A Scandalous Portrait (The Rose Room Rogues 1)

What the devil did that mean? Now he was really concerned.

He approached Lady Diana just as she was mumbling something to Nelson Connors which did not look like an invitation. In fact, she looked as though she was ready to flatten him. Knowing Diana as he did, he wouldn’t take wagers that she’d not do that very thing.

“Lady Diana. May I have a word with you please?” He bowed briefly at the other three. “Mrs. Connors, Miss Connors.” He glared at Nelson. ?

?Connors.”

Nelson returned his glare with raised eyebrows. As if he had no idea why Hunt looked as though he wanted to haul him up and pummel him.

Diana stood when he pulled back her chair. “It’s been lovely speaking with all of you. I hope you enjoy the party.”

She turned and took his extended arm, and they moved away from the table. Hunt maneuvered them past a few other tables, down the stone steps to the garden below.

“What did Nelson say to you?” Hunt’s voice must have come out stronger than he intended because Diana looked up at him, wide-eyed.

She waved her hand and faced forward. “Nothing to concern yourself with. He’s an annoying man.”

“But what did he say?”

“Does it really matter?”

Hunt gritted his teeth. “Yes. It does.”

Diana huffed. “He suggested I might be open to a dalliance with him while we’re here.”

“I’ll kill him.” Hunt turned to head back to the patio when Diana grabbed his arm.

“No. Just let it go. I made certain he knew not only would I never consider such a thing with him—or anyone—if he ever spoke to me again in that manner I would injure him in an area that would leave him unable to ‘dally’ with anyone for a while.”

Hunt burst out laughing. Leave it to Diana to come straight to the point. He still didn’t like the idea that Connors thought Diana would even consider such a thing.

Diana grinned back at him. “He turned quite pale, actually. I don’t think I will be troubled with him again.”

That might be so, but Hunt planned to have a little chat with Connors to make sure he knew that, not only would Diana keep him from ‘dallying,’ Hunt would follow it up with a beating that would keep him in bed for days.

Their stroll took them past a grouping of bluebells and cowslip. “I thought you said you were unable to attend the house party?” Diana asked.

He walked them over to a stone bench under a dogwood tree. Once they settled, he said, “Can a man not change his mind? Or is that only a woman’s prerogative?”

“No. A man can change his mind, but I’ve not known you to vacillate. Once you make up your mind, you rarely change it.”

Again he toyed with the idea of bringing Diana into his confidence. She could keep Lady Eunice at bay so he could conduct his investigation. However, this was a sensitive matter and, although he had no reason to believe Diana would compromise his assignment, he would still be breeching protocol. Maybe if he told her only enough to get her cooperation without revealing the entire matter, it would assuage his conscience.

Hunt cleared his throat. “Actually, Diana, you are correct. I don’t usually change my mind. However, I am here for a specific purpose. To gather information for someone at the Home Office.”

Her eyes grew wide. “The Home Office?”

“Yes. Once in a while they ask my assistance on something that is very sensitive when they don’t want to go through the regular channels.”

Diana’s mouth dropped. “You’re a spy?”

“Shh.” Hunt looked around. “Hardly. But in this case, I need to be able to move freely and observe various people. Lady Eunice hinted—no, she flat out stated—that she intended to spend a lot of time with me.”

Diana’s eyes snapped. “The hussy!”

Hunt grinned.

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