Page 71 of The Paid Companion

“Sir, let me remind you that I have been very helpful in this investigation,” she continued, anxious to get back to the important matter. “If you continue to allow me to assist you, we will likely solve this puzzle far more quickly than if you work alone.”

“I’m not at all sure of that,” he muttered.

“Furthermore, if you keep me by your side in my role as your fiancée, not only will you be able to protect me, but the killer will assume that we know nothing more now than we did before Ibbitts was murdered.”

His jaw tightened. “That is the truth, unfortunately.”

“No, it is not the truth.” It was her turn to pace the room. “I paid close attention when the villain danced with me. There is a very good chance that I might recognize him if I were to come into close contact with him again. At the very least, I can rule out any number of gentlemen based on their general age, height and physique and the way they move, not to mention the shape of their hands.”

He narrowed his eyes, and she knew that she had made her point.

“Don’t you see, sir?” She gave him an encouraging smile. “If we continue with your original plan, we will have an edge because the killer will never realize that we made a connection between my waltz partner and Ibbitts’s killer. He won’t know that we are aware of a few important physical details about him.”

“You are right,” he admitted. He flexed one hand in a small gesture of anger and frustration. “If I send you away immediately, he may suspect that we know he danced with you. If he thinks we know that much, he may wonder if we know more than we do.”

“And that, in turn, would cause him to be more cautious. Surely it is in our best interests if he is emboldened instead, and becomes more reckless.”

He considered her for a long, meditative moment. “Very well. You have convinced me that you would be no safer in the country than you are under this roof.”

She stopped in front of the spiral staircase and smiled in relief. “Precisely.”

“However, from this moment on, neither you nor Margaret will leave this house alone. Whenever either of you go out you will be accompanied by me or one of the male servants.”

“What about Bennett Fleming? Surely he is an acceptable companion? We know he is not the killer. Aside from all else, he is simply too short.”

Arthur hesitated and then nodded once. “I think it is safe to say that Bennett is no mad alchemist bent on conducting a crazed experiment. I would trust him with my life. Very well, he qualifies as a suitable escort. I shall speak with him as soon as possible. He must understand that there is some danger afoot so that he will keep a close watch on you and Margaret whenever you are with him.”

“Yes. We must also tell Margaret about this secret investigation.”

A thick, heavy silence gripped the library. Elenora became acutely aware of the crackle and sputter of the flames. The discussion had ended. They had arrived at a compromise, one that would allow her to stay in this house and help Arthur find the killer.

The sensible thing to do now was go upstairs and seek her bed.

She glanced at the door but could not muster the will to walk toward it.

For his part, Arthur showed no interest in leaving, either. He continued to contemplate her with his fascinating eyes.

“Hitchins was right about you,” he said after the silence had stretched to the breaking point. “You are a very strong-minded, very determined woman, Miss Elenora Lodge. You have spirit. I do not believe that, in the whole of my life, I have engaged in as many quarrels as I have with you in the past few days.”

Her heart sank. He considered her a quarrelsome female. Everyone knew that men did not find difficult women attractive.

She cleared her throat. “I believe that we have had a few heated discussions, sir, but I do not think it is fair to say that we havequarreled.”

“Heated discussions. Is that what you call them? Well, I suspect that we are fated to have any number of them so long as you live in this household. A daunting thought, is it not?”

“You are teasing me, my lord. I doubt that such a prospect will cause either of us to tremble in fear.”

His mouth lifted faintly at the corner. “Is there anything at all that would cause you to quake in fear, Miss Lodge?”

She gestured in what she hoped appeared to be blithe unconcern. The truth was, she was trembling a little at that very moment, but not in fear. She prayed that he would not notice.

“Any number of things,” she assured him.

“Indeed.” He started toward her with a deliberate tread, his voice darkening with sensuality. “What about the possibility that if we continue to work together in such an intimate fashion, we may do more than engage in a series of heated discussions? Is that one of the things that could cause you to quiver and shake, Miss Lodge?”

She met his gaze, saw the rising heat in them and nearly melted into the carpet.

“We are both exceptionally strong-minded individuals,” she said, feeling oddly breathless. “I am certain that we are each quite capable of keeping our association entirely professional in nature.”

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