Page 21 of A Story of Love

“What?” she all-but shrieked.

David nodded smugly. “I have a signed confession attesting to the fact that he picked up several mutineers after they ran the ship aground on some godforsaken rock off the coast of South America.”

“I do not believe it! Severn operated under a letter of marque; he would be honor bound to bring any mutineers back home to stand trial.”

“I know all that, Lori,” David said, not bothering to hide his annoyance. “But he didn’t bring any mutineers back, did he?”

“You said he rescued them. What do you mean by that? Rescued them from what or whom? And if he didn’t bring them here, where did he take them? And why?”

“Those are all excellent questions, and I look forward to the answers you find.”

“Accusing Severn of abetting mutineers is a deadly serious matter.” A great deal more serious than the accusations David had made against Severn last year.

David’s smile was snakelike and reminded her of why she didn’t trust him any farther than she could throw him. “Oh, my dear Lori, I’m not making any accusations. I will wait and do that after you do your job and bring me the evidence I need.”

What a novel concept for a journalist, she wanted to retort. Lori held his gaze for a long moment before nodding. “Very well. I will see what I can find.”

“Good.” He abruptly broke eye contact and began to shuffle the papers on his desk, her cue to leave. “Now. If there is nothing else, you are free to leave.”

Lori glared at the top of his bowed head for a long moment, willing it to combust. When her fantasy failed to materialize, she turned on her heel and left without another word.

David Parker was an infuriating, odious toad. The only way she could be rid of him—and get her book before a reputable publisher—was to find the information he had so arrogantly demanded. To allow his obnoxious behavior to drive her to do something reckless would only confirm his belief that she was incapable of the job she had been given.

As Lori stormed past his startled clerk, she swore to herself then and there that she would do whatever it took to prove the insufferable rodent wrong.

Or die trying.

Chapter 6

“Miss Fontenot went to David Parker’s office immediately after receiving your letter,” Gregg said, examining his neatly trimmed fingernails as he sprawled in the oversized wingchair in front of Fast’s desk.

Fast smirked at that news. “I hope she went there to give the bastard a proper raking.”

Gregg laughed. “I would not be surprised; she looked as angry as a hornet.” Mr. Pouncefoot-Jones leapt onto his lap, and he absently scratched the big black tomcat behind the ears, his gaze suddenly growing distant. “I don’t think Lady Sedgewick was in the house when the Runners called.”

Fast frowned. “What has that to do with anything?”

Gregg shrugged. “Just an observation.”

“You’re not…er, interested in her, are you?”

Gregg’s eyes narrowed. “What if I were?”

“You needn’t snap my nose off!” he said, amused by the other man’s baleful glare. Rather than be repulsed by Gregg’s obvious displeasure, Fast said, “You may fancy whomever you please—it’s certainly makes no odds to me—but you should know the countess earns her crust by grinding the spontaneity out of young women and training them to be demure, obedient wives who would never embarrass their aristocrat husbands.”

“I am perfectly aware of what she does to earn her crust,” Gregg said, his eyes harder than granite. “What, pray, is your point, Severn?”

“What I am trying to say, very clumsily, is that Lady Sedgewick is a stickler for propriety and would never spare a glance for a former privateer. No matter how handsome or wealthy the man might be.”

“I am exceedingly flattered by your concern for me, Severn,” Gregg said acidly.

Fast barked a laugh. “That’s me put in my place.” He had not wanted to speak of such matters to begin with but felt that Piers Gregg—a man unaccustomed to the ways of the haute ton—deserved to know the lay of the land.

And now that Fast had discharged that duty he could dismiss it from his mind and return to a subject that truly interested him: Miss Fontenot.

“How long was she at Parker’s office?” he asked.

“If you’re asking whether she stayed long enough for a fuck and cuddle, the answer is yes.”