of Whitechapel. He was equally at home in both settings, which made him invaluable to the Crown.
Lady Vivien chewed on her plump lower lip, sending a powerful flash of heat to his groin. He wished like hell she’d stop doing that.
“Why did Sir Dominic send you to my rescue, instead of alerting Bow Street and hiring Runners?”
“My lady, we’re trying to stifle gossip, not generate it.”
She grimaced. “Of course. How foolish of me. I don’t know why that didn’t occur to me before.”
“You’re doing very well, all things considered.”
The carriage bumped through a rut, jolting her slight figure and sending the blanket sliding off her shoulders. Her mantle gaped open over her throat and chest, showing off the pale perfection of her skin. His hand itched to stroke her. Having already experienced the feel of that skin with his naked hand, he knew how soft she would be.
Staring at him with a thoughtful air, Vivien readjusted the blanket around her shoulders, shrouding herself with the heavy fabric. Aden told himself that was a good thing.
“How did Sir Dominic know where to find me?”
He forced back a stab of impatience. Normally, he was on the giving and not the receiving end of an interrogation. But he couldn’t blame her curiosity.
“Let’s just say that Sir Dominic has friends in low places. When your mother came to him with the news of your abduction, he made discreet enquiries. It didn’t take long for information to filter back. Kidnapping gently born ladies off the street is not a regular occurrence.”
“I should hope kidnapping any kind of woman off the streets is not a regular occurrence,” she huffed.
He had to repress a smile at her tone. “I share your hope, my lady.”
She eyed him narrowly, as if she sensed he found her amusing. He didn’t, but he did find her . . . damn, the word that kept springing to mind was adorable .
“Of course you do.” Her voice was dry as toast, which also made him want to laugh. He could well imagine her ability to hold her own with the sharp-toothed vipers of the ton . It would appear Lady Vivien did not back down from anyone.
“Why you?” she asked, abruptly changing course.
He raised his eyebrows, feigning ignorance. She was beginning to sail a bit too close to the wind.
She flapped a hand under the blanket. “I understand why Sir Dominic would not use Runners, but why did he not come himself, with more men? Surely he would wish to apprehend the villains responsible for this outrage.”
“Which was exactly why he didn’t show up in force. It would have tipped his hand to the man who arranged for your abduction. We still don’t know his identity, but he will also not know who rescued you, either.”
She stilled, staring at him with dawning apprehension. He must make it clear to her that she was not yet safe.
“I know it’s an unpleasant thought,” he said gently. “But we must discover who was behind this plot and apprehend him. You will not be safe until we do.”
Her eyes grew wide and he could swear her pupils dilated with a stunning realization. What had she just remembered?
“Lady Vivien?” he prompted.
Her sapphire gaze refocused and she gave a slight shake of the head. The movement was tiny, but he sensed a barrier go up between them. She was hiding something from him, obviously something he needed to know.
“Why did Sir Dominic send you, a soldier, to find me?” She ran a swift, assessing gaze over his face and body. It swept over him, almost as real as the heated touch of her hand.
“Officers are not an unknown commodity in the ton, ” she added. “You’re not like any soldier I’ve ever met.”
Lady Vivien possessed a sharp sense of discernment. There were capable men amongst the aristocratic corps of officers, but she was correct. Very few were like him. She’d surprised him once again, and Aden had to admit he was beginning to enjoy playing this game with her.
He affected an incredulous smile. “Why,
Lady Vivien chewed on her plump lower lip, sending a powerful flash of heat to his groin. He wished like hell she’d stop doing that.
“Why did Sir Dominic send you to my rescue, instead of alerting Bow Street and hiring Runners?”
“My lady, we’re trying to stifle gossip, not generate it.”
She grimaced. “Of course. How foolish of me. I don’t know why that didn’t occur to me before.”
“You’re doing very well, all things considered.”
The carriage bumped through a rut, jolting her slight figure and sending the blanket sliding off her shoulders. Her mantle gaped open over her throat and chest, showing off the pale perfection of her skin. His hand itched to stroke her. Having already experienced the feel of that skin with his naked hand, he knew how soft she would be.
Staring at him with a thoughtful air, Vivien readjusted the blanket around her shoulders, shrouding herself with the heavy fabric. Aden told himself that was a good thing.
“How did Sir Dominic know where to find me?”
He forced back a stab of impatience. Normally, he was on the giving and not the receiving end of an interrogation. But he couldn’t blame her curiosity.
“Let’s just say that Sir Dominic has friends in low places. When your mother came to him with the news of your abduction, he made discreet enquiries. It didn’t take long for information to filter back. Kidnapping gently born ladies off the street is not a regular occurrence.”
“I should hope kidnapping any kind of woman off the streets is not a regular occurrence,” she huffed.
He had to repress a smile at her tone. “I share your hope, my lady.”
She eyed him narrowly, as if she sensed he found her amusing. He didn’t, but he did find her . . . damn, the word that kept springing to mind was adorable .
“Of course you do.” Her voice was dry as toast, which also made him want to laugh. He could well imagine her ability to hold her own with the sharp-toothed vipers of the ton . It would appear Lady Vivien did not back down from anyone.
“Why you?” she asked, abruptly changing course.
He raised his eyebrows, feigning ignorance. She was beginning to sail a bit too close to the wind.
She flapped a hand under the blanket. “I understand why Sir Dominic would not use Runners, but why did he not come himself, with more men? Surely he would wish to apprehend the villains responsible for this outrage.”
“Which was exactly why he didn’t show up in force. It would have tipped his hand to the man who arranged for your abduction. We still don’t know his identity, but he will also not know who rescued you, either.”
She stilled, staring at him with dawning apprehension. He must make it clear to her that she was not yet safe.
“I know it’s an unpleasant thought,” he said gently. “But we must discover who was behind this plot and apprehend him. You will not be safe until we do.”
Her eyes grew wide and he could swear her pupils dilated with a stunning realization. What had she just remembered?
“Lady Vivien?” he prompted.
Her sapphire gaze refocused and she gave a slight shake of the head. The movement was tiny, but he sensed a barrier go up between them. She was hiding something from him, obviously something he needed to know.
“Why did Sir Dominic send you, a soldier, to find me?” She ran a swift, assessing gaze over his face and body. It swept over him, almost as real as the heated touch of her hand.
“Officers are not an unknown commodity in the ton, ” she added. “You’re not like any soldier I’ve ever met.”
Lady Vivien possessed a sharp sense of discernment. There were capable men amongst the aristocratic corps of officers, but she was correct. Very few were like him. She’d surprised him once again, and Aden had to admit he was beginning to enjoy playing this game with her.
He affected an incredulous smile. “Why,
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