“You would have noticed those things with your artist’s eye. Now that you mention it…he made liberal use of his handkerchief during his visit.”
“The compte wouldn’t want you dead, would he?”
“A good question,” Quinn said thoughtfully. “He seems too soft to be an assassin. I remembered Montreux as something of a dandy, and he doesn’t appear to have changed much in the intervening years.” Quinn’s frown deepened. “I can think of no reason he would want to kill me. Besides, were I to die, he wouldn’t stand to profit. Before my marriage to you, Skye would have inherited my unentailed property and possessions, and now you will.” He shrugged. “If Montreux is involved, we will flush him out.”
Venetia suddenly gave a start, as if recollecting her purpose. “That reminds me…I just saw the Morning Chronicle. It says you will attend a professional boxing match in South Hampstead this afternoon.”
“Yes.”
Her expression turned anxious. “You can’t seriously be considering using yourself to bait a trap.”
“In fact, I am. Hawk is fully supportive and will provide the personnel. We have it all carefully planned. We mean to set up our villain and encourage him to make a move.”
“You deliberately intend to make it easy for him to kill you.”
“To attempt it, yes. With luck we will expose the culprit this afternoon.”
“You cannot depend on luck,” she retorted almost angrily.
“There is no call to be upset.”
“Of course there is! You are risking your life.”
“My life is at risk no matter what I do. This way I hope to have some measure of control over the time and place for an attack.”
“I am also upset that you didn’t trust me enough to tell me of your scheme ahead of time. I had to read about it in the morning newspaper.”
“I knew you would object. Additionally, I didn’t want you to become involved.”
“But I am involved—”
“Don’t rip up at me, love.”
She gave an exhalation, clearly torn between exasperation and worry. “You relish danger far too much, Quinn.”
“Hardly. I have been cowering behind my armed servants for weeks.”
“But you could lose your life.”
“Come here, sweetheart.” He drew her into his arms, despite her reluctance to be placated. “My demise is very unlikely. But even if it were likely to happen, I must act. We are making no progress as it is.”
Venetia shuddered. “I fear for you every time you leave the house. I couldn’t bear it if something were to happen to you.”
He suspected she had not meant to sound so ardent and emotional. But he was pleased to think she was more invested in his welfare than she let on.
“I knew it,” he murmured, his tone faintly teasing. “You are more fond of me than you admit.”
“I have a care for your skin, even if you don’t.”
“Oh, I have a great care for my skin.”
When she started to protest further, Quinn placed two fingers on her lips. “Venetia, you should trust me. I promise to take every possible precaution.”
“Oh, very well.”
Wrapping her arms about his neck, she raised her lips to his. Her kiss was brief but hard and fervent, conveying her unspoken fears. As she pulled away, something unlodged in his chest, a warm, unfolding sensation.
“Please, Quinn…come home safely,” she pleaded, looking up at him with her huge, luminous eyes.