Page 67 of Unforeseen Affairs
“A Gearing is nothing if not loyal,” she murmured.
Right—he’d said that to her before, hadn’t he?
Colin shifted and turned away from the window.
“I did say I would be completely at your disposal.” He smiled, trying not to worry about what would happen were someone to see them together, or even just hear a rumor of this little jaunt.
Or if his head became too heavy to hold up, his vision too scattered to keep upright.
“Are you so often misled by others that you have difficulty taking someone at their word?” he asked her.
“Most people’s word is worth little more than slop.” Now she turned to look out the window. “But not yours.” She paused for a moment before adding, “Thank you.”
Why did it feel so bloody good for her to say that to him? Perhaps because she didn’t temper her praise by calling him a spaniel, or by adding a chuckle or an eye roll. Perhaps because she’d reluctantly accepted his offer of assistance, instead of expecting it as her due. Perhaps because she didn’t think of him as a lion, as some vaunted name with which to feather her cap, but just as a lad. A lad to tease, to cajole into breaking rules, to explore with her.
Colin stared at his hand, held in a loose fist atop one knee.
“You may trust that my promises carry weight,” he said. “And when I spoke, as a gentleman, of the matter of protection…” He tightened his fist. “If anything were to happen, if anyone were to assume anything about what transpires between us over the next day or so…”
“Sir Colin, I doubt the city is lacking in accommodations. We should not be so hard-pressed as to have to share lodgings—”
“Even so,” he said, now looking to her, his tone reflecting the seriousness of what he was about to pledge. “Even still. I vow my protection, as a gentleman and an officer of Her Majesty’s Navy. I will not abandon you to rumor and scandal.”
Miss Sedley stilled.
“I will do the honorable thing.”
“Would you?”
Something played about her eyes as she watched him. Mischief? Or disdain? Colin could not tell.
“Aye,” he said.
“And what of the other evening?”
His heart skipped.
“The other—”
“When you pressed your advantage,” she said, enunciating each consonant as if it gave her immense pleasure.
“When I…” Colin nearly choked. He’d not expected this, but she was right—he’d grossly mishandled her. “When I… I…” He drew in a breath. “If you wish to end our association, I would—”
“No.” She cut him off harshly, her eyes narrowed. “As I have said, I am committed to bringing about the end of Mr. Bass’s career as a charlatan. As are you, and together we will achieve that end.”
“Miss Sedley,” he sputtered, exasperated. “I confess, I do not know what to make of you. You seem to wish—nay, youdowish to discomfit me and… torment me.” Colin felt his cheeks warming, but he continued on, frowning as he got it all off his chest. “And all the while I only wish to do the correct thing and fulfill my promise to you. What is so wrong with chivalry, madam, with gestures made in good faith and with kindness?”
She looked down in silence.
“Will you not look at me? Will you at least do me that courtesy?” His words sounded harsh to him, but they were necessary, and he was not sorry for them.
When she looked up again, her face was full of something raw, something just as potent as his own feelings.
A nakedwant.
“Do I? Torment you, that is?”
The words dripped with a self-satisfied pleasure.
