Eliza held in her huff of frustration. She had…multiple times. Bash, in a misguided attempt to protect her, kept telling her not to worry. The men were handling it. She didn’t need to be coddled or protected, she’d been the protector her entire life. “Well, I’m going to ask you. Has anyone found any direct evidence of wrongdoing on my uncle’s part?”
Menace grimaced as he turned to face her, his eyes wandering down her frame. She knew the look. Men often gave her such glances. The difference was the effect his had on her. Heat prickled along her skin.
“Besides when one of his henchmen shot Bash’s driver?”
She stepped closer. “Thank goodness he recovered.”
Menace shrugged. “I agree except the shooter swore it was an accident and where there was no death…”
She frowned. “No wrongdoing.”
“Nope,” he replied, leaning his backside against the wall and kicking out his feet. “I know he sold your house. But that’s it and that was completely legal. Are we done now?”
She moved closer still making certain to add a bit of sway to her hips. He noticed. “Nearly.” She gave him her most angelic smile. The one she used when she needed something. “The mystery man who keeps appearing. Do we know who he is yet?”
A man had raced in and rescued her and her sisters when their uncle had attacked their carriage, but no one knew who he was. They did know that their father had a secret partner and they’d wondered if their mystery man was one and the same but so far, they had gotten no proof.
“Why are you asking me all of this?” He gave her a level stare.
“Because,” she started, then paused. She was close now, close enough to touch him. Her fingers flexed. She shouldn’t want to reach out. She should only be calculating whether or not she should touch him to get the information she needed. “Bash is under the misguided impression that he needs to protect me.”
Menace raised his brows. “How foolish.”
“Exactly,” she replied. “I don’t need protection. I—”
“You practically threw your sister at him in order to gain his protection if I recall.”
He h
ad her there. But Eliza had noticed the attraction between the two when she’d suggested her sister get involved with the duke. “Isabella did need help. Emily and Abigail need him too.”
“But not you…” he murmured.
His voice had dropped so low the sound made her shiver. He’s a rake, she reminded herself. “Not me.”
“But you need my help now?”
Her chin notched up. “Not help. Just information.”
He quirked a one-sided smile that did strange things to her insides as he let out a chuckle. “An important distinction to be certain.”
“What is the harm in giving me a few facts?”
“I don’t know you well enough to know if there is harm in it or not. You seem like you could be dangerous.”
She raised one shoulder. Female pride coursed through her. “I take that as a compliment.”
He pushed off the wall which brought him closer to her body. So close that she could feel his heat. Her dress came off her shoulders exposing a fair bit of skin including her rather ample cleavage. Which was currently covered in goose pimples.
He brought his hand to her shoulder, large and warm, his fingers fanning out so that his pinky rested just about the swelling flesh of her right breast. She shivered at the touch despite herself.
He dropped his chin lower, angling his sharp green eyes to meet hers. “You shouldn’t.”
Eliza did what she knew she shouldn’t. She’d manipulated a fair number of men, but none were as dangerous as this one. He was confident, in control and he made her forget her principles every time he drew near. Still, she moved closer, allowing her breasts to just graze his chest. “There must be some way I could convince you.”
* * *