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He started, letting out a little cough as he did so. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
She pointed her finger and wagged it slowly. “I know what you’re about, so don’t try to fool me.”
That caused him to raise a brow, which annoyed her, because he had obviously mastered the look better than she had. He said, “I beg your pardon?”
“You’re very charming, you know.”
His lips parted slightly, and then, after a brief moment of silence, he said, “I find myself with nothing to say but ‘thank you.’”
“It wasn’t necessarily a compliment.”
“But it might have been?” he asked teasingly.
She shook her head. “You want something from me.”
“Only your friendship.”
“No, you want something, and you’re trying to charm me into getting it.”
“Is it working?”
“No!”
He sighed. “Pity. It usually does.”
“You admit it, then?”
“I suppose I must.” He held up his hands in defeat. “But if you want me to answer your questions, you’re required to humor me and stroll the grounds with me for a few minutes.”
She shook her head. Going anywhere alone with this man was a huge mistake. “I can’t. Lady Danbury is expecting me.”
He flipped open his pocket watch. “Not for another quarter hour.”
“And how do you know that?” she demanded.
“Perhaps you recall that I was hired to manage her affairs?”
“But you’re not her secretary.” Elizabeth crossed her arms. “Estate managers don’t set schedules for their employers.”
Perhaps she was imagining it, but his eyes seemed to grow warmer and more intense. “I have always found,” he said, “that there is nothing so powerful as good information. Lady Danbury is an exacting woman. It seemed prudent to acquaint myself with her schedule so as not to disrupt it.”
Elizabeth pursed her lips. He was right, drat the man! The very first thing she herself had done upon entering Lady D’s employ was memorize her schedule.
“I can see you agree with me, reluctant though you are to compliment me by admitting it.”
She glared at him. Really, this man was beyond arrogant.
“Come, now,” he said coaxingly. “Surely you can spare a few moments to help a newcomer to the area.”
“Very well,” Elizabeth replied, quite unable to refuse when he phrased his request as a plea for help. She had never been able to turn away from anyone in need. “I shall walk with you. But you may only have ten minutes of my time.”
“A most generous lady,” he murmured, and took her arm.
Elizabeth swallowed as his hand looped around the crook of her elbow. She felt it again—that odd, breathy awareness that enveloped her whenever he was near. And the worst part was that he looked as cool and composed as ever.
“Perhaps we could take a short turn through the rose garden?” he suggested.
She nodded, quite unable to say anything else. The heat from his hand had traveled up her arm, and she seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.
