Page 30 of Sweet Siren
He spun, one hand up to stop her. "Nothing, Liv. You've done nothing. Your work has been more than satisfactory.Exemplary."
She flung out a hand toward the contract on his desktop. "Then let's be done with this. Just tell me who this clientis."
* * *
Willowreach
Duke of Seton'sestate
Kent
She alighted from the coach,hesitating only a step at the sight of the grand old home of the dukes of Seton. Once when she was ten, her mother had brought her here for a family gathering. The current duke, Julian Ash, had been a baby, perhaps only two or three years old. The event had died in her memory, but the house lived on. The house was an ageless combination of Tudor, Stuart and Palladian styles. The first sight a visitor had on entry was its pink marble foyer and the grand staircase where portraits of centuries of noted Setons marched up thewalls.
She took a deep breath. Picking up her reticule, she strode to the front door and knocked. She hadn't sent word of her coming. She hadn't wanted to alert anyone to her intentions, but Roger had told her that his client—and hers—was in residence at Willowreach as he awaited the birth of his first grandchild. So she'd come. Quickly. And with ripe intent to tell him precisely what she thought of hisoffer.
The butler opened the door to her and with polite efficiency took her name and that of the man she wished to see. "Might I also invite you to leave your reticule here in the foyer, LadySavage?"
"You may," she said and surrendered it, along with her coat andgloves.
"Do follow me, my lady," he said and ushered her into the purple sitting room where she tried to focus upon a landscape painting of Setons at thehunt.
She examined the Ming and Ch'ing vases, then took up residence in a sumptuous reddamask Chippendale chair before the butler reappeared. "Please come with me, mylady."
She followed him as he led her up the grand circular staircase to the next floor. Along the wide corridor he walked and opened the double doors to a large and well-stocked library. The walls and shelves were dark oak and the tall Palladian windows were swathed in vermilion silk draperies. It was a sumptuous room, comforting andquiet.
"Lady Savage, for you, MisterHanniford."
She'd last seen him—was it ten days ago?—at the crowded corner of Moulton Street on a busy afternoon. In bright May sunshine, he had smiled down at her, his gaze as smoldering as a swashbuckling pirate. His black hair had shown like exquisite Japanese lacquer. His lips had spoken words so alluring that she'd recalled the lush sexuality of his kisses and the strength of his embrace. In her heart, she'd smiled at him as warmth swirled through her at the virile power of him. Then, she'd had to argue withhim.
As she didnow.
"I'm pleased to welcome you, my lady. Thank you, Perkins. Please bring us tea," and so Killian Hanniford dismissed the family butler. His gaze danced with silver fires but his demeanor was businesslike until the butler shut the doors. "Do come and sit with me, Liv. I'm delighted to seeyou."
She sailed forward to plant herself firmly before him. He stood with a large tome in his hand, some volume he'd take from the wall-to-wall shelves. Dressed in grey wool trousers, white linen shirt and sky blue silk waistcoat, he was informal and had not donned a coat to greet her. Indeed, she sensed he had not worn one into the library. Well, what did it matter if he would not stand on ceremony? Shewouldn't.
"Mister Hanniford, you know why I'mhere."
"To continue this discussion, I had better be Killian. And as for why you are here, I hope I know." He extended a hand toward two chairs either side of the large ruby marblefireplace.
"I won'tsit."
"I hope you would. I'm certain your journey was long and I'm sure you came via public coach sothat—"
She pressed her lips together. "Idid."
He threw her a sharp glance. "So that was uncomfortable. Allow me to make you morecomfortable."
Given his generous financial offer for the work he proposed, she had to frown at the double entendre. "I think you've done verywell."
He narrowed his gaze, a question there. "Yet from your tone, I fear I mustimprove."
"Such as they are, your conditions are satisfactory." Infuriating man. He would not get the better of her. Declare how things were to be without her having any say. "I have my own set ofconditions."
"Ah, good." He walked around her, a smile—damn him—playing at his marvelous mouth. "I thought youmight."
She blew air through her teeth. The man was most irritating. "I'm quiteserious."
"So am I." He sat and put out a hand toward the opposite chair. "Please. Until you do, I will talk ofnothing."
