Page 50 of When the Rogue Returns
His fingers tightened on her shoulder. “Or ones that are being cleaned.”
“Sometimes,” she said, perplexed by his interest in her molds.
He was quiet a long moment, watching her break the glass into manageable pieces. Then he asked in a hard tone, “So tell me, Isa. Did you happen to make molds of the Lochlaw diamonds?”
12
WHENISA TENSEDbeneath his hand, Victor knew he’d gone too far. But damn it, what did she expect after she’d gone slinking off like some thief in the night while he was asleep? He’d awakened to an empty bed and a sinking fear that she’d left him again. That their entire night’s discussion had just been a way to lull him until she could escape.
Of course, once his reason had asserted itself, he’d realized that was absurd. If she hadn’t fled the first day he’d shown up in Edinburgh, she wasn’t likely to flee now. Andshehad been the one to hunt him down at the villa. That was hardly the behavior of a guilty woman.
But it still rankled that she could run away from him so easily. “Well?” he asked. “Did you make a mold of the Lochlaw diamonds?”
“I did,” she said in a clearly defensive tone. “There were several perfect gems in the necklace that I knew I could use copies of. It didn’t hurt the gemstones to take an impression, especially since I was going to be cleaning them. It’s not like they were...” She pivoted in her chair to glare at him. “Why should I explain this to you? I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“I never said you did.”
“No, you just gave me that accusing look of yours.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “And how did you even hear about the Lochlaw diamonds, anyway?”
He pasted a bland expression onto his face. “Mr. Gordon mentioned them yesterday.”
Anger glinted in her eyes. “And then you assumed that I was plotting to steal them.”
Ah, she could read him so well. He hesitated, but opted for the truth. “Yes.” When she sucked in a shocked breath, he added, “At the time, I thought you were a jewel thief, remember?”
That seemed to mollify her only slightly. “So you decided that I had switched out the Lochlaw diamonds with imitations, is that it? That I had risked my livelihood and that of Mr. Gordon for a fortune in stolen jewels?”
“Not exactly.” He met her irate stare with an even one of his own, although her clear outrage began to make him uncomfortable. “I figured that you were going to switch them out at the house party. That way you wouldn’t be suspected if the change was ever discovered.”
She jumped up. “Verdomme, you were painting me to be quite the master criminal!” Her eyes narrowed on him. “Or perhaps youstillthink I’m a thief. Is that why you keep refusing to explain how you found me and why you’re here?”
“Of course not.” That was the absolute truth. It was just that her guarded behavior in running away while he slept had put him on edge. It meant she didn’t trust him enough to let him know where she lived. It made him want to poke at her until she gave up her secrets.
When she just kept staring expectantly at him, however, he softened his voice. “Forgive me, Isa. Until we spoke last night, the Lochlaw diamonds were the only explanation I could come up with for why you would get close to the baron.”
“Because it couldn’t be something as innocuous as an innocent friendship between two like-minded people interested in science,” she snapped. “Not inyoursuspicious eyes.”
“At the time, no. I know better now.”
She looked skeptical. “I didn’t set out to get close to Rupert, you know. He’s the one who became friendly with me.”
“Because he’s infatuated with you.”
Her chin lifted. “So you say.”
“You know it’s true.”
Resentment shone in her face. Then she sighed. “If you’re right—and I’m not saying that you are—it’s nothing I can help.”
“I know.”
“And it wasn’t as if I ever encouraged any infatuation. Rupert just kept coming to the shop and asking questions about the chemical aspects of my work, and I—”
“Took him on as a pet,” he said dryly.
“No!” When he arched an eyebrow, she muttered a Dutch oath. “All right, perhaps it was a bit like that. But I really did feel as if I was giving him something important—a friend who would neither berate him, like his mother, nor scoff at him behind his back, like everyone else. Rupert needs someone with whom he can discuss the subject he loves best—chemistry. And he really seems to enjoy watching me work. It’s rather... well...”
“Flattering?”
