Cat and Mouse by Genella deGrey Page A

match, undesirable men buzzed around me like flies.” She shuddered.
    “Come. Let me see if he’s gone.” Katrina inched her way towards the front of the residence, keeping close to the wall in case he retraced his steps. At the corner she backed the girl up against the house with an outstretched arm and peeked around, trying to keep the entirety of her body concealed.
    “Unbelievable.”
    “What? What’s wrong?”
    “Stay hidden. He’s…lurking.”
    “Oh, dear.” The girl pressed herself against the wall as if she wanted to sink into the brick façade.
    In actuality, her pursuer had found Jimmy as he waited for her on the corner. It looked like the stranger had engaged her partner in conversation. In order for Jimmy not to look suspicious, she was sure he was forced to accommodate the nosey bugger. Damnation, if he wasn’t in the midst of interrogating Jimmy as he had her that very morning…
    “How long do you think he’ll choose to lurk ?”
    “There’s no telling.”
    A few moments of silence fell between them while Katrina watched Jimmy converse with the man. Jimmy’s expertly casual stance didn’t fool her for a moment. He was a sly genius, but Katrina could distinguish his method of placation from all the time they’d spent together observing people’s public faces and tells.
    The girl tapped Katrina on the shoulder and whispered. “I know this is terribly against proper decorum, but my name is Lady Susanna Kendrick. I am the wife of Lord Charles Kendrick.”
    Katrina turned to the girl. “I—” the situation was getting more complicated by the moment. “You can call me Miss Katrina.”
    “Oh, but—” she paused for a moment then continued. “Then please call me Susanna.”
    She presented her newest acquaintance a nod in lieu of a curtsey and returned her attention to the corner across the street. Her pursuer was in the process of lighting a cigar, then held the flame for Jimmy.
    A groan escaped from between Katrina’s lips.
    “What is it now?”
    “I believe we’ve been granted some time to get acquainted.” Katrina led Susanna down the path to where the garden chairs sat and together they lowered themselves to the seats. “Now, tell me. What was so important back there at the ball?”
    “Oh, it’s just awful. My reticule has been stolen.”
    “That’s what all—” Katrina subdued the snide remark and cleared her throat. “How do you know you didn’t just leave it somewhere accidentally? The cloakroom, for instance.”
    “I would never do such a thing! I had personal items therein that mean the world to me.”
    “We all carry items of that nature on our persons. Are you certain—?”
    “Begging your pardon, Miss Katrina,” she interrupted with the utmost politeness. “You see, my husband entrusted me with an article he’s written—a very important article that will directly affect his— our future.” Lady Susanna let out an exasperated sigh. “And there is more.”
    “Let me guess. Letters from your lover?”
    Lady Susanna’s eyes went wide. “Bite your tongue, Miss Katrina! I happen to be very much in love with my Charles.”
    Katrina patted Lady Susanna’s hand in contrition. “I do apologise. What else did you have in your reticule?”
    “Well…” Lady Susanna seemed reluctant to answer until she all but burst out with her answer. “A small but cherished stack of Halfpenny Marvels.” Her bottom lip slipped between her teeth as if expecting a scathing reprimand from Katrina.
    A grin threatened, but Katrina quelled it. “You mean those sensationalistic little serial books?”
    “Good God.” She groaned. “It sounds so lurid when you say it like that!”
    Katrina swallowed what would surely be looked upon as an insulting bark of laughter. “Lady Susanna—are you truly afraid that people will find out you enjoy reading?”
    The girl shook her head. “It’s not that at all. While I admit reading for a woman isn’t very fashionable at the moment,