Page 19 of No Match for Love (Regency Love Stories)

“Wait for me here? I should not be a half hour.”

The hackney cab driver watched her for a long moment before nodding.

“Thank you.” She turned from the equipage to face the solicitor’s office with a deep breath.

She’d done it. After several failed attempts, she’d managed to leave Lord Tarrington’s home undetected.

It had taken claiming a headache and retiring to bed early, sneaking out through the garden, and hailing a hackney cab with funds procured under the guise of needing a new bonnet, but she’d done it.

And now, hopefully she could catch the man before he left the office.

Dusk had just begun to fall, and though the crowds were far thinner, it was likely that Mr. Sperry would still be within.

The small bell tinkled above the shop door, and the front room was again deserted and disorganized.

She heard the rumble of voices in the back room, so she simply settled herself in the singular chair available and waited, setting at her feet the small basket she’d packed in hopes of dropping it with Fanny, George, and Anne while she was nearby.

It was not long before the door opened. Lydia came to her feet as a man backed into the room, still speaking to Mr. Sperry.

“Thank ye, my lord, again. I cannot tell ye what this will do for my family.”

“You are welcome. I shall send word once we’ve secured your position.”

The man in the doorway turned and revealed the one behind him. Both froze.

“Lord Berkeley?” Lydia asked, perplexed and a bit taken by surprise.

She cocked her head, trying to see behind him into Mr. Sperry’s office.

Lord Berkeley seemed entirely out of place in this small, musty place of business.

Lydia would have imagined that he’d choose to take his business to some posh solicitor rather than Mr. Sperry, but it was bolstering to know that the solicitor had such elevated clientele.

Except Mr. Sperry did not arrive behind Lord Berkeley. It was only the man in clean but worn clothing... and Lord Berkeley.

“Miss Faraday,” Lord Berkeley said, blinking at her and seeming entirely at a loss for words.

“I am looking for Mr. Sperry... Is he here?” Again, she peered around him—or tried to—but no one else suddenly materialized into thin air.

Lord Berkeley shifted his gaze to the other man. “Good evening, Mr. Baker.”

The second man tipped his hat and exited from the office without a backward glance, leaving Lydia and Lord Berkeley standing five feet apart and silently staring at one another.

“Is he? Is Mr. Sperry somewhere?”

She thought she saw Lord Berkeley roll back his shoulders somewhat. “Ah, no. He is not.”

She leaned back and glanced behind her, as if doing so would help her to see back out the door and to the sign outside the building. “Have I come to the wrong office?”

“No.” His eyes darted away. “I have simply borrowed the use of Mr. Sperry’s office this evening.”

“Oh.” That hardly made any sense. Regardless, what she really needed was to speak to the solicitor. She did not think she could replicate this outing again. “Will he return soon?”

“I am afraid not.”

Lydia grimaced. “Drat.” She had prepared for this possibility, but it still sent a sinking sensation through her.

Though it was far better to speak to the man in person, she had written a note for him that she could leave in the event he’d already closed his office for the day.

But a note could not encompass every question she might have.

Every follow-up concern that may come from him answering a question.

Still, it was all she had, even though it seemed ridiculous now that she’d gone through such efforts simply to leave a letter.

“Is there something I can help you with? Is your need urgent?”

“Yes, but no, you cannot.” She waved a hand. “It is none of your concern, though I thank you.” She pulled the note from her reticule and left it on the pile of papers atop the desk in the front room. Then she frowned at it.

“Are you in some sort of trouble? If you are, I can help.” He took a step forward, earnestness coloring his expression.

Though she really was grateful for the offer, she could only give him a wan smile. Her hope that had been growing as every step of her plan tonight had been successful was toppling and leaving her feeling despondent. “Only Mr. Sperry has the information I need.” She glanced back at the letter.

“He may not find that there,” Lord Berkeley said the words she was thinking. “I can place it on his desk?”

“Yes, thank you, that would be very helpful.”

He bowed, she curtsied, and then, grabbing her basket, she exited the shop.

At least Mr. Sperry would receive her letter with each of her questions outlined within, and with instructions to write to her under a different name—wait.

Her head swung back and forth. Her hackney was gone.

Drat it all, and she’d paid him for fare both ways.

The bell above the door behind her tinkled. Her back stiffened in impending embarrassment of Lord Berkeley finding her in this situation.

“Is everything well, Miss Faraday?” he asked.

She nodded but did not move. The air had grown a bit colder as the sun moved farther down the sky. That may prove troublesome if she needed to find another hackney.

He came to stand beside her, looking at her curiously. “Where is your carriage?”

She gave a strained smile. “It seems to have left.”

“Left? But where is your maid?”

“Ah...” She looked around, but seeing no other option in the last vestiges of daylight, she met his gaze squarely. “She is unaware that I am here. This matter with Mr. Sperry was rather delicate in nature, and I did not wish to... publicize it.”

He was silent, a slight furrow appearing between his brows. “Have you any other way to return home?”

Shouts down the road arrested their attention. She began to move toward the noise—it seemed to be coming from an alley several buildings away. Lord Berkeley’s arms raised half an inch to stop her. She cocked her head at him.

His jaw tensed. “One moment, let me—”

The shouting intensified, and his arm came up higher. The action, rather than frustrating her, made her feel protected. “Miss Faraday, my carriage is just there. Please, wait within while I see what is occurring.”

He did not wait for an answer but jolted forward.

Similarly, she did not wait a moment before following.