What You Desire (Anything for Love 1)
“Do … do you need the money?” he said forcing his mind to focus. It was an impertinent question. Under the circumstances, he felt justified in asking.
“I’m sure James has already explained. He has some ideas for developing the estate and well, it was something we were going to discuss after the valuation.”
“But you don’t agree.”
She shrugged. “It’s not my estate. What I don’t understand, is why the necklace is in your desk?” she said putting her hands on her hips.
Trying to ignore the way her hands molded the thin fabric to her body, he replied, “A question I have wondered myself.”
Dropping her hands, she stared at him blankly.
“What would you say if I told you I was followed from London by two masked riders?” Sebastian continued, placing the necklace gently onto the velvet cloth. “Whose sole intention was not to relieve me of my purse, but to give me a necklace worth a king’s ransom.”
“Masked riders?” she repeated as tiny furrows appeared on her brow. “Who were they? How did they come to have the necklace?”
“Your brother was the principal rider. He had gone to a great deal of trouble to hide his identity, which I believe was not entirely for my benefit.”
Sebastian studied her reaction carefully.
She should have been shocked. She should have questioned him. However, she did not. It obviously came as no surprise to her, meaning she knew exactly why James found it necessary to wear a disguise. After having a lengthy discussion with her housekeeper, he had an idea, too.
“Did James mention me when he gave you the necklace?”
“Only that I act as your guardian in his absence and keep the necklace safe.” It was not a lie, just a slight manipulation of the truth. Someone needed to take her in hand.
She thrust her chin in the air. “I do not need anyone to take care of me.”
“No? Do you think your brother would approve of you being alone here with me, wearing nothing but a nightdress?”
“Well, he is not here,” she said, a trace of resentment evident in her tone. “You mentioned another man, another rider. Do you know who he was?”
Although she tried to remain expressionless, he could almost hear the little wheels whirring in her head. She wanted information, but why?
“This is where it gets even more intriguing,” he said, pausing briefly for dramatic effect. “The other rider was a woman.”
“A woman!” she exclaimed unable to hide her shocked expression.
Well, that answered his next question. James must have met the woman in London, and recently. Their verbal exchange suggested a level of intimacy, yet James had made the mistake of underestimating her character — a feeling currently plaguing Sebastian.
“Do … do you know who she was?”
“Thankfully, no,” he chuckled, remembering the way she had ridden off in a tantrum. “For some reason I seem to have developed an ability for attracting hotheads.” Indeed, between Miss Beaufort and Mrs. Bernard he did not know if he was coming or going.
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Sophie said, placing her hands on her hips again, the thin fabric stretching tighter across her stomach.
“Please,” Sebastian said through gritted teeth. “If you value your virtue, do not do that again.”
For some obscure reason, he was in a state of semi-arousal and she was certainly not helping matters.
She glanced down and then dropped her hands, her cheeks flushing a pretty shade of pink.
In a desperate bid to change the subject and dampen his desire, Sebastian decided it was time she gave him some answers. “So, now I have been kind enough to tell you all I know regarding your brother and the necklace, I feel it only fitting that you show me the same courtesy.”
“I do not know what you mean.”
Sebastian sighed. “Very well, let me put it plainly. How did you know I had the necklace? Why would you risk your reputation by coming here and what does the French comte have to do with it all?”
She appeared astounded and so Sebastian decided he would make it easy for her. Besides, the sooner he dealt with this, the sooner he could go back to some semblance of normality.