Page 62 of The Paid Companion

“Yes, well, I daresay that few people know you well enough to make such a judgment, and that, too, is no doubt your own fault.”

“How the devil can you place the responsibility for that at my doorstep?”

“I do not mean to give offense, sir, but you do not encourage—” She broke off abruptly, aware that the word she had been about to use—intimacy—was not quite thebon motshe was searching for to describe his aloof, self-controlled nature. “Let us say that you do not encourage close personal relationships.”

“And with good reason. Such associations frequently get in the way of sound business decisions.”

“I do not, for one minute, believe that to be your motive for keeping most people at a distance. The truth, I suspect, is that it is your overriding sense of responsibility that makes it difficult for you to let down your guard. You do not feel that you can afford to take the risk of trusting someone else to take control for a while.”

“You possess an unusual view of my temperament,” he muttered.

“And in myunusual view,I am quite certain that you are a man of strong if tightly controlled passions.”

He gave her an odd look, as though she had just provided him with cause to doubt her sanity. “Tell me, Miss Lodge, do you really believe that I would chase after a runaway fiancée underanycircumstances?”

“Oh, yes, my lord. If your passionate nature was involved, you would pursue her into the gates of Hell itself.”

He grimaced. “A very poetic image.”

“However, sir, you didnotpursue Juliana that night last year. Therefore, we are left with the results of your decision.”

“Explain to me again why I should resolve the Burnleys’ financial difficulties,” he said grimly. “I do not seem to be able to grasp the crux of your argument.”

“It is really very simple, sir. If you had pursued the lovers that night, the chances are excellent that Juliana would be your countess today and would, therefore, possess no financial worries of any sort. For his part, Roland would still be in his father’s good graces and no doubt happily spending his plump quarterly allowance on tailors and boot makers.”

He shook his head in wonder. “Your logic leaves me quite speechless, Miss Lodge.”

“But you cannot fault it, can you?”

“Do you know what I think, Miss Lodge? I do not believe that you leaped to your conclusion through any process involving logic or sound reasoning.”

“No?”

“I think you are pleading Juliana’s case because of those damned delicate sensibilities you claim you do not possess.”

“Rubbish.”

“Admit it. Your soft heart was touched by Juliana’s tears.” He was amused. “As I recall, she has a talent for being able to cry on cue.”

“She did not cry.”

He raised his brows.

“Very well, mayhap there were a few tears,” Elenora admitted. “But I assure you, she was quite sincere. I do not think that anything except the most extreme desperation could have induced her to approach me.” She took a breath. “My lord, I realize that your private affairs are none of my business.”

“A very insightful observation, Miss Lodge. I could not agree more.”

“Nevertheless—”

“Nevertheless, youareinterfering in my affairs,” he finished for her. “No doubt because you simply cannot help yourself. Indeed, I believe that it is in your very nature to intrude into my private business, just as it is in the nature of a cat to bedevil a hapless mouse that it has cornered.”

She flushed, shaken by his opinion of her.

“You are no mouse,” she managed weakly. She did not add that if there was a hunting cat in this vehicle, he was seated directly across from her.

Arthur, however, did not appear convinced of her assertion. “You are certain that I am not playing mouse to your cat?”

“My lord.”She swallowed, tightened her fingers together in her lap and glowered. “You are teasing me.”