Page 46 of Once More, My Darling Rogue
A faint blush rose into her cheeks, mesmerizing him. He had no idea Lady O possessed the wherewithal to blush.
“Perhaps I’ll purchase a new bed with my wages,” she said.
That would be quite the trick, considering he wasn’ttruly paying her wages. “Your employer provides the bed.”
“When will mine be arriving?”
He sliced off another bit of pheasant. “Your memories are quite erratic. You should recall that you have one.”
“I have a cot, not a bed,” she stated very succinctly. “It’s ghastly uncomfortable.”
“Yes, I know. I slept on it when I was waiting for my bed to be delivered.”
“Then why give it to me?”
Because I wanted you uncomfortable, because I didn’t think you’d be staying more than a day. Because I hadn’t expected to find myself caring about your well-being.
“Because I’m an unkind employer.”
She skewed her mouth and he had the insane thought to unskew it by kissing it. Why did she have to look completely adorable sitting across from him, striving to work things out, to make sense of them? Why did her brow have to pleat slightly? Why did her green eyes have to take on a faraway look as though she were traveling a path toward enlightenment? God help him when she did uncover all the answers.
“Your actions don’t match your words,” she said. “I’m left with the impression that you are striving to deceive me, but for what purpose?”
Because he didn’t truly want her to know him, his hopes, his dreams, his secrets. Why then did he find it so difficult to accept that perhaps Lady O had felt the same, had distanced her true self from him, had created a haughty veneer to protect the woman within? “A puzzle to think about while I tidy up in here.”
“That’s my duty, to clean up.”
“Not while your hands are blistered. You don’t need them in dirty water.”
As he removed the plates and glasses from the table, wiped it down, washed the dishes, he could feel her watching him, striving to understand him. He wasn’t even certain he understood himself any longer. He could only hope that Gregory would provide him with the answers he sought so he could return Phee home before she drove him mad.
“Lord Wigmore was there?” Incredulously, Drake repeated the words that Gregory had just told him. He wasn’t certain what he’d expected, but it wasn’t that, not really.
“Yes, sir.” Gregory stood straight and tall as though insulted by Drake’s doubt. “I delivered the invitation to his hand.”
If Wigmore was there, then had Somerdale lied? Had he wished Phee harm, and thought no one would look for her at her uncle’s? It was a tale too easy to check. But if she’d been traveling with her uncle, what was she doing here? “Was there anything odd about him?”
“Odd?”
“Did he look as though he may have been set upon by ruffians?”
“No, he appeared quite well. He was a bit impatient with my presence and I believe insulted by the invitation. He merely muttered, ‘When hell freezes over,’ and had me escorted out.”
It made no sense, although he was relieved that he didn’t need to notify Scotland Yard that they should be out searching for a missing lord of the realm. But it still left the mystery of how Phee had come to be in the river. With her having no memory, he didn’t know how he could uncover the truth. He wasn’t comfortable returning her to her brother without ensuring she would be safe with him.
“Will there be anything else, sir?”
Looking up at Gregory, he was disconcerted to realize he’d become so lost in his thoughts about Phee that he’d forgotten the man was present. “Job well done. You can return to your duties.”
“Yes, sir.”
After Gregory left, Drake walked to the window and gazed out on the street. Nothing made sense, in particular his relief that he might not be returning Phee to her residence in the morning. That she might stay with him a bit longer, might again wash his back. With a sigh, he pressed his forehead to the cool glass.
He couldn’t keep her. It was unconscionable behavior. Even if he had enjoyed sharing his dinner with her. That sentiment confounded him. He didn’t like her so how could he enjoy her company? Blast it all!
Spinning away from the window, he headed out of his office and into the gaming area. He’d not made his early night walkthrough, his need to talk with Gregory taking precedence over everything else. The partners wouldn’t be happy about his distractions, his priorities of late. He owed them for the opportunity they’d given him to make something of himself. He had to see this personal vendetta put to rest as quickly as possible.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spied Somerdale nearing one of the tables, changed his course, and quickly intercepted him before he reached his destination. “Somerdale.”
