Page 60 of Sir Durham’s Disarming Asset

Rafe followed Zeph out to the reception room. “Let me take you home.”

Fear, anger, and defeat mingled in her expression. She merely nodded.

“Thank you for this,” she said as his carriage stopped on the pavement.

Rafe took her hand to lead her up the step. “I understand.”

In his carriage, he committed the unusual act of sitting beside her. If he could not embrace her, he could at least be near her and give her what solace she would allow him to grant.

When she was settled, she gazed at him with serious eyes. “How is it you always understand me?”

Because I love you, he wanted to reply.

But she answered herself. “I understand you.”

He gave her a ghost of a smile. “I suppose that is natural.”

“Given all that we have done together?” She sniffed, as if dismissing the truth of it.

“Yes.” Why was she so intuitive about him, his attitudes, his desires…about all he wished for in this world?

She sat stiff as marble. “I did not care for this Tauzain. He was…too watchful of me. Too intense.”

“You saw that,” he said. This was more evidence that she was recovering so well from her trauma in the Conciergerie that she could analyze a strange man’s actions and emotions. “Yes. That is his nature.”

“Have you any idea who he really is?” She searched his gaze.

“Not yet. We once speculated he is old aristocracy. But that seems to be refuted by his actions to track only those who have betrayed Bonaparte.”

“Or Vaillancourt.”

“Yes, him.”

“I fear for my young friend, Cosette.”

“Carlisle has his men following her now.”

“And O’Neill, too?”

“O’Neill’s man Duggan will continue to follow you.”

She rolled a shoulder. “And you? Do you have others who follow me? James?”

“Not James. He protects all in my household.”

“Does he need to?” she challenged him.

“Yes.”

“Will you tell me why?”

“That is a longer discussion than this ride.”

“So you will.”

He nodded. “But not tonight.”

She pressed her lips together, and he predicted she fought tears.