Page 50 of The Danger of Desire
And like the whirlwind that she was, she hurried off to lecture some reckless bucks in the corner.
Warren took the opportunity to saunter over to where Delia now stood alone, examining a box full of headpieces that looked vaguely Roman.
Moving up next to her, he said, in a low voice, “We missed you at Dickson’s last night.”
She froze, then cast a furtive glance around them. “Keep quiet, for pity’s sake. Someone might hear.”
“No one is paying attention to us. And I figured this might be my only chance to get you alone and tell you I brought the thousand pounds I owe you.”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “And my pistol? Did you bring that, too?”
“I’ll hold on to that for a bit. Perhaps it will encourage you to behave sensibly.”
“Byyourestimation,” she muttered. “I think I’ve been behaving sensibly all along.”
“You’ve certainly found a sensible way to hunt for your tattooed lord at Clarissa’s house party.”
She flushed. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Weren’t you the one to suggest a sketch involving Roman attire? It’s very clever. Every gentleman’s forearms will be bared, and you can look for your sun tattoo to your heart’s content.”
She shot him a suspiciously sweet smile. “I suggested it because Roman masquerades are all the rage. Didn’t you know?”
“Hmm. I’m afraid I missed that bit of gossip.”
Dropping her gaze to the headpieces, she said, “So, do you mean to participate in our little endeavor, too?”
Her not-so-subtle reasons for asking roused his temper. “You would dearly love it if I said no, wouldn’t you? It would give you another reason to keep up your guard around me, because you could safely assumeIam the villain you seek.”
Glancing at him in surprise, she asked, “What makes you think I seek a villain?”
He stared her down. “Because you wouldn’t hide your search if you were looking for someone trustworthy.”
With a sniff, she picked up a gold-colored laurel leaf wreath. “An interesting theory. But you have no proof of any of this.”
He bent to whisper in her ear. “Not yet. But I will.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” With a frown, she moved away. “Impossible to have proof of something that doesn’t exist.”
“Uh-huh.” Damn, but she was stubborn.
And for some reason, that renewed his determination to unveil her secrets. Just seeing her again roused his blood more than any woman he’d ever met. Because any female who could come up with such a creative solution to her situation was a rare creature worthy of study. Worthy of sparring with.
Worthy of marrying.
He scowled.Don’t even think it. You know it wouldn’t work.
Yet he couldn’t seem to make himself do the rational thing and leave the place. Instead, he followed her as she went to examine another box. “So when does your ‘little endeavor’ begin?” he asked.
Relief that he’d dropped the subject of her secrets flashed over her face. “Tomorrow. Tonight we’re just picking out our costumes and such. Then, in the morning, Mr. Keane will begin sketching us in small groups, so the others can entertain themselves while two or three are being sketched. He says he can put everyone together later in one big image.”
“I’m sure he can.” He picked up a helmet that was too warlike for his taste. “And what are you wearing for this grand sketch?”
“You’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you?”
Her coy smile threw him entirely off guard. He’d never seen her coy. He’d barely even seen her flirtatious.
He enjoyed it. A great deal. He would like to see more of it.
