Page 76 of When a Lady Kisses a Scot
“I intended to expose Trask as a fraud.”
“Indeed.” His eyes flashed. “I had not taken you for such a skilled liar. You truly went above and beyond the call of duty.”
His cutting words sliced through her. She shook off the emotion that plagued her and met his suddenly cold eyes. “I was rather convincing, if I say so myself.”
Gavin leaned back on his heels and folded his arms, taking her in. “Perhaps not as convincing as you thought. If Trask knows the truth…he will try to silence you.”
An image of the news clipping flashed in her mind’s eye. By now, Trask had likely discovered the picture and the accompanying letters were gone. He would suspect her. And perhaps, hewouldseek her out.
But she would be in hiding, safe behind luxurious, well-guarded doors.
Her stomach knotted at the thought of leaving Gavin behind to face the threat on his own.
“I have considered that possibility,” she said, stripping her voice of emotion. “It seems you and I have both put our necks on the line for something we believe in. You still have not confided your reasons to me.”
He studied her, the casualness of his pose at odds with his penetrating focus. “What is there to tell? Trask’s manipulations led a good man to his death. I will see him face justice.”
“You cannot go through with this.” The passion in Sophie’s voice surprised even herself. “Leave London now. While you can.”
“You think I would walk away?”
“That is my hope.”
“And what of you, Sophie?”
She drew in a breath and released it. If only she could tell him the truth. Allowing him to care for her had been a grave mistake. As long as he fancied himself her protector, he would be in danger.
“What happens to me is none of your concern.” Amazing, how cool the words sounded as they dripped from her tongue.
His eyes darkened, stormy as the sea at Cornwall. “We both know that is no longer the case.”
She brushed past him, skirts swishing about her ankles as she marched to the door. She had to leave this place now, before she revealed too much, before she allowed her feelings to make her weak.
She paused before his assistant, offering a crisp nod. “Mr. MacIntyre, I regret I cannot say making your acquaintance has been a pleasure. Perhaps another time.”
“Sophie, you do not need to leave,” Gavin said, his voice rough with feeling. “Together, we can see this through.”
She stopped in her tracks. If the Crown Prince had come to call, she would have been less surprised.
If Gavin had spewed angry recriminations, facing her duty would have been infinitely easier. When he looked at her like that, with decency and concern and an emotion she could not entirely fathom, her heart felt as if it might splinter in two.
Reaching for the door, she paused, turning to meet his dark gaze.
“Thank you for a most memorable experience. I must be on my way.”
“Sophie, what can I tell you that will persuade you to stay?”
Emotion scalded her throat. She swallowed against it as she opened the door.
“We’ve both said too much.” She threw a glance over her shoulder as she marched to the entry door. “Good-bye, Gavin.”
…
Gavin’s gaze followed Sophie as she turned her back to him and made short work of the distance along the corridor to the front entry.
Go after her!
By hellfire, he would do no such thing. He brushed aside the rebellious notion. He was neither a needy pup nor a lovestruck lad. He’d be damned if he’d chase after a woman—anywoman, even if she happened to be Sophie Devereaux.
