Page 15 of A Talent for Temptation
“No doubt,” she muttered.
That gained her a sharp look from him. “The point is, I would hate to see you lose someone important to you because you’re conflating his behavior with mine.” He softened his tone. “Or because you’re as afraid as he is to admit to being in love.”
Love?
Tears stung her eyes and she brushed them ruthlessly away. Yes, she did love the big, thickheaded, infuriating arse. That was why his deception hurt so deeply.
But she began to fear that losing him would hurt far worse. Somehow in all these months of sneaking about, she’d come to depend on him, to look forward to being with him. To want him for her own. And that desire wasn’t going to go away just because she was angry with him at the moment.
Which left her only one choice. She sighed. She’d have to tell him she loved him. She’d have to run after him and make things right between them. To forgive him.
But Gregory did have a point. Before she could do that, she and her benefactor needed to talk.
“I want a divorce,” she said baldly.
Gregory started. “From whom? You haven’t even married the chap yet.”
She cast him a sad smile. “From you. And your schemes and the spying and the foreign princesses . . . all of it.” When he just stared steadily at her, she went on before she lost her nerve. “It isn’t that I’m not grateful for all you’ve done for me. I truly am. I wouldn’t even have a life worth living if not for—”
“You owe me nothing, dear girl. Or if you did, you paid it back long ago. First, by marrying my foolish brother and attempting to rein him in when I could not. And second, by putting up with my unfair demands for so long.”
With a pained expression, he set his glass of brandy aside and came toward her. “I’ve been shamefully taking advantage of your gratitude. You should have married again long ago—I should have encouraged that. I suppose I just . . . didn’t want to lose the only tie to John that I have left.”
That broke her heart. “Oh, Gregory, you will never lose me, no matter whom I marry. I will always be your sister-in-law. But I can’t be your spy anymore. Not if I’m to have a chance at a regular life with Quinn.”
He eyed her uncertainly. “Is that what you truly want? A boring, normal life with a banker? Because if this is just about the spying, you can stop that anytime you wish. No reason for you to marry some dull fellow whose mother is no more a count’s daughter than I am a Russian prince.”
“He’snotdull, and— Wait, youknewabout his mother?”
Gregory lifted his eyes heavenward. “Of course. I’m a bloody spymaster.”
“I wish you’d told me. All this time I’ve been thinking I wasn’t good enough for Quinn.”
Seizing her hands, he said fiercely, “That’s nonsense. You’re good enough for any man, Meriel. Don’t ever let him or anyone else tell you otherwise. He’d be lucky to have you.”
“I think he agrees with you on that point,” she said softly.
“He damned well better.” He eyed her closely. “So,doyou love him?’
“Desperately, to be honest. And I think a boring, normal life with him sounds heavenly. But if I don’t leave now and catch up to him . . .”
“Go, my dear girl.” Gregory squeezed her hands before releasing them. “I give you my blessing. If you even want such a thing.”
She stretched up to kiss him on the cheek. “Of course I want it. And I hope that one dayyoufind someone to love, too.”
As she hurried for the door, she heard him mutter, “Not bloody likely. That’s the last thing in the world I need.”
Hurrying out into the hall, she caught sight of Nunley. “Is Mr. Raines still here?”
“Afraid not, madam. He left as soon as he walked out of the parlor.”
She scowled. “Surely you weren’t able to call a hackney for him that quickly.”
“He didn’t want one. He wanted to walk. Said he needed to clear his head.”
Relief flooded her. At least she could catch up to him. “Do you know which way he went?”
“I did watch to see, yes,” Nunley said slyly. “He headed for Mayfair.”
