Page 56 of The Notorious Lady

Was Harmony afraid of Grace? Was that why she refused to say anything further?

The answer became rather obvious when Grace turned to Harmony and the harlot immediately got off the chair and hurried away.

Grace had an uncanny ability to communicate easily with her eyes. That was why, he mused, she often kept her features impassive or everyone would know all her innermost thoughts.

“How dare you,” she said with the same casual tone, as though talking about the weather, “come into my house without my knowledge—and during the day at that!—interrogate my guests and thereby endanger the lives of everyone residing under this roof.”

Ford couldn’t help but admire her determination to keep the women safe, the women she had no obligation to.

“I wish you had a little more faith in me,” he said evenly.

“I don’t know you enough for that. As it is, I’ve put plenty enough faith in you already.”

Ford bit back his smile. She had a fiery nature. He’d noticed that before; he’d just forgotten. It reminded him, oddly enough, of Triss. They were both strong and capable, not to mention biting with their remarks. Although their demeanor was opposite. Triss flirted her way through life while Grace cut anyone with her tongue like a knife.

“Speaking of…” Ford folded his arms over his chest, trying to appear uninterested. “Do you happen to know where Madame Tricheuse is?”

Her eyes flickered with surprise for a fleeting moment before returning to their usual cold facade. She tilted her head slightly, studying him with calculating eyes. “I’ve contacted her for you once before. It is not my issue if she doesn’t want to see you again.”

Ford’s jaw tightened at the dismissive tone in her voice. “I just want to know if she is alive and well.”

“Why do you care?” Her voice held a hint of curiosity but also a touch of suspicion.

“Contrary to what you might think, I do care about the people I put in danger. I know the risks associated with my job.”

“You put us in danger just by appearing here during the day. You could have been easily followed.”

“I am always careful,” he growled, offended by the insinuation that he’d be reckless enough to not take any precautions.

“Yes, and then you’ll leave, and if the breadcrumbs bring the members of the Brotherhood here, we shall be the ones to pay the price!”

He gritted his teeth. “I would never put you in danger.”

“Easy for you to say when it is not you living under the threat of siege every day.”

She was right, damn her. Even though she seemed far too relaxed for someone who was under the threat of siege every day. Her uncanny ability to stay poised under pressure was another thing he’d admired about her. A woman like her would make a perfect thief-taker’s wife. He’d come home bleeding, and she’d patch him up without so much as raising an eyebrow.

He shook the thoughts from his head. “I can spare my colleagues to watch your house if you so wish. Would that make you feel safer?” He had toyed with the idea while watching the terrified women sit across the table from him. They didn’t feel safe. Perhaps he could help.

“More thief-takers?” She scoffed.

“Yes. They can watch your house twenty-four hours a day, ensuring you won’t get ambushed.”

“And am I to trust them, too?”

“You can’t have it both ways, Grace.” He stepped toward her, and to his surprise, she didn’t stand her ground, she immediately retreated. “Either you want me to protect you, or you want nothing to do with me, but you have to choose.”

“If you didn’t show yourself here in the middle of the day, I wouldn’t need your protection.”

“Is that so?” He raised a brow.

Grace glanced back, probably considering the safety of the women in her care. “Fine,” she finally conceded. “Bring your men here. But please, tell them to be discreet. I don’t want anyone following them here.”

He nodded. “Consider it done.”

Grace turned away, ready to leave. “So, about Madame Tricheuse,” he called behind her.

She slowly turned back. “I don’t know anything.”