It was hard not to laugh.

Madison would just have to keep from looking at Cameron. Tall, broad-shouldered men like this man riding beside her in the hackney should never look like an old man. Although, she wondered when he finally reached his senior years, if he would be this robust.

She slapped a hand over her mouth to keep the grin stretching her mouth wide, and glanced out the window. She couldn't have him noticing her reaction to his costume. This really wasn't a laughing matter. But seeing Cameron wearing a gray wig, and an over-sized blue greatcoat, silver pants that were too high above his ankle, and scuffed brown boots, while holding a cane...how could Madison keep a straight face? He'd even gone a step further and stuffed something in the belly of his shirt to make him appear like he had a flabby gut.

A giggle jumped to her throat, so she bit her lip, trying anything she could not to laugh.

"This is not going to work," he grumbled as he plopped on the farmer's hat over his wig.

"Of course not," she said with laughter in her voice, "especially when you speak with your normal voice. You need to make your voice a little shakier and old."

He scowled and bumped his shoulder into hers. This time, she didn't care if she laughed. "Oh, Mr. Westland. You know I'm only trying to help." Although he was upset, she still detected a sparkle in his eyes.

"You honestly couldn't find any pants to fit my long legs?" He pointed to his ankles.

"No. There wasn't much of a selection to choose from today."

Her mind flashed with an image of him standing in her room earlier today, looking handsome in his clothes. He was so very different from when she saw him in his uniform. "Besides, it was either purchase these trousers—or an old woman's dress. Believe me, I was tempted to go with the dress." He threw her a wide-eyed stare, and she laughed. "Aren't you glad I went with the short trousers?"

"You are impossible. Do you know that?"

His teasing tone made her grin.

"Oh, I forgot one more thing." She opened her reticule and pulled out a pair of spectacles. As she slid them on his face, he glared at her...but it was a teasing sort of glare. His mouth twisted, holding back a laugh. While adjusting them on his nose, she kept bumping against him. Her heart raced with an unknown feeling that warmed her whole body completely. Slowly, his expression softened and his gaze dropped to her lips.

Suddenly, her mouth turned dry. She wasn't certain she wanted them to be this close, so she slowly moved back to her side of the vehicle. "There," her voice squeaked, so she swallowed, "I think that's better."

He chuckled. "Actually, I still don't think I look like an old man." He stretched out his hand. "I don't even have wrinkles."

"Well, no...so you'll have to hide your hands the best you can." She sighed and relaxed back against the seat. "What worries me is how Alice is going to react when she sees you."

He nodded. "I thought of that, but what if Officer Barton or Captain Orwood are there waiting for me to return? I'm sure my sister will give away my disguise."

"Hopefully, I can get to her before she says anything to give your identity away."

"I just hope this works."

He stretched his neck to peer out the window. She couldn't stop from running her gaze over his rugged features. Cameron Westland was really an impressive man. His square jaw appeared hard, and yet, her fingers itched to run across his skin to see what it felt like. Although she enjoyed gazing into his green eyes, the sensations running through her tickled her stomach and brought a foreign feeling she wasn't sure she wanted to dwell on.

Pulling her attention—and her thoughts—away from the handsome man next to her, she looked out of her window. A building at the edge of town caught her eye. The structure was old, but it was the black stains along the roof that made her think it had caught on fire. Could this be the building where her parents had died?

"Stop the hackney," she shouted and gripped the doorknob. She had the door swung open before the vehicle came to a complete stop.

"Miss Haywood—"

Mr. Westland's panicked voice fell on deaf ears as she darted out of the hackney. She hurried to the building and stopped in front. Nothing looked familiar, but then again, she hadn't been here when her parents had died.

"Miss Haywood," Cameron said out of breath, stopping next to her as he grasped her hand. "You are making it impossible for me to stay in character when you dash out of the vehicle like that."

Inwardly, she groaned. "Forgive me, Mr. Westland, but when I noticed the burn marks on the roof," she pointed in that direction, "I wondered if this was where my parents died."

He tilted his head and silently stared at the roof as he tapped his finger on his cheek. He walked to the side of the building, studying the walls closely. Finally, he turned toward her and frowned.

"I fear, Miss Haywood, these charred spots look fresh, as if the fire had been in the last year, or perhaps two years."

