diminish as I imagined the possibility of an acceptance. "Well, it would get Liam away from her game of fifty questions I suppose."

Anne laughed, her big eyes radiating with encouragement. "All right then, go get her!"

I never thought a day would come when I wished Andrew Hargrove was still around but I'd take days more of his misguided attentions to Grace than see this usurper gazing down at her like she was the loveliest creature on Earth. He was so much more worrying. She smiled so much more in his presence than when she had endured the young lord's attentions.

"You know, we still have time to leave them alone." Jude pushed as the line started to move and people were admitted to the oblong shaped cars. "She doesn't have to know you were ever here. I won't tell her."

I sighed as I took a mental note of which car Caleb and Grace boarded. "I'd feel better if we stayed."

I heard him curse more, causing the woman of about fifty behind us to gasp.

"Young man, your language leaves little to be desired." She sniffed, and Jude didn't give her a very apologetic look.

"I think my language proves what point I'm making. That I don't want to be here!" He said with a jerk of his chin and I pushed him ahead to the person taking tickets. A row with this fellow rider would make us conspicuous before I wanted to be.

"Right up ahead, mind the step." The man told us as we were gestured to the almost full car ahead.

I thanked him and reached the car's entrance, Jude ahead of me to keep a better eye on him. They were already comfortably settled inside with a trio of tourists talking in southern American accents seated on the center bench.

"Bah!" A cantankerous elderly man complained. "When does this dern thing get movin' anyway?"

A soothing voice answered him as Jude stepped into the car, his shoulders slumped. "Soon, Pa. Look, we've got more passengers getting on first."

I took a deep breath and boarded as well, locking eyes with Grace across the car.

"Great, just great." Her companion muttered shooting me a death glare which I ignored as I kept my focus.

There was so much I wanted to say in my look. "Don't you see the lengths I will go to keep you protected? Why are you wasting your time with this stranger when I'm right here? Why, for God's sake, don't you consider me?" I'm not sure if any of that was conveyed because she turned her head furiously away from me as Jude and I stepped inside and stood across from them.

The car was closed and we were lifted a few feet into the air as the next car was loaded. I settled back, happy my mission was a success, even if half the occupants of my car wished me gone.

I knew I was about to hear a barrage of accusations from her lips, but didn't care about any of them. Because even if her look had turned angry at the sight of me, that wasn't her initial reaction. As our eyes had met, relief had sparked in them before that welcome emotion was vanished by coldness.

I smiled to myself. If not for anything else, at least the percentage had risen again due to my stubborn behavior. I knew it was good for something.

Written listening to Crush by Gavin DeGraw

New song – Private Eyes – Hall and Oates

L takes overreaction to a whole new level – hope you enjoyed!