Page 35 of Affair

A frisson of wariness went down her spine. “A change?”

He turned around and clasped his hands behind his back. “I fear that I cannot continue to pass myself off as your man-of-affairs.”

“I admit I had my doubts about that, even after my sister and my housekeeper claimed that there was no cause for concern. But I think Miss Patterson’s reaction to you proves that you will, indeed, be able to continue on in that role quite successfully.”

“The problem,” Baxter said carefully, “is that our inquiries will likely take us into Drusilla Heskett’s circle of acquaintances.”

“Yes, of course. What of it?”

“Mrs. Heskett’s circle of acquaintances overlaps my aunt’s. And people in that circle know me.” His mouth curved coldly. “Those who don’t, knowofme. I am Esherton’s bastard, after all. In the Polite World, it will be impossible for me to go about unnoticed.”

“I see.” Charlotte’s mind raced. “We must come up with another excuse for being seen frequently in each other’s company.”

“I spent most of the night considering the problem.” Baxter paused. “I believe that I examined all of the possibilities.”

She gave him an expectant smile. “And?”

“And I have come to the inescapable conclusion that there is really only one socially acceptable reason for the two of us to spend an inordinate amount of time together.”

“I am eager to hear it.”

“An engagement.”

She suddenly could not breathe for a few dazed seconds.

“I beg your pardon?” she finally managed to say very carefully.

“You and I shall announce that we are engaged to be married.” He gave her a wry, fleeting smile. “And in light of that situation, I really must insist that you start calling me Baxter.”

Six

Baxter braced himself for the explosion. But even with his extensive knowledge of volatile substances, he could not have predicted Charlotte’s initial reaction.

She went utterly still. Her eyes widened and then narrowed. Her mouth opened and closed twice.

And then she exploded.

“Anengagement?”Charlotte erupted from her chair with more force than the legendary Vesuvius. She gazed at him in wild disbelief from behind the barricade of her desk. “Have you gone mad, sir?”

“Very likely.” Baxter wondered briefly why he was feeling so chagrined by her reaction. It was only to be expected. Why the devil should she be excited by the prospect of playing the part of his fiancée?

Nevertheless, given that he had spent most of the night in a state of semiarousal, it would have been pleasant to see a little less shock and dismay in her eyes. He was not the only one who had succumbed to a burst of passion last night.

“That is a crazed suggestion.” Charlotte made a visible effort to compose herself. “Whatever put it into your head?”

“I thought I made that clear.” He’d worked hard on the logic of the thing. She was an intelligent female. She should have been able to see the problem and its solution as clearly as he did. “If we are to pursue our inquiries into my aunt’s circle of acquaintances, you cannot continue to pass me off as your man-of-affairs. It won’t work. We need a believable reason to explain our connection.”

“A believable reason,” she repeated numbly.

“Yes.” Baxter was suddenly aware of a driving need to pace back and forth across the study. Annoyed, he forced himself to remain bolted to the floor. Pacing was a clear sign of an unsettled emotional state. His emotions were never unsettled.

“You think this reason is believable?”

“If you can think of a better excuse, I shall be happy to hear it.”

“There must be a more reasonable excuse.” Charlotte drummed her fingers on the desk. “Give me a moment to think.”

“Take your time.” The sensation of restlessness grew stronger. To ease it, Baxter picked up the book that was lying on a nearby table. Absently he glanced at the words inscribed on the leather binding. When he saw Byron’s name he swore softly and put down the volume as if it had become red-hot in his hand.

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