"Oh." She heaved a sad sigh. She shouldn't have expected to find the building. After all, it was approximately nineteen years ago. "Forgive me, Mr. Westland. I didn't mean—"

"That's all right." Standing in front of her, he grasped her shoulders and peered deeply into her eyes. "I understand completely. Maybe once we find Bailey's killer, and my sister, I can help you find out what happened when your parents died."

Tears of joy burned her eyes, and she quickly blinked them away. She couldn't get too excited, only because she knew the end result wouldn't bring them back from the grave.

"Once more, please forgive me for stopping our journey." She moved to the hackney. "Shall we continue to your house?"

Reaching the vehicle, he held out his hand for her to take. She slid her palm against his, and the sadness that had filled her moments ago was suddenly replaced with warmth and tenderness. She gave him a smile of appreciation and climbed in.

The remainder of the ride was done in silence. Her heart ached for the parents that were so tragically taken from her, and yet mourning them was pointless. She couldn't remember them at all. If only her aunt and uncle would have spoken of them...

"We're almost there," he whispered and scooted to the edge of the seat. "Keep a sharp eye out for any man in a policeman uniform."

She snapped out of her dismal thoughts and focused on glade of trees near his home. Cameron grumbled, and she peeked over her shoulder. "What is it?"

His back was straight, and body alert. "Just as I suspected. I see Barton hiding in those bushes." He pointed to the far side of the yard.

Worry tightened her chest. She tugged on his arm, pulling him back against the seat. "Look at me." When he met her gaze, she tried to give him a reassuring smile. "You can pull this off. Officer Barton is too far away to notice that you don't have lines on your face." She grabbed the cane and placed it in his hand. "Walk with a hunched back, and use this for support. Pretend your legs are weak, too."

He nodded.

"Lastly," she slipped her fingers over his and squeezed, "let me do the talking."

He arched an eyebrow. "In other situations, I would argue with you, but not this time."

Madison inhaled deeply as she whispered to herself that they could do this. It must be done or Cameron would go to jail for a crime he didn't commit.

The vehicle jerked to a stop, and she waited for the driver to open the door for her. As she climbed out, the movement of a pale, peach dress caught her eye. Alice stood near the flower garden wearing an apron, and holding a basket with her gloved hands. The other woman's head was turned toward them.

At first Alice's expression was blank, but then her brows creased the longer she stared at Madison. The fierce beat in her chest threatened to weaken Madison, but she would smile and pretend all of this was normal...and she'd forget there was an officer spying on them.

From the vehicle, Cameron coughed. She glanced over her shoulder just in time to see the driver helping Cameron out. Quickly, she moved beside him, slipping her arm through his as if trying to help him walk.

"Don't forget your cane," she whispered to Cameron.

He nodded and reached into the vehicle to retrieve the old man's cane.

"Hunch over," she said in low tones.

Thankfully, he did as she asked. Before they took their first step toward the others, Madison said a silent prayer. This must work! She wouldn't accept any other alternative.

They took small steps, mainly because Cameron was playing his part well, leaning heavily on the cane and belting out that occasional cough. Cameron swayed as if he was falling, but Madison quickly wrapped her arms around him, keeping him upright. She didn't know if it was the situation with the officer watching them or if it was because she was touching Cameron so personally that made her heart flip-flop crazily in her chest.

When they were near enough, Madison looked up to meet Alice's confused gaze one more time. "Good afternoon." She smiled, hoping it didn't look fake. "You will never guess who I found in town."

"Who?" Alice's voice lifted as she darted down the porch, hurrying toward them. When she reached them, she came to a sudden stop as her gaze skimmed over her brother.

Warning alarms went off in Madison's head. Alice would certainly say something about her brother being in disguise. "Miss Westland, it's your Uncle Henry, of course." Madison touched the other woman's shoulder. "Your poor uncle has had a bout with the cough. When I saw him in town, I bade him to allow me to bring him here so that Mrs. Trumble could care for him."

Alice nodded, her dirty-blonde curls bouncing with the rhythm. "Oh, of course. Mrs. Trumble would love to take care of you."

"Would you help me take Uncle Henry into the house?" Madison continued, warily.

Without questioning, Alice moved to the other side of Cameron and hooked her arm through his, helping him toward the house.

Madison didn't dare peek toward the bushes to see if Officer Barton watched. He did, and hopefully, he wouldn't get suspicious. They couldn't have their disguise ruined this soon into their investigation.

Just as they neared the porch, the thundering of horse's hooves pounded on the ground. All of them looked in the direction of the noise. Madison's heart sank. Officer Barton was riding toward them...wearing a scowl.