Page 22 of How to Fall for a Scoundrel

“I’d be happy to go and investigate his town house, if you can find out his address.”

“If by ‘investigate’ you mean ‘break into and search illegally,’ then no, thank you. We’ll do this without breaking any laws.”

He groaned. “But doing things by the book takesso much time. Don’t you ever get impatient to see justice done?”

“Of course I do, but two wrongs don’t make a right.”

He groaned again, like a petulant child, and she suppressed a laugh.

“You clearly don’t have the creative mindset needed to be a successful thief.” He sighed. “You’re far too encumbered with morals and principles.”

She chuckled. “Yes, it’s most inconvenient.”

“I suppose it was inevitable, considering your family name is Law. You were bound to be tiresomely honest. Have you noticed how often you meet people whose name matches their job? Like a turnkey named Locke or an executioner named Hackett.”

“You may be on to something. I once met a gravedigger called Mr. Bury.”

“It happens all the time.”

“Is that why you chose ‘Henri Bonheur’?”

He nodded. “Better to be ‘Happy Henry’ than ‘Simple Simon’ or ‘Boring Bartholomew.’ Do you know the name Eleanor comes from ancient Greek? It means ‘sun ray,’ or ‘shining light.’”

Ellie smiled. “I like to think I brighten people’s days. Where does Harry come from?”

“It’s short for Henry, of course. Which is a good, solid, kingly name. I believe it means ‘ruler.’”

“Rather like CharlesKing, then.”

He lifted his chin and adopted a regal pose. “I like it. It suits me.”

She snorted back a laugh. “You have such an elevated opinion of yourself.”

“On the contrary, I know my own worth. Which is something you, Ellie dearest, constantly fail to do.”

His gaze rested on her face, and she suddenly felt very warm indeed. His propensity to go from teasing to saying something quite profound in a heartbeat was incredibly disarming.

“You shouldn’t underestimate yourself, or your abilities,” he said softly. “You are remarkable. Never forget it.”

The interior of the coach had suddenly become strangely intimate. Heat tingled in her cheeks at his praise, but she was saved from having to answer as they pulled up in front of King & Co.

She pushed open the door as soon as the carriage rocked to a stop, and jumped down without bothering to wait for help.

Harry leaned forward in his seat. “I won’t come in. I’ll let you and your colleagues start to investigate Willingham. I’ll be in touch soon.” He blew her a kiss. “Au revoir, ma belle.”

Harry started to whistle under his breath as the carriage pulled away. All in all, that had been a very successful morning.

They’d made excellent progress on the case, and Elliehad been a delightful companion. He’d relished the opportunity to see her at work.

He’d thoroughly enjoyed their verbal sparring, too, and the way she tried to hide her reactions from him was highly entertaining. She liked to think of herself as logical and unemotional, but he hadn’t missed the way her cheeks flushed and her eyes had lingered on his body when he’d stripped for the tailor, nor how she bristled at his attempts to get under her skin.

The devil in him couldn’t resist teasing her, just to get a reaction. He loved the way her eyes sparkled and her lips parted in exasperation. Unfortunately, that inevitably led to thoughts of howelsehe could make her eyes sparkle and her lips part—with desire.

Kissing her beneath that mistletoe might have been a mistake. Because now whenever he looked at her mouth, all he could think of was the softness of her skin and the tiny gasp she’d made when their lips had touched.

He wanted to hear it again.

Chapter Eleven