Page 30 of The Truth Serum
She needed a way to get him to answer honestly. But how…
She bit her lip, the bottle in her reticule suddenly burned into her awareness. Indeed, she’d tried to forget it several times this week, but her maid insisted she keep it with her at all times. And the dratted woman kept adding it to her tiny purse.
Just how far was the baron willing to go? Just how much silliness would he accept from her in the name of honesty? Especially since their entire future hung in the balance?
“I should like a private conversation with you,” she began.
“Done.”
“But, um, only after…well, it’s silly, of course.”
“I adore silly.”
Really? He’d disparaged the way his daughter had pretended to be a walking flower. Rebecca had thought it sweet and funny.
“It’s a silly thing my maid wants me to try.”
He turned to face her. “Sounds intriguing.”
“It’s a truth serum. You’d drink it a half hour or so before—”
“What? Truly?”
She shrugged. “Well, I should like to know if it works. And I should like to have a private conversation with you.”
“Do you have it with you?”
She blinked. “Uh, well, yes. But it doesn’t—”
“Give it to me. I shall take it now. The dancing is about to begin. That should be enough time, yes?”
“I, um, I suppose so.”
“And then after the set is done, we can take a walk in the gardens. No wait, that won’t be private enough, will it?”
Given the size of the ball, it wouldn’t be very private. Everyone would want to wander during the pause between sets.
“I know. There’s a window into the library. I’ll make sure it’s open, then we can stroll outside before ducking in there.”
She frowned. “You sound like you’ve done this before.”
“Taken a truth serum? Of course not. But every gentleman knows how to be secretive when a lady’s honor is at stake.”
She stared at him, completely overwhelmed. Again. The man did nothing by halves. “Baron, surely this is not the right—”
“Come, come. It’s time to be a little daring, don’t you think? Give me the potion.”
What could she do? He was insistent upon it now. She opened her reticule and pulled out the small bottle. It was made of heavy clay with a cork stopper. It could contain anything from simple water to poison, but he clearly trusted her. He pulled out the cork and sniffed.
“There’s lemon in there, I think.” He looked at her. “Do you know the recipe for this?”
“No. It came from an apothecary. But you shouldn’t—”
Too late. He’d already tipped the full bottle into his mouth and swallowed.
Chapter Nine
Nate didn’t wantto go to tonight’s ball. And he sure as hell didn’t want to go dancing. His feet were healing but still hurt whenever he put pressure on the right foot. But he needed to speak to his contact during the Joguet ball, and he couldn’t use his typical disguise of a footman or delivery person. Any servant would be expected to work, and the best he could do was recline in an elegant lounge.
