Page 34 of A Scandal at Stonecliffe

Nathan let out a long breath. “I see.”

“I didn’t think Jonathan saw me, and even if he did, there’s a good chance he wouldn’t recognize me. He was off at school from the time he was nine so we weren’t around each other much. Besides, it seems likely that Asquith’s rumor of my ‘death’ would have made it to Jonathan at some point. Still, I have been careless. I’ve lingered too long in the ton as Mrs. Billingham.”

“Perhaps you should drop the role,” Nathan said.

Verity shrugged. “I’ve already used it on this investigation. I could hardly change roles now.”

“Perhaps you shouldn’t continue with this investigation.”

Verity was taken aback for a moment. “Would you rather I didn’t? Do you want me to leave?”

“No,” Nathan said quickly. “No, I’d much rather you stayed with me.” He realized suddenly how his words had sounded, and color flooded into his cheeks. “You’re, um, vital to the investigation. It’s just, you know, your safety...” He cleared his throat. “I understand that Lord Stanhope would be angry with you, but that’s been a very long time. If he did discover you were alive, why not simply turn you into the authorities? Besides, it doesn’t make any sense that the men would be asking you for something.”

“Well, I did take my mother’s jewelry.”

“But surely that would be yours.”

“I’m not certain a Stanhope would view it that way,” Verity replied. “And there was a diamond ring among the others that had belonged to his mother.”

“Even so, he couldn’t expect you to have kept the jewels all this time,” Nathan argued.

“Maybe not. But maybe he thought he could trace it if I revealed who I’d sold it to. Perhaps that information was what they wanted from me.”

“Perhaps. But whoever it is, you’re in danger. I don’t like the idea of you going out tomorrow by yourself to the museum.”

“Nathan, that’s what I do for a living. I’m not going to back out on a client.”

“I could go with you.”

Verity rolled her eyes. “So my client will think I can’t handle it on my own? I have to bring a man to protect us? No.”

“But—”

She cocked an eyebrow. “Are you trying to tell me that I suddenly can’t take care of myself?”

Nathan sighed. “No. Of course not. I just...it worries me.”

“It will be in the daytime, not night, and I will be on my guard this time. I’ll be fine.” She poked a finger at him. “You better be on guard, as well.”

“I give you my solemn vow.” Nathan smiled.

He spent longer than he should have lingering over his glass of brandy. While Verity had good taste in liquor, it wasn’t the quality of the drink that held him well past a polite hour. It was the woman herself; her golden eyes alight as they talked of the mystery of the attack. There was not anything to be said that they hadn’t covered already, but Verity seemed happy to go over each detail and explore every option, and there was nothing that Nathan wanted more than to listen to her.

She was entrancing: her voice, her scent, her keen mind enveloped him, pulling him into her world. In the past Nathan had thought that the only reason any gentleman would work was because he needed the money—but seeing how fascinated Verity was by her profession, it made the parties and social engagements he was accustomed to seem boring in comparison. Of course, Verity made everything seem boring in comparison to her. She was the most alive person Nathan had ever known; when he was with her he felt more alive himself. And when they had kissed tonight it had been as if electricity was running through his veins.

Nathan watched Verity’s lips as she spoke and it was all he could do not to pull her toward him again. Only the fact that he knew nothing would be there to stop them this time kept him from doing so. Even standing in the middle of a road he had barely been able to keep the reins on his passion. He could not risk going down that path now, here. Pulling his eyes away from her mouth took a physical effort, but Nathan finally swallowed the last of his brandy and bade Verity good night.

He was more alert walking home than usual. He even kept the small iron bar in his hand, just in case. If he was going to be around Verity, perhaps he should acquire a better weapon.

Am I going to continue to be near her? One way or another, this matter would be resolved, and he would have no more reason to see her. Back when they had been staying together at Stonecliffe, Nathan would have been glad to be rid of her, but now the thought was distinctly unappealing.

But he wasn’t going to get tangled up in thinking about that now. There were more immediate things he needed to do. Right now there was someone sending miscreants after Verity. It was actually a good thing she had something to keep her inquiring mind occupied tomorrow; Nathan had plans for an investigation all his own.

He couldn’t undo what had happened with Verity’s stepfather—as much as it infuriated him. The man was dead now and beyond his reach.

But here and now he could protect her. This time, this man, whoever he was, was a villain Nathan would stop.

CHAPTER TWELVE