Part 38 (1/2)
”When I was-” At once, he realized the truth. Adrian wasn't abducted. Sir was.
She crossed her arms over her chest. ”When. You. Were. What?”
d.a.m.nation! For the first time in his life, words failed him. ”Uh ...”
Her eyes narrowed. ”When. You. Were. What?”
He winced. ”How long have you known?”
”Only since this morning.” She studied him coolly.
”How did you find out?”
”I found my letters in your desk.”
”You went into my desk?” Indignation sounded in his voice.
She raised a brow. ”I thought you had nothing to hide.”
”I don't now,” he said under his breath. He studied her cautiously. ”Are you very furious?”
”This morning I was furious. Very furious. As the day wore on, I became less angry and more determined that you needed to be taught a lesson.”
”At the very least,” he said staunchly. She didn't seem nearly as angry as he thought she'd be. Perhaps this wouldn't be as bad as he had antic.i.p.ated. ”The Langham then?”
A reluctant smile tugged at the corners of her lips. ”It was going quite well, too. And then, of course, you were kidnapped.” She paused. ”I do feel bad about that as it was ultimately my fault. Oh, not in the way my abduction was orchestrated by you-”
He cringed.
”But it was my mad cousin who had already killed two men, holding a knife to your throat.”
”Not at all your fault.”
”I know that. Still ...” A shadow pa.s.sed across her eyes and she shuddered. At what she had seen or what she had done or what might have been, it scarcely mattered.
”My mother would have been most upset.”
She cast him a grateful smile. ”As would I.”
He stepped toward her. ”Evie.”
She held out her hand to stop him and stepped back. ”Very nearly losing you put your deceit-all of it-into an interesting perspective. While coming to your rescue, I had time to think.” She pulled a deep breath. ”I understand, given the nature of the department, the need for secrecy. But I don't understand why that applied to me.”
”Once I had met you as myself ...” He chose his words with care. ”I wanted you to, well, want me. The man who had an extensive family and a new t.i.tle and all the rather ordinary responsibilities that went along with it. Not the man who ferreted out information and apprehended villains and lived a life of secrets and danger.” He stepped closer. She studied him warily but didn't move. ”I was already in love with you by then.”
”I used to think we met by chance. It wasn't chance, was it?”
”No.” He shook his head. ”Your manner had changed and there was concern as to your loyalty. And rightly or wrongly, I saw it as my opportunity.”
”I see,” she said slowly. ”I am a.s.suming you then discovered I had simply grown weary of working for the department?”
He nodded.
”When you married me-”
”I did so because I could not imagine my life without you.”
”Aside from matters pertaining to Sir and the department. . .” She met his gaze directly. ”Have you ever lied to me?”
”I lie to you all the time.”
Shock widened her eyes.
He moved closer. ”The last time you wore that bilious green gown with the cream-colored lace and asked me if I liked it, I lied.”
”I see.” She nodded. ”Go on.”