Page 41 of The Danger of Desire
The leashed threat in his stance, the hot intensity of his gaze on her, gave her pause. And did funny things to her insides.
It was maddening. As her blood warmed, she jerked her gaze to the window. “Certainly. What do you want to know?”
“Who’s the man with the sun tattoo?”
She sighed. Curse him. “If I knew who he was, why would I have Owen ask around about him?”
“Damn it, Delia, I mean, who is he toyou?”
“Until I find him, he’s no one.”
“You are the most stubborn, irritating—” He halted to drag in a deep breath as if to calm himself. “Stop evading the question.”
“I’m not evading anything. I’m simply not answering. Because I don’thaveto answer to you.” She tipped up her chin. “You’re not my relation or suitor or guardian, so it isn’t your concern.I’mnot your concern.”
“I’ve chosen to make you my concern.”
“Because Clarissa put you up to it.”
He ignored that. “You do realize I can find out the truth with or without your cooperation. I can hire a Bow Street runner, or nose about at St. George’s, or speak at length to your aunt and your sister-in-law. I can get to the bottom of it on my own perfectly well, if I so choose.”
A knot twisted in her stomach. “Then go ahead,” she bluffed. “See what you can learn.”
“Very well. I will.” He sat back against the squabs, seemingly unperturbed about spending gobs of money hiring investigators.
Oh, Lord, if he went so far, he would surely learn the truth. Then he might figure out the whole sordid story about Reynold, which she didn’t want. Bad enough that Aunt Agatha knew. Delia refused to have the whole of polite society knowing about Reynold’s suicide. What would a scandal like that do to poor little Silas’s future?
She eyed him warily. “You wouldn’treallyhire a runner, would you?”
“If I had to.”
“Butwhy?” she asked. “Because you claim to be worried about me? You’re not the sort of man who gives two farthings about women of good reputation.”
He bristled. “You know nothing about the sort of man I am. I have my own reasons for concern. My point is, I don’tneedyou to tell me the truth. It may take me a while to get to the bottom of it, but I will. Before I take that step, however, I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt by allowing you the opportunity to explain yourself. Because if you keep on like this, it will surely be the ruin of you.”
She thrust out her chin. “I have a weapon on me.”
He snorted. “What sort of weapon?”
“One of my brother’s pistols.”
“And do you know how to use it?”
“Of course. Reynold taught me.”
Before she knew what he intended, he was across the carriage, restraining her while he searched her coat.
“Get off me, you big oaf!” she cried, shoving against him, but she was no match for his superior size and strength.
In seconds, he found and retrieved her pistol, then retreated to his side of the coach. Opening the panel to the driver’s seat, he thrust it through the opening to his coachman. “Keep this safe, John.” Then he shut the panel with a bang.
“You can’t do that!” she cried.
“Obviously I can. And so could any other fellow with half a mind to it.”
“Give it back. It doesn’t belong to you!”
“You’ll get it back as soon as you tell me why you’re searching for the bloody fellow with the sun tattoo.”
