Page 23 of Sir Durham’s Disarming Asset

She smiled at him in thanks. She really did not wish to fight with him. He was too agreeable.

His expression softened, even if one black brow rose in question.

“How do we find my new companion? Do we go to a servants’ registry? Or ask your household staff? Or—”

He fingered his coffee cup. “We will go visit your friends tomorrow. Gus and Amber first. They have been here in Town for years and have friends who will have ideas for a companion. Inès might know of a few, but, of course, she is rather indisposed.”

“How is it you know them so well? You even address them by their given names. Did you know them in Paris?”

“No. Never.” He took a drink of his coffee, then indicated that the nearby footman should refill his cup. “I was in Paris most recently on business during the peace of Amiens in 1802. But I have visited Paris many times, Rouen and Bordeaux most often, with my father from the time I was seventeen. I was never in the company of Countess Nugent, nor the old Duc d’Orleans. But I was often there in ’93 and ’94, near the end of the Terror.”

“Paris was a nightmare.”

“It was. Where were you?”

She wrinkled her nose. “My father left me at first in Compiègne with a governess. Away from the chaos of Robespierre, he said.” She picked up her toast and broke it into a thousand little pieces. “The people there were as angry, as violent as what people described in Paris. They carried a local lord to the church and tore him limb from limb. My governess and two footmen took me to a small house where her sister lived. That woman kept us from the crowds. Sometimes we slept in the caves beneath the house.” She caught his eyes. “Did you know that French people have hidden beneath their houses in caves ever since Catholics fought Protestants there?”

He shook his head. “How long did you stay?”

She shrugged, suddenly feeling the chill of the ancient French tunnels. “A week. Then my father had written to my governess that I was to go to Madame Campan’s school. And off I went, back to Paris.”

“Zeph, you have survived tribulations many will never face.”

She pursed her lips. “I intend to keep doing that.”

He smiled. “I know. And so well, too.”

She gave a little laugh. “Even though you are vexed with me.”

He reached across the table and covered her hand in his strong, warm one. His first sign of affection in weeks had her whole body stirring with frantic need for more. “You try me, I admit. But always it seems in the service of good.”

She tossed her hair, an act that always lit his green eyes like brilliant emeralds. “Ah, then you should reward me.”

“I will.”

Perhaps you will kiss me? Improbable, eh? “So…a visit to my solicitor?”

“Unannounced? Well, why not?” He grunted and took away his hand. “Yes, that! Go get dressed.” He reached for his golden pocket watch strung through the loops of his ruby-red waistcoat buttonholes.

She liked his hands, big and broad, strong as iron clamps, yet soft to the touch. Strong on her heart, soft on her soul, his hands could ignite a world of flaming pleasure in her.

She had to keep him guessing, worried, working for her, didn’t she?

Her handsome bear.

Chapter Seven

Two days after being put off by the solicitor’s clerk, who’d said he was not in that day, Zeph and Rafe were off to the man’s offices.

Zeph sat in the forward-facing seat of Rafe’s town coach, while he took the opposite. She hated the distance from him, but on such a fine day—and an appointment with her father’s solicitor—she would not argue.

Fighting Rafe would gain her little anyway. She had tried that.

Besides, the other man who faced her was a tall, muscular footman. Fine looking, too. James was his name, and Rafe had informed her, as the fellow followed them out to Rafe’s carriage, that the servant was assigned to her.

“Why is that?” she demanded while James looked suitably aloof, acting as if he heard nothing. His attention was on the street and the pedestrians. So devoted did he seem, she felt the point of alarm.

“Every young lady who goes out to shop or meet a friend for tea requires the assistance of a footman.”