Niles allowed a small, knowing smile. “Then it seems I’m exactly where I should be.”
Bedford’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you care so much, Westcott? Elsbeth means nothing to you.”
“That’s not true,” Niles shot back. “We’re friends.”
“Is that why you agreed to help her?” Bedford demanded, his tone mocking.
“At first,” Niles admitted, leaning back slightly, “I agreed because I was intrigued.”
Bedford scoffed. “Intrigued? So Elsbeth is nothing more than a diversion to you? Someone to occupy your time?”
“No, that’s not—” Niles began, but his words faltered when a familiar voice came from the doorway.
“What would you say then, Lord Westcott?” Elsbeth demanded, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she stepped into the room, her eyes blazing with anger.
Niles shot to his feet. “Elsbeth, please?—”
“Save your breath,” she cut him off. “I heard what you said. Do you even care about me at all, or am I just here to stave off your boredom?”
He took a tentative step towards her, his heart sinking as she took a step back. “Please, let me explain.”
“I don’t think anything you say will change what I heard,” she replied, her voice cracking slightly despite her composed demeanor.
Before he could respond, Elsbeth spun on her heel and stormed out of the room, leaving an uneasy silence in her wake.
Bedford chuckled dryly from his seat. “Well done, Westcott. Let’s see how you manage to talk your way out of this one.”
Niles shot him a glare. “You’re an arse,” he muttered before hurrying after Elsbeth.
He followed her through the corridor and out onto the veranda, his boots echoing against the stone. Elsbeth was standing at the edge, her back to him, her hands gripping the iron railing as if it were the only thing grounding her.
“Elsbeth,” he said softly.
She didn’t turn around. “What do you want, Niles?”
“I want a chance to explain,” he said, his tone earnest as he stepped closer.
Finally, she turned to face him, her eyes defiant. “I heard you. You find me ‘intriguing’, and I’m just here to amuse you.”
He sighed, his heart aching at the hurt in her voice. “I do find you intriguing, Elsbeth. That much is true. How could I not? You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met.” He paused, searching for the right words. “At first, I was curious—fascinated, even. You were a highwaywoman, after all.”
“And that’s the only reason you agreed to help me?” she challenged, her voice rising slightly.
“No,” he said firmly, his gaze holding hers. “There were many reasons. One of them was to ensure you didn’t get yourself killed.”
“So, it was just a matter of honor for you?” she pressed.
“Perhaps at first,” Niles admitted. “But things have changed between us. You can’t deny that, can you?”
She looked away. “I don’t know what to believe.”
He stepped closer, closing the distance between them, and was pleased when she didn’t move away. “You are stubborn. Maddening. Vexing…”
Her brow arched. “Is there a point to this?”
A grin tugged at his lips despite the tension between them. “Yes, there is a point,” he replied. “You are all those things, Elsbeth. But you are also so much more. You have brought me to life in ways I didn’t realize I needed. You’ve reminded me there’s more to living than managing accounts and fulfilling duties. I can’t stop thinking about you.”
Her eyes searched his, uncertainty and hope mingling in her expression. “What are you saying, Niles?”
