Page 55 of Lord of Mistrust

Chloe gazed up at him, her eyes searching his face. Her own expression was solemn. “That was a generous offer on my father’s part. But then again, he was throwing you into a situation which might have cost you your life. I can’t forgive him for that, either. I assume you haven’t yet succeeded in incriminating Brooke? I always suspected him to be a vile serpent.”

Robert hung his head. “I failed dismally. He wasn’t supposed to know who I was or that I had any association with you, but I ruined everything last night.”

She squeezed his hand. “You came to my rescue. I was planning to knee him in his privy parts if he took advantage, however, so I could have saved you the trouble.”

He stared at her and, a strangled laugh escaped him. “You really are the most extraordinary person, Chloe. And from experience, I can guarantee that would have done the trick.”

“Oh, Robert, I’m so sorry about that.”

“Nonsense—I deserved it. I’ve treated you abominably. I should never have left you there with the odious Brooke last night. A man should not walk away from a fight.”

“But there was no fight left in Lord Brooke. He was taken into the palace to lick his wounds, and Sir Francis saw us home.”

“Walsingham?” Robert’s mind raced. “Walsingham was there?” So, the man already knew what a hog’s dinner he’d made of things last night. Once he’d finished apologizing to Chloe, he’d better seek the spymaster out and apologize to him, too. Although he hoped the gift of Brooke’s courier, the man with the torn ear, might appease him.

“Aye, he was, but not at the masque itself. Or if he was, he remained well-hidden. But let’s not talk of that now. We have but little time.”

There was a glint in her eyes that made him wonder how she hoped to spend that time. A few tempting ideas stampeded through his mind, but first, he needed to be sure of his ground.

“I have further apologies to make.” He gave her a wry smile. “You won’t have forgotten how I searched you and tipped you upside down when I thought you’d stolen my locket.”

“I haven’t forgotten. But I have forgiven.”

“Your forgiveness is gratefully received. But there was also my behavior when I believed your affection was for sale.” The words stuck in Robert’s throat. How could he ever have thought such a thing? Or had it been wishful thinking on his part, because he’d wanted her so badly that night?

“I’ve forgiven you that as well. It was an honest mistake, and one that amuses me now.”

He gave her a hard stare, but the twinkle in her eyes remained undimmed. Was she trying to flirt with him? He hoped so, though he didn’t deserve it.

“You seem in a very forgiving mood, this morn. So, having forgiven me for thinking you a whore, what of my belief that you were one of the Catholic conspirators?”

Her smile thinned. “When did you think that?”

He sent up a silent prayer. He must confess all, and hope to be shriven. It would be a weighty test of her affections, but he couldn’t have her find it out from anyone else. Walsingham had an uncanny way of knowing exactly what his spies had been up to.

He caressed her hand again and found he was unable to look her in the eyes. “I thought you’d stolen my dispatch. Do you remember that meal I sent you at the White Hart?”

She nodded.

“When you awoke in the night and stopped that weasel-faced villain Harris from shooting me, did you not wonder how you’d come to fall asleep so swiftly that you were still dressed?”

He could feel her eyes on him. He felt so guilty about it now, yet he still felt a frisson of desire at the memory. What a reprobate he was!

“You put something in my ale!” Her eyes widened.

“Aye—I’m ashamed to admit it. I drugged you so I could search you and your belongings for my dispatch.”

The only sound in the room was her rapid breathing. She was disgusted with him, and rightly so. Mayhap he should have held his tongue—he might have ruined any chance of her caring for him still.

“You were doing what you believed necessary at the time. My behavior must have seemed… odd to you. But what, exactly, do you mean when you say you searched me?”

“Fie, Chloe, that’s not important now. Isn’t it enough that I rendered you helpless, then manhandled you? I won’t have you think me better than I am.”

“Because they say love is blind, do they not?” Her voice was seductively low.

He couldn’t let her think of love, couldn’t allow that emotion to beat in his own breast if they couldn’t have one another. It would be a torture worthy of hell.

“If you think you’re in love with me, I should make you stop.” He kissed her hand.