Page 10 of How to Fall for a Scoundrel
A sharp knock on the back door made all three of them jump. Tess stayed where she was, but when Daisy started for the door, Ellie waved her back. She took asteadying breath and went to open it herself, and found the man in question lounging negligently against the doorframe, looking just as handsome as he had the night before.
A navy overcoat hung from his shoulders, a matching top hat perched on his head at a jaunty angle, and a silver-topped walking cane completed the ensemble. It was tucked beneath his arm, however, since he held before him a large terra-cotta pot filled with a green, leafy plant.
“Morning, Ellie, my sweet.” He smiled, and the dimples made an appearance. “You look rather studious.”
Ellie cursed silently. She snatched the offending spectacles from her nose and thrust them in her pocket; she’d forgotten she was wearing them. Painfully conscious of the way her cheeks were heating, she swung the door wide to usher him in.
“I come bearing gifts.” He thrust the pot and its leafy contents into her hands.
Ellie backed up, careful to avoid contact with his muscular frame. “What’s this?”
“A gift. For you.”
The delicious scent of his cologne enfolded her in an olfactory embrace as he stepped past her, and she closed her eyes, praying for strength. The man smelled irresistible. Perhaps he was some kind of sorcerer—a genie, capable of bewitching unsuspecting victims into doing his bidding.
To protect herself, she sniffed the plant, trying to identify the scent, and frowned at his back as he preceded her into the front office and made his own introductions.
“Lady Dorothea, it’s a pleasure to see you again. And I assume I have the honor of addressing Her Grace, the Duchess of Wansford?” He removed his hat and bowed to both Daisy and Tess.
Daisy sent him a pleased, intrigued smile, while Tess nodded regally and finished pouring a second cup of tea. “You do indeed.”
“Henri Bonheur, your most humble servant.”
Ellie deposited the potted plant on her desk with a thump.
“You’ve bought us a present?” Tess asked.
“I have. In Italy, it’s traditional to give basil to bring good luck and ward off poverty.”
“How kind.” Tess smiled, delighted.
“Plus,” he continued, “the name ‘basil’ derives from the Greek word ‘basilius,’ which means ‘king.’ It seemed rather fitting, considering the name of your agency.”
Ellie frowned. The man was already ridiculously handsome. Did he have to be considerate and well educated too?
As if aware of her silent irritation, he sent her a teasing smile. “Cut flowers only last for a few days. With this, you’ll have a constant reminder of me.”
Ellie couldn’t decide if that was a blessing, or a curse. Daisy sent an envious glance at his silver-topped cane. The handle was modeled as a lion’s head, with a shaggy mane and snarling mouth.
“Is that a sword stick?”
“It is indeed.” He held it forward obligingly, and Daisy inspected it with obvious delight.
“I’ve been thinking about getting one of these. How do you release the blade?”
“There’s a catch, beneath the lion’s jaw. Press it.”
Daisy did so, and revealed the slim two-sided blade that had been hidden inside the stick with a satisfying hiss. “How marvelous!”
He removed it from her avaricious grip and slid the dangerous-looking weapon away. “It’s come in handy atime or two, certainly. The element of surprise is always useful.”
“Ellie told us about your meeting last night,” Daisy said. “I must say, it was extremely impertinent of you to pretend to be our Mr. King and accept a case. We don’t usually investigate burglaries.”
He shrugged. “It was a calculated risk. But one I’m hoping has paid off. Money is money, after all, and five hundred pounds is not to be sneezed at. Are you willing to let me be of assistance with Mr. Bullock?”
Ellie leaned against the edge of her desk and crossed her arms. Her father always berated her for the pose, saying it made her look like a fishwife, but she didn’t care. “Henri Bonheur” made her feel extremely combative. She sent a silent look at first Tess, then Daisy, and noted their almost imperceptible nods.
“We are,” she said firmly. “But only on a probationary basis. If you prove useful in this case we’ll consider you for further collaboration, but if you doanythingto jeopardize the investigation, we will end our association with you immediately.”