Discovery of Desire by Susanne Lord Page B

said.
    Tom’s silence confirmed that and Seth swallowed another dose of shame. “Will you say good night to Miss Mina for me?”
    â€œCertainly. We’ll start early tomorrow.”
    Seth buttoned his coat and from the corner of his eye, saw Mina hurry toward them. It was too late to avoid her. Had she seen how the Company men had treated him?
    â€œMr. Mayhew?” Her voice was a little breathless. “You are not leaving?”
    Would he see her again? He’d have no cause to. The thought made him feel…not lonely. Just alone.
    But because he didn’t know of anything he could do about it, he did what he always did. He took up her gloved hand and smiled down at her. And her eyes were sherry lit by candlelight, and the blush on her cheeks as wondrous as a peach sunrise over the Atlantic, and the beauty of her face was the surest proof of a God and his angels that Seth would ever, ever need.
    And there wasn’t a thing the Worst Flirt in the Midlands could say but “Good-bye, Miss Mina.”
    Her lips parted, but she seemed to change her mind and only smiled a little. “Good-bye, Mr. Mayhew. You and your sister will be in my prayers.”
    She pulled her hand away and the loss left him cold and swaying on his feet. Yes, he must be damn tired.
    â€œI’ll see you out,” Tom said, then turned to Mina. “Will you excuse me, Mina?”
    She might have nodded but Seth didn’t look again. He busied himself with his gloves and headed to the door with Tom.
    â€œThere’s a man here tonight who might be willing to help,” Tom said.
    Seth blew out a breath. “Might, huh?”
    â€œFallon’s his name, a clerk I’ve had dealings with. He’s been given permission to wed recently, so he’s likely about. I’ll say hello, but it won’t do to bring up all the particulars tonight. If we go through the correct channels—be proper, patient, even strategic—we might get the information we need.”
    Seth’s doubt sank deeper. Proper, patient, strategic. Wasn’t his nature at all.
    Tom asked the doorman to call a victoria for him, and they waited in the entry. A gentleman and his richly dressed wife passed by without acknowledging either of them.
    When they were past hearing, Seth grumbled, “I spoke to that gent earlier. Said he’d do what he could. Wished me luck, even. Must’ve forgot me in the last quarter hour.”
    â€œFrightfully short memory.”
    â€œBloody Company men,” Seth muttered, then remembered Tom. “No offense.”
    â€œNone taken.”
    Out of the corner of his vision, a lady’s head bobbed out from the door of the conservatory to peek at him. It was just a flash of a little face and bouncing ringlets, and when he looked, she was gone.
    Two other faces appeared from around the door to gawp and disappeared just as fast.
    Seth blinked. No, those women wouldn’t have anything to do with him. But Tom was looking in the same direction. Suddenly, a half dozen ladies popped from around the door to look at him and stood whispering behind their hands.
    And right in the middle of them was Mina.
    She broke away from her friends and hurried toward him. And a lightning bolt of energy coursed through his body. Seth propped his hands on his hips and grinned as she approached. “There’s nothing better than the sight of a pretty lady coming to—”
    â€œWould you give me one of your posters, Mr. Mayhew?”
    â€œUh…all right.” Seth fumbled with his roll of papers. It wasn’t the best compliment he’d ever given but—
    â€œDid anyone offer to help you?” she asked. “Did you make any connections?”
    He tensed with embarrassment. “Me and Tom are getting us a strategy. Proper channels and all that.”
    Her lips pressed into a thin line, and Seth could have sworn she grew an inch with the straightening of her spine. Mina took