Now he was well, and she would be rid of him.Perhaps Tom could return him to London tonight.The darkness might keep him from divining their location, and he would never be able to connect the three of them to Hargate.
Kate frowned.Although it sounded logical, she suspected that even blindfolding the canny marquess would not help.He probably could see even in the night, like other dangerous predators.
But there was little she could do when the man wanted nothing more than to get away from them.If they were lucky, once gone he would not pursue the matter, especially with a magistrate.
***
Kate took his dinner up to him only because she knew Lucy would not do it, and Tom… Well, the way Tom had been acting—like a mongrel marking his territory—it would be easier to do it herself.
She arranged the slices of fresh bread, meat pie and cherry tart on the plate.It had been good to bake, she thought with a firm nod.She felt better than she had in days, and she was determined not to let Grayson ruin her mood.
He was abed when she entered, but not asleep, for she quickly caught his gaze, clear and assessing.Those sharp eyes missed nothing, she realized, swallowing at the daunting knowledge.
“Here is your dinner,” she said, putting the tray down on the bed.“After you’ve finished, I’m sure Tom would be happy to take you back to London.”There.She had said it, but she moved to the table, unwilling to see his relief.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Startled, Kate glanced over her shoulder to find him watching her with his usual composure.“I told you that I do not intend to leave until I ferret out the scoundrel who used my name.”
He had said that, but that was before… Kate looked down at the remains of the breakfast tray, stubbornly refusing to feel anything.“But you said you would not be kept here forever.”
“I meant confined to the bed, pup.”
The richness of his voice seeped into Kate’s bones, warming some part of her that she had not known was cold.Declining to melt, she straightened her spine determinedly.“Don’t call me that.”
“What?Pup?Poppet, then,” he said.His lips were curved into a hint of a smile, but she could see no trace of disdain.“I do not like being bound to the bed or even to the room,” he said, gesturing to encompass his prison.“I have never been ill before, and I cannot say I care for it.”
Kate felt her own mouth twitch in reply.This was all the apology she would get, but she would take it.Hiding her pleasure, she reached out for the breakfast glass and found it empty.She swiveled toward him.“What did you do with the milk?”
He lifted a brow.“What do you think?”
She put a hand on her hip.“I imagine you tossed it out the window.”
His lips curled just enough to warm her insides.“What a poor opinion you hold of me.I drank it.”
“What?”
“I drank it.I grew thirsty and suspected that you would not bring me anything else until it was gone.”
“What a poor opinion you hold of me,” she said, echoing his words.
He grinned, and the effect was astounding.Surely, even Lucy could not deny the beauty of the man when he revealed that expanse of straight white teeth.Staring numbly, Kate watched his attention on her sharpen.
“What the devil are you wearing?”
Kate flushed, remembering her trousers.When she put them on, she had been angry and out of sorts.Now she found she did not want to face his contempt.“I have work to do,” she said brusquely.
“What kind of work?”
“I keep busy,” she said.
“That is no answer.”
“It doesn’t matter.These clothes make it easier to get about.I like them.”She knew her cheeks were bright with color, but she kept her chin up and her gaze level with his.
“I like them, too.”His voice seemed to deepen, flowing over her like rich chocolate, and Kate felt the touch of his gaze everywhere.She swallowed.Apparently, she had been wrong to suspect he would disapprove.The man never behaved as one would expect.
“I’m surprised your father allows you to wear them,” he said.
