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“Well, not directly,” he admitted.
Disappointment flitted across her face, but she quickly recovered. “I am not at liberty to reveal any confidences she has shared with me, but I will say that Miss Sparrow is one of the most stalwart women I have ever met. Even still, I have found that those who appear to be made of stone often have the softest edges.” Understanding vibrated inside him. “Have a care with her, Mr. Davies,” she added.
“You have my word.” Rafe gave her a short bow, and this time she went on her way.
He took a few steps toward his room, then immediately turned around and headed for the library. As a Crown agent, he was duty bound to maintain his cover at all costs. Apologizing to Miss Sparrow was decidedly out of character for the dissolute scoundrel he was supposed to be. And yet he did nothing to suppress the urgency propelling him forward. For years Rafe had reveled in his role, revealing his true self to only a select few. But in some places the lines between who he was and who he pretended to be were so finely drawn that sometimes he couldn’t tell where he ended and his cover began. The few moments he had spent with Miss Sparrow had made those lines stand out, harsh and unmovable. He didn’t want to be that man. He wasn’t.
Now he burned with a visceral need to be understood. By her. And for the first time in his career, it seemed worth the risk.
***
Rafe had far greater luck tracking Miss Sparrow down than the ever-elusive mole. After a half hour of diligent searching, he found her sitting on the terrace along with Mrs. Crawford and several other ladies. The air still held the morning’s chill, but for the moment it was sunny and bright out. Rafe wished them all a good morning and chatted with the older women for a few minutes to keep up appearances.
Just then Lady Taylor-Smyth approached him while lazily twirling her parasol. The woman never missed an opportunity to draw attention to herself. “Mr. Davies, how lovely to see you at this hour. I was planning on taking a walk through the labyrinth. Care to join?”
Rafe gave her a tight smile.
“Another time, perhaps.”
“I will take you up on that,” she murmured suggestively before sashaying away.
He snuck a glance at Miss Sparrow, who sat near the end of the row, but her eyes were still fixed on the page, a Baedeker guidebook for Egypt. After he finished his greetings, Rafe strolled over and took the empty chair beside her. Miss Sparrow pointedly ignored him and buried herself even deeper into her woolen shawl until the wrapping nearly swallowed her up.
“Are you cold, Miss Sparrow?” he asked loudly enough to draw attention. “I’m happy to find you a blanket.”
Mrs. Crawford immediately leaned forward. “Is that true, child? Careful now. You don’t want to catch a chill.”
Miss Sparrow cast him a dark look before she sat up a little straighter and adjusted her shawl. “No, I’m perfectly fine,” she assured her employer. Then she turned to him with the kind of beatific smile that would send hearts fluttering––if one didn’t notice the flint in her eyes. “Mr. Davies is mistaken.” She lowered her voice so only he could hear. “No doubt afrequentoccurrence for him.”
Rafe let out a full-bodied laugh that was much too loud, but he couldn’t remember the last time a woman had been so blatantly immune to his charms. It was delightful. Miss Sparrow was not so amused. She grumbled something that sounded an awful lot likeImpossible manand resumed her reading.
“I understand Mrs. Crawford is taking you on your first trip abroad,” he began. “I’ve been to Egypt several times. I’d be happy to share my experiences with you or answer any questions you have.”
She did not look up from the page. “That is what this guidebook is for, Mr. Davies,” she said crisply.
By God, she would not make this easy. He suppressed the urge to tug on his collar. “Yes, of course. I won’t take up any more of your time, then. But before I go,” he began, lowering his voice. “Please let me extend my most sincere apologies for last night. I offended you. It was not my intention, but that is rather beside the point, isn’t it?” She turned to him slowly, one eyebrow raised in shock. “I’ve been doing some thinking about what you said,” he continued. “And I’d like to know more about your opinions.”
“You would?” He nodded. “But I spoke so rudely to you.”
Rafe shrugged. “I deserved it.”
She was still incredulous. “I––I suggested that you couldn’t knot your own necktie. To your face.”
“And you weren’t wrong.” He chuckled. “My valet ties the blasted things in more intricate knots than even I can manage.”
Her mouth curved in the faintest hint of a smile. “That must be embarrassing, considering you were once a sailor.”
“Oh, terribly so.” He grinned, then leaned in a little closer. “Please don’t tell anyone. Idohave a reputation to maintain.”
She finally laughed, and it felt as if someone had shot his veins full of sunshine. Rafe had tried all manner of illicit substances over the years, all in the name of experimentation, of course, but nothing had ever come close tothis.
It was dangerously addictive. He wanted more. Immediately.
Miss Sparrow continued smiling at him. “Not to worry. Your secret is safe with me, sir.”
He glanced over and noticed Mrs. Crawford watching them with great interest. Time to move on.
“I hope we have a chance to talk again,” he said as he rose. “Enjoy the sunshine, ladies. I will see you at luncheon.” Then he held Miss Sparrow’s gaze for a beat longer than necessary before he turned and left.
