“If we’re being honest then”—he studied her with the intensity of someone searching for a vein of gold—“my flirtation skills are no doubt sorely lacking as I’ve not used them in a while. But, no, I wasn’t flirting, Miss Garrison. Simply speaking the truth.”
Chapter 12
Rook was left with the impression that she’d seldom had the truth of her spoken to her—at least not by anyone other than her father. From what he’d observed, her mother found only faults and her brother cared for only his own interests. As for the gents who’d passed through her life...
She was a gem so rare that they’d been unable to recognize her true value.
However, he had the uncanny ability to ferret out value, whether in an investment opportunity or a person. It was the reason he had friends for whom he’d lay down his life and knew they’d do the same for him, if it was ever asked of them. The reason when he’d first met Aiden and Finn Trewlove, he’d recognized that they were good men, men he was proud to call brothers. The reason he seldom lost money he’d invested. Even when it had seemed he’d made an error in judgment, with patience his instincts had proven correct.
And so it was that he knew Miss Garrison should be treasured. However, not by him, not by someone who had sworn not to marry, who believed it was best if this particular branch of the family tree withered and died. And that wouldn’t happen if it kept sprouting offshoots.
She set her empty glass aside and studied the watch face. “Nearly eleven.” She looked up at him, and he could have sworn her features mirrored regret. “I should probably find Sam, so we can return to the hotel now.”
“Where are you staying?”
“The Trewlove Hotel.”
“Ah, splendid accommodations.”
“Have you stayed there?”
“No, I have a place in town.”
“Of course you do. I suppose through Aiden you know the Trewloves well.”
“I’m beginning to. Across from the hotel is a bookshop owned by Lady Rosemont, within whose garden you engaged in some mischief the other night.”
She blushed so red that the remnants of her freckles were nearly obliterated. “A gentleman wouldn’t have mentioned that.”
“It’s one of my favorite memories.”
She laughed again, and he wished he knew the secret to keeping her doing just that.
“There you go with the meaningless flirting again.”
Not meaningless. He’d meant the words. Their time in the garden was quite possibly his favorite memory. But their time in the nook was a close second. If memories were racehorses, those two encounters would be running neck and neck. But he wasn’t going to argue the point with her because he wasn’t quite certain how he felt about so many of his thoughts revolving around her.
“My carriage is nearby. I’d be delighted to see you and your brother delivered safely to the hotel.”
“That’s very kind. We’ll accept the offer.”
Only they had no luck finding her brother. Not in the library, on the gaming floor, in the dining room—orany number of other rooms, public and private. A fissure of anger rent its way through Rook because Sam Garrison had no doubt gone elsewhere, leaving his sister to fend for herself.
She and he were now standing at the edge of the gaming floor near the doors that led outside.
“It would be entirely inappropriate for me to be in your carriage without Sam. I’ll hire a cab.”
“You think it’s appropriate to be traveling alone this time of night in a hansom cab?”
“More so than traveling with you.”
“You’ve been alone with me in a room, a nook, and a garden. But you’re going to draw the line at a carriage?”
“We’ve no one to ensure we behave.”
He wondered if she wanted to misbehave. He most certainly did. But more he wanted to guarantee her safety. What if the driver preyed on solitary women? What if they were accosted by miscreants? If she wouldn’t allow him to provide her with transportation, he’d at least follow, although in truth, he wouldn’t mind spending a little more time in her company. Hence, the offer to begin with.
“I swear I won’t touch you. Have I ever given you reason to doubt I’m a man of my word?”
