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Gage glanced at me in concern as I drew even with and then passed him, Anderley, and Bree, anxious to escape the confines of the warehouse and reach the relative safety of our carriage.

I didn’t even wait for my husband to help me but accepted our footman Peter’s assistance climbing into the conveyance.

Bree clambered in after me, sitting opposite me, which forced the two men to share the same leg space across from each other.

Normally, we would have staggered out of consideration of their long legs, but it was clear from Bree’s scowl that neither she nor I cared about such niceties at the moment.

“What were you thinking?” Anderley demanded of her once the door to the carriage was shut. “To venture to such a place, by yourself , with no one the wiser.”

It was apparent, at least to me, that his chief concern was her safety.

Though one could be forgiven for being unclear about that when faced with his furious glare and righteous tone.

Bree seemed to miss it, keeping her arms crossed tightly over her chest and her head turned away to glare out the window.

“I’m afraid I must agree, Miss McEvoy,” Gage interjected more calmly, though his voice was still taut with displeasure. “You potentially placed yourself in a dangerous situation, and I cannot abide that. Not while you’re living in my household, under my protection.”

“Not to mention the fact you bungled our interrogation of Cranston,” Anderley muttered, removing his hat and raking his hand back through his dark hair. “He’ll not be speaking to us again anytime soon.”

Through all these proceedings, I’d been observing them with my peripheral vision, keeping my gaze angled toward the window like Bree.

My stomach still roiled from Mr. Cranston’s words, and I wanted nothing more than to retreat to somewhere quiet to stew over them for a time.

But I couldn’t sit idly by and allow the men to continue to berate Bree.

Not when they were being rather dense about their own portion of the blame. And hypocritical, to boot.

“I thought you were going to ask Anderley to speak to Bree about your discoveries and our intentions for this morning,” I reminded Gage. Otherwise, I would have done so myself.

Both men fell silent, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bree’s eyes flick toward me.

“I did,” Gage stated shortly. “Did you not?”

Anderley’s delay in response spoke volumes. “I tried.”

“When?” Bree snapped, speaking for the first time.

“After you finished dressing Mrs. Gage for dinner.”

“In the servants’ stair?” she bit out.

“Yes. You brushed past me. Said you were too busy.”

“I had a paint stain tae remove from m’lady’s skirt before it set. Ye should have told me what ye wanted.”

“I tried,” he argued.

“Nay, ye asked if I had a minute. I thought ye wanted…” She broke off before finishing that statement, color cresting her cheeks.

Anderley appeared equally flustered. “All ye had tae do was tell me what ’twas aboot,” she rallied.

“I would’ve listened.” Her eyes narrowed.

“And I would’ve shared what I’d learned!

After all, researchin’ rival auctioneers was my task. ”

“Is that why you were there today?” I asked her. “You learned something that made Brade Cranston a likely suspect.”

“Aye. I’d heard the firm wasna doin’ so well. That the owner was furious Thomas Winstanley and Sons got the job and had been blatherin’ aboot it ever since the floor collapse. That he had a vicious temper.”

“Yet you decided to venture into his warehouse?” Anderley inquired incredulously. “Alone.”

She shrugged. “?’Tis no more than you do.”

“It’s not the same thing!” Anderley shouted, losing his temper for the first time in my presence.

But Bree was unmoved. “I fail tae see the difference.”

“Well, I do, Miss McEvoy,” Gage interrupted before Anderley could counter.

“For one, Anderley is a man. And as such, he’s afforded the protections of being that sex.

I’m not saying it’s fair or it’s right,” he added in response to her irritated scowl.

“But it is true. He can go places you cannot without being harassed and barely even noticed.”

Bree couldn’t counter this. Sadly, no female could.

“And Anderley also has the benefit of experience. He’s been doing this for far longer. So he knows his limits.” Gage quirked an ironic brow at his valet. “Most of the time.”

Anderley’s lips pursed in displeasure.

“That doesn’t mean he never runs into a spot of trouble, like in Cornwall.

” Gage’s voice had gentled, clearly realizing that Bree would be thinking of Anderley arriving on the doorstep beaten and bloodied during that investigation.

“But for the most part the protections we put in place prevent such things from happening. For example, I always know where he is.” Gage’s voice had sharpened again with this statement. I simply couldn’t let it stand.

“Now, that’s not strictly true.”

Gage’s head snapped around to look at me.

“Is it?”

His eyes flashed with annoyance. “Once again, I’ll remind you, we have experience that neither of you do.”

“Which gives you the right to not follow your own rules?” I charged calmly. Or at least more calmly than the others had thus far managed.

“If you’re speaking of the other evening…

” He huffed an aggravated sigh. “Then yes, you’re right.

I should have at least informed you of our intended destination.

As we will all do in the future.” His voice was firm, brooking no arguments as he looked at each of us in turn.

“No one goes anywhere without informing someone in our household of their destination. Is that clear?”

“Of course, dear,” I replied, earning myself a scowl.

Bree begrudgingly nodded before returning her glare to the view outside the window.

Anderley also nodded, a quick jerk of the head, but I could tell some silent communication passed between him and my husband.

The type that indicated the matter was not so cut and dried.

While I understood that inquiries sometimes led one to unexpected places and that having to report one’s every movement could prove to be a severe hindrance, it seemed rather obstinate and inconsiderate to already be searching for the loophole.

Upon our return home, I lied and told Bree I had a rip in my hem. She followed me up to my bedchamber, but before she could fetch the sewing supplies, I grasped her hand, stopping her. Her expression was tight and her eyes hard, and it was all I could do not to embrace her.

“I apologize. I shouldn’t have relied on Anderley. I should have told you myself what their intentions were and asked if you’d uncovered anything.” I pressed one of my hands to my forehead. “The truth is, once I mentioned it to Gage, it slipped my mind. I’ve been too distracted of late.”

Her gaze softened. “Aye, weel, you’ve had a great deal on yer mind. This inquiry, Emma’s birthday, yer art exhibition…” Her voice trailed away as if she had something more to say. I looked at her quizzically, but she merely shook her head, as if she’d thought better of it.

She began to turn toward the dressing table, and I halted her. “There’s no tear. I simply wanted a moment to speak with you in private.”

Judging from her guarded expression, she was aware I wasn’t just being kind.

“I appreciate the initiative you were taking. I truly do.” I bit my lip. “But I also suspect you were intent on proving a point to Anderley.”

She arched her chin as a pale pink wash of color suffused her freckled face.

“I’m not chastising you. It was high time Anderley had a taste of the worry he routinely inflicts upon you.”

A furrow formed in her brow, and she opened her mouth as if to argue, perhaps not liking my choice of words. I held up a hand, forestalling her.

“But I’m asking you not to do so again. To hare off into a potentially…

fraught situation.” I refused to use the word dangerous , for there was no real proof Bree had been in danger earlier.

“Without anyone knowing where you are. If something were to happen to you…” My voice broke, and I swallowed before continuing earnestly.

“Well, Bree, let’s just say I would be terribly upset. ”

She blinked at me as if she was also battling strong emotions.

“Will you do that for me?” I asked.

She nodded, and this time I trusted in her agreement rather than the forced compliance Gage had extracted from her in the coach. “I didna mean tae worry ye.”

“I know,” I assured her. “Now.” I perched carefully on the dressing table bench. “Tell me everything else you’ve learned about the local auctioneers you think might be pertinent.”