Page 13 of The Risk of Rogues
He searched her face. “What about having a husband with an odd profession? Or a husband who might not have a profession you could brag about?” Or even talk about—though he didn’t want to get into that yet.
She cut her eyes up at him teasingly. “What sort of profession do you mean? Have you taken up juggling? Surgery? Have you decided to make a living as a tailor? Because although I can’t see you with a measuring tape in hand, you do dress nicely.” Her gaze drifted down decidedly south of where a lady’s ought. “And fill out your clothing very well.”
The arousal he’d begun to get under control reared its head anew. “Seriously, please answer me.”
Her smile faded as she leaned back against the pillar to tuck her hands into her muff. “Come now, Hart. I can’t possibly know how I’d feel about a mythical profession for which you’ve given me no details.”
The sight of her lovely amber eyes regarding him so seriously made him want to throw caution to the wind. Almost. He hadn’t gained Fulkham’s trust by telling people willy-nilly what he did for the man.
But she had a point. He needed to tell hersomething.
Offering her his arm, he led her back toward the house. “I’ve been working for Fulkham from time to time. Investigating matters when he needs it. Researching troublesome situations. Finding out information. That sort of thing.”
She digested that. “Like a law clerk?”
“No, not like a law clerk,” he said, a bit offended. “It’s more involved than that.” And much more dangerous, which she didnotneed to know.
Apparently sensing his annoyance, she walked beside him a few more steps before venturing another question. “And it pays well?”
“It pays enough. And is likely to turn into something more lucrative.”
“But is it likely to turn into something more steady?”
“I hope so. That’s what I meant when I said nothing was certain yet. He and I are still working out the details.”
“I see.”
But judging from her expression, she didn’t see at all.
They continued a short distance until he couldn’t take the silence anymore. “Well? What do you think?”
She let out a long breath. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I think Lord Fulkham is leading you on.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“It’s clear he only wants to use you when he needs you, but he hasn’t considered that a man like you, at the age to settle down, requires a regular salary and position.”
Closing his eyes, he rubbed his temple. “Oh, God.”
“I mean, he’s obviously taking advantage of you.”
“Fulkham is not taking advantage of me,” he bit out.
“You’d be better off as a clerk, returning to study law when you can—”
“I’m not returning to study law!” he cried.
She flinched.
Damn it, he’d made a total hash of this. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. But I told you—it’s complicated. I don’t think I explained it right.”
“I think you explained it very well,” she said with a sniff. “I think you just aren’t seeing how he’s abusing your good nature.”
Fulkham would find that vastly amusing, considering that Hart had practically begged him for the opportunity to become one of his spies.
Hart was trying to figure out how the hell he was supposed to explain his situation without going too deeply into it when Delia came hurrying up the path.
“Anne! I’ve been looking all over for you!” She eyed Hart suspiciously. “I thought you weren’t interested in any of the young unmarried ladies.”
