Page 34 of The Truth About Lord Stoneville

He bit back an oath. Hadn’t he just decided he couldn’t? “I’m not sure what you mean,” he said, praying his sister couldn’t read his thoughts.

“It’s just that she seems to be a very nice, respectable woman, for all your hinting that she is not. I don’t know where she got that ghastly gown, but—”

“Actually, that’s my fault. She was wearing mourning for her father when I encountered her, and I couldn’t have Gran asking why she was going against propriety bygetting engaged to me while in mourning. So I . . . er . . . acquired a gown for her at the brothel.”

“Because you wanted to portray her as a fallen woman,” Minerva said with a measure of disapproval.

He bristled. “You asked me to handle this, so that’s what I’m doing. If you don’t like my methods, you can damned well come up with your own.”

She cast him an assessing glance. “But I’m not the only one to question your methods, am I? I gather that Miss Butterfield took issue with them as well.”

He snorted. “That’s putting it mildly.”

His saucebox of a sister broke into a grin. “Ooh, what did she do while you were in that room alone? Do tell!”

“Not a chance. I don’t need her teaching you any new tricks.”

“You’re no fun at all,” she complained. “Well, I’m sure you deserved whatever she did. And that’s my point: I rather like her. So it doesn’t seem fair for her to be put in a situation where she could be—”

“Ruined by a scoundrel like me,” he finished for her.

“Compromised,” she corrected. “I know that you wouldn’t deliberately ruin a respectable woman. But you must admit you have a talent for making women fall in love with you, and then breaking their hearts.”

“Oh, for God’s sake, I don’tmakewomen do anything.” He set the goblet down hard on the table. “They just don’t listen when I say I’m not interested in marriage.”

“All the same, I’d hate to see Miss Butterfield harmed by her association with you, when she’s being so kind asto help us with Gran. It was one thing when I thought you were going to hire someone who would understand the nature of the situation. But Miss Butterfield is unmarried and probably as susceptible to your flirtations as any other young lady. If she should misunderstand your intentions—”

“She won’t,” he broke in. “Nor does she have any romantic interest in me.” Except as “practice,” he thought sourly. “She has a real fiancé.”

A startled expression crossed her face. “You’re bamming me.”

“I’m not. The Nathan she mentioned isn’t her cousin. He’s engaged to her, and he’s gone missing somewhere in England. In exchange for her help with Gran, I’m hiring a runner to look for him. So you needn’t worry about my breaking her heart or any of that rot. This is a business arrangement, nothing more.”

His sister’s eyes gleamed with interest. “Is it, indeed?”

He forced himself to meet her gaze steadily. “Of course it is. Surely you didn’t think I would actually marry the chit.”

“To be honest, I’m never sure what you might do.”

“Well, I’m not marrying some sweet-faced innocent. But Gran clearly believes I would, which is why this might work. Gran has already tried paying Maria off to abandon the engagement.”

An odd look crossed Minerva’s face. “That doesn’t sound like Gran.”

“Why not?” He eyed his sister askance. “She always uses her money to get what she wants.”

“But what she wants is to see us married. You, in particular.”

“She wants to see us marriedwell.It’s not the same.”

Minerva shrugged. “If you say so.” She gave an exaggerated yawn. “I think I’ll retire, too. It’s been a long day.”

As she turned for the door, he called out, “If I wanted to read one of your books, would you lend me a copy?”

With a chuckle, Minerva faced him again. “Curious to know what I said about Rockton?”

“What do you expect?” he said sullenly. “You made me out to be a villain.”

“For three books now. You never wanted to read them before.”