Page 37 of The Unfortunate Debutante
Simeon could hear the sadness in her voice, but he didn’t dare continue his line of questioning. He could tell that her admission had cost her dearly. Unsure of what to say, he focused on driving the team until they arrived at the square outside of Gunther’s Tea Shop. He parked the curricle underneath the shade of the maple trees.
A large line of carriages filled the square, and waiters dodged between the carriages to take and deliver the customers’ orders.
“It’s quite busy today,” Miss Pearson mused as they waited for a waiter to approach their carriage.
“What shall it be today?” the waiter asked politely.
Simeon looked over at Miss Pearson expectedly.
She smiled. “I would like the lemon ice, please.”
“Good choice, miss,” the waiter said. “And for you, sir?”
“I suppose lemon ice for me, as well.”
The waiter nodded his acknowledgement and headed back towards Gunther’s. Simeon stepped out of the curricle and came around to Miss Pearson’s side. He leaned up against the square’s railings as he saw the other gentleman escorts do.
Miss Pearson’s eyes scanned over the other curricles and remarked, “Gunther’s Tea Shop is the only establishment where a lady can be seen eating alone with a gentleman without harming her reputation.”
Simeon hadn’t even had a chance to respond when she surprised him by saying, “It’s time for our first interview.”
He gave her a look of exasperation. “Do be serious.”
“I am,” she said with a determined tilt of her chin. “If you recall, you promised me three interviews in exchange for attending the meeting with me tonight.”
He huffed. “Fine. What would you like to know?”
“Why did you become a Bow Street Runner?”
Simeon froze. He had not anticipated that question, nor did he want to answer it truthfully. He opened his mouth to lie, but he saw the innocent, curious expression on her face. He couldn’t lie to her, but he refused to tell her the full truth.
“I… uh… became a Bow Street Runner to help people,” he replied lamely.
“That’s admirable.” Her eyes seemed imploring when she asked, “What has been your toughest case?”
“Blazes!” he muttered under his breath. He shifted his gaze over her shoulder as he took a moment to mull over her question. His toughest case had been to find Martha. “I was searching for someone,” he hesitated, before adding, “someone that I truly cared about.”
Miss Pearson watched him with compassion in her eyes. “Did you find that person?”
“I did,” he admitted, lowering his gaze towards the ground.
Reaching out, Miss Pearson touched the sleeve of his jacket. “Were you too late?”
“I was,” he sighed. “By the time I found her, her heart belonged to another.”
Miss Pearson removed her hand, and he could hear the sympathy in her voice. “How long were you searching for her?”
“Five years.”
“Five years?”
He nodded. “A long, painful five years.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Martin.”
Turning his gaze towards Gunther’s Tea Shop, Simeon didn’t want to continue this line of questioning. He didn’t want to reveal anything more about himself. His assignment was to protect Miss Pearson, not befriend her.
Miss Pearson spoke up, breaking him out of his grumbling reverie. “I’m attending another ball in a few days, and I’m hoping to dance with a marquess or an earl.”
