Chapter 4

Rebecca set her professional face as hard as she could to cover the condition of her silly heart. It had and was still oddly flopping about the moment Richard Sutton's name was mentioned.

Rebecca chastised her wayward organ. Oh, for heaven's sake, stop it. You got over that silly bit of girlish nonsense years ago. He is just another man. A plague on Sir Boniface for teasing me.

She worked her way down the stairs, down the hall and to the balcony over the foyer. Looking over the rail, she saw several men waiting. Finding Richard Sutton wasn't difficult. One man caught her attention and knocked the breath out of her.

Lord! He was devilish handsome before, but…

Below her stood a man in a dark suit with a light sprinkling of gray in his jet-black hair. He was pacing about under the stairs, impatiently tapping his cane on the tiles as he turned. The suit coat showed a shoulder width that owed nothing to padding and a trim well shaped form below them. Rebecca hurried her steps.

At the last step to the main floor, the politician turned, saw her, and stepped up to greet her. She detected more lines around the eyes and his cheekbones were a bit more prominent than they used to be, but the man was unmistakably Richard Sutton. He looked down his long, straight nose at her and smiled.

"Miss Rebecca Fogg, I believe?" He said it in the same low timber that used to send a hum though Rebecca's spine at twenty… still did.

Rebecca's return greeting was level and strong. "Richard Sutton?"

Richard had a thoughtful look in his stormy gray eyes. "It has been ten years, but I remember you."

Rebecca inclined her head. "You flatter me, sir."

"Not at all," Richard said. "You were good back then, always in the background, never drawing attention–the consummate professional. The only reason I noticed was my wife's wondering about you and your cousin. Robert told us you were there at his invitation as a favor to your guardian. It was not until well afterward that I learned of your true position."

Richard also recalled that the tall reed thin redheaded girl with a sprinkling of freckles across her pert nose seemed much too young and delicate for such work. He would more properly have expected to see her at a ball somewhere, making mush of young men's hearts.

Looking at the beautiful woman before him now… Richard wondered where that sweet young girl had disappeared to? This Rebecca Fogg was a mature, self-possessed lady without a freckle in sight. He didn't remember her eyes being that blue or her skin looking so…

What in the world…

Richard internally shook himself, trying to pull his runaway thoughts away from the clear glow of Rebecca Fogg's skin to less personal matters.

Had Robert asked for this young woman? Robert knows my tastes too well. He would have known this lady would catch my attention. She is the director's ward, as I understand; of good family… the right age.

Damn, Robert's meddling! It will do you no good. I'm on to you, brother.

A year and a half after Olivia's death, he had recovered from mourning and was getting his life back on track. He had his daughters to honor Olivia's memory work to keep him occupied.

Does Robert know I'm looking for another life companion? Maybe. He knows I attend a few social events. Hm, he'd think I'm looking for someone to visit at teatime?

Most of the ladies he had met made excuses and disappeared, even the widows Nancy pushed into his path. Robert teased him for proving the family's renowned potency.

A perturbed grimace greeted that thought. I suspect not. It's the prospect of sharing a house with ten little Olivia's that sends them running. Just as well. I have no room in my life for cowards. A woman who can't stare down a room full of little girls has no place in my life. A never married miss won't give a widower with children a second glance.

Richard forced his mind back to the agent before him. "I did not wish your time to be wasted in this endeavor. My brother and your director prevailed on me to allow this."

Rebecca said, "With any luck, it will be a waste of time and you will not be inconvenienced any longer than necessary. I should think getting shot at strong enough reason for taking precautions."

"Just so," Richard said. "Shall we go? I have much to do today before heading back home to see my daughters off. You will need to be introduced to my office staff, and my housekeeper must plan for you before she leaves with the children."

Rebecca inclined her head. "Certainly."

She paced at his side as they left the building, congratulating herself for not gushing at the man's compliment to her professional conduct.

I will have to watch myself. Even now, I feel his magic hold on my heart–Fool organ. Stop it. He is just too bloody perfect. That's it. Too handsome, too aristocratic, too accomplished, too gentlemanly… And Lord, the man is gorgeous.

She sobered. The teasing Sir Boniface had given her about the man being a widower in need of a mother for his many children came back to her. The thought of Richard being free was indeed an intriguing one. But that last part… Enough to send her thoughts running in the other direction. She shuddered at the very thought. No no no no no no no….