Page 109 of The Lyon Returns
“And then came in after me? And why on earth would he have hit me?”
She scowled. “I don’t know. I’m sure it all happened as you said. You fainted, and Grayson happened to come along in the nick of time to assist Brice in saving you.” She wasn’t sure why she was second guessing the event. No harm had come to Gideon, after all.
Something about the way Brice had described the event today, however, had seemed to contradict Gideon’s written exposition. He hadn’t mentioned Gideon having a fainting spell. He’d said the escarpment eroded from under him. Perhaps he had simply forgotten the events of so long ago.
“You don’t like him,” Gideon stated, his eyes going icy. “Did he say something untoward to you? I swear, if he did—”
“He didn’t—and I don’t dislike him,” she rushed to say. “It’s just…I don’t trust him.”
He relaxed visibly. “Any reason in particular?”
“I suppose because I do not like the way he treats Lady Mary.”
Something flickered in Gideon’s expression.
“What is it?” she asked.
His eyes widened in a too-innocent look. “I have no notion what you mean.”
“Hmm.”
“Listen, Gwen, as it happens I have something to discuss with you.”
“Oh?”
“I received a missive from the runner I hired,” he said.
“What? When?”
“Today, just before we departed.”
Exasperation filled her. “Well, why on earth did you not say so?”
He laughed and he looked so unbearably handsome, for a moment she could barely draw breath.
“Well? What did he say?” she demanded.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Thanks to your suggestion, Mrs. Kennedy agreed to speak with me. However, she is inPortsmouth, not Wapping, apparently in hiding. The runner expressed some concern she might change her mind about meeting with me, and urged me to make haste in getting to her. Thus, I shall deliver you to London and then make my way there tonight.”
“Sir, you shall do no such thing.” She sent him her most brilliant smile. “We must go there at once. I’m certain I can be of assistance in questioning her.”
Chapter Thirty
Arms crossed overhis chest in a deliberately menacing attitude, Gideon contemplated Gwen. He’d known she would want to join him in questioning Dirk’s wife. But he’d already thought it through and dismissed the notion.
Not only was Dirk a man wanted for treason, his wife was probably also wanted for questioning. Beyond that, the fact she had gone into hiding more than likely meant she knew something about the affair.
The bottom line was he didn’t want Gwen mixed up in any unpleasantness if he could avoid it, and he could avoid it, by delivering her to London before heading to Portsmouth himself.
“No. Absolutely not.”
“But Gideon,” she said, her blue eyes pleading.
He had to look away from her. She was so damned arresting. So beautiful and clever and damned if he didn’t want to haul her across the narrow divide and into his arms. He had made love to her the previous night ’til the wee hours and still, his body craved hers like she was a frothy pint of ale and he a man desperate for drink.
She bounded from the bench facing his to plant herself beside himand grasp his forearm, squeezing in an urgent manner. “Gideon, think about it. You have searched for the poor woman for weeks, perhaps months. She’s clearly terrified. What if, by delaying your arrival, her anxiety gets the better of her and she leaves before you arrive?”
Unfortunately, she made a compelling argument.
