Good God. Had he ever considered her attractive? Surely he was mad. She was infuriating. And clearly toying with him. Bloody hell, she was nothing more than… an infuriating toyer-wither. And his patience had officially been stretched to its limit.
With his narrowed gaze steady on hers, Nathan demanded, “Why are you refusing to return the note to me?”
“I haven’t refused.”
“Then you’ll comply with my request?”
“No… at least not yet.”
“I’m not the sort of man to dance to your merry tune, Lady Victoria.”
“I never said I wanted you to dance to a merry tune.”
“Good. But clearly you want something.”
“I do.”
“How fortunate I am not prone to swooning at hearing shocking statements. What do you want?”
“I want to be included. I want to help you.”
“Help me what?”
“Accomplish the mission my father assigned to you. To recover the jewels.”
Luckily his jaw was attached to his face or it would have landed on his boots. As it was, he couldn’t contain a bark of incredulous laughter. “Absolutely not.”
She shrugged. “Well, then I’m afraid I cannot give you your letter.”
“Why would you want to involve yourself in something that is not only none of your concern, but could potentially be dangerous?”
“Seeing as how both my father and myself may be in danger, and that that letter is the reason I was dispatched to this godforsaken end-of-the-earth place, I believe this is very much my concern. It is now clear to me that I have been subjected to lies and secrecy for more years than I care to contemplate. I refuse to be subjected to them any longer.” Her expression hardened, turning angry. And resolute. Two expressions that would put any man immediately on his guard. “Do you know what it’s like to be lied to, Dr. Oliver?”
He did. And he had not enjoyed the experience. He inclined his head to acknowledge she’d scored a point. “But you cannot be so foolish as to harbor anger because your father did not tell you things that would have compromised the security of this country.”
“No, although I cannot deny feeling foolish-and resentful-that I clearly know very little about the man I grew up with, who I thought I knew and understood extremely well. I am, however, very angry that he did not tell me he might be in danger.”
“I told you-he can take care of himself. And more efficiently if he wasn’t distracted by worrying about the safety of his daughter. He wanted, needed, you to leave London. He obviously thought you would not if you knew the truth.”
“He took away my choices,” Lady Victoria said hotly. “I deserved to know. To be given an opportunity to help him. To know the real reason why I was being sent away. To know I might be in danger as well.” She huffed out a breath. “At least that would have granted me the opportunity to prepare myself. To raise my guard. But no, instead I was patted on the head and toddled off to the wilderness to be looked after by a man I barely know and whom I haven’t seen in three years, as if because I’m a woman I’m helpless.” Her entire demeanor exuded stubborn determination. “Well, he made an error. I am a Modern Woman. I will not be shunted aside and treated as if I am a feeble nitwit. I have devised a plan, and unlike you and my father, I am willing to be honest and share it with you. It is a simple plan, one even you won’t have trouble understanding: I have your note. I will return it to you if you agree to include me in your mission.”
“And if I refuse to agree?”
She smiled brightly. “Then I shall not return it to you. See? I told you it was simple.”
Nathan stepped away from the fireplace and moved slowly toward her, like a jungle cat stalking his prey. Her smile faded and she slowly backed away from him. He kept pace with her retreat, shifting so as to maneuver her toward the corner-exactly where he wanted her both physically and strategically. She took another step back and her shoulders bumped into the vee where the two walls met. Surprise flashed in her eyes, then she drew herself up and raised her chin another notch, her eyes wide but meeting his gaze unflinchingly. If Nathan had not been so irritated with her, he would have admired her pluck at realizing she was trapped and braving her way through it. She might be a thorn in his side, but she wasn’t a coward. Surprising, as he’d have wagered the word “danger” would have sent her running for the hartshorn.
“You’ll not bully me into giving you the note,” she said, her voice not displaying the slightest tremor.
Nathan planted a hand on each wall, bracketing her in. “I’ve never had to bully a woman into giving me what I want, Lady Victoria.”
Her gaze flicked to his arms, positioned near her head, before returning to his face. “You’ll never find it.”
“I assure you I shall.”
“No. It’s hidden in a place where you will never locate it.”
Nathan hid his triumph at her inadvertent admission that the note was still intact and that she hadn’t destroyed it. He allowed his gaze to wander slowly down then up her form. When his gaze once again met hers, he said softly, “You’re wearing it. The question is, is it tucked into one of your garters, or…” He glanced down at the swell of creamy skin rising from her bronze bodice. “… or nestled between your breasts?”
Her startled expression, coupled with her furious blush, confirmed the accuracy of his guess.
“That was the most ungentlemanly scrutiny I have ever been subjected to,” she said, sounding as if she’d just darted up a flight of stairs.
He brushed a single fingertip slowly over her cheekbone, memorizing the silky texture of her warm skin and the sound of her quick intake of breath. “If you think I’ll believe this crimson stain is the result of mere maidenly outrage, you underestimate me, Lady Victoria, and that would be a mistake.”
She swallowed, hard, then said, “Of course I am outraged. And since you clearly are not aware, a gentleman asks for permission before touching a lady.”
“I’ve never claimed to be a gentleman.” Because he couldn’t resist, he glided the pad of his thumb over that enticing blush once more before resettling his hand against the wall. “I prefer to ask for forgiveness afterward-if it’s necessary-than to request permission beforehand.”
“How convenient for your conscience-although I’d wager you do not possess one.”
“On the contrary, I do. In fact, right now it is instructing me to ask if you would have granted me permission to touch you.”
“Certainly not.”
“Ah, then you can see why my method is much more preferable.”
“Yes-for you.”
“Then I shall ask for your forgiveness.”
“Denied.”
Nathan blew out a long put-upon breath and shook his head. “It appears you are determined to deny me in all matters this evening.” He moved a step closer to her, then leaned down so his lips hovered just above her ear. The subtle scent of roses filled his head, and his hands fisted against the silk wall covering. “You’ll have to remove your clothes eventually, my lady. And now you’ve given me a great incentive to make certain that I’m present when you do.”
She sucked in a hissing breath. He leaned back, cursing the alluring scent of her now branded in his mind. “That will never happen, I assure you.”
“Never say never, Lady Victoria.”
Six
Today’s Modern Woman must realize knowledge is equal to power. It is therefore essential to discover everything she can about a gentleman, be he friend, enemy, or lover. The more she knows, the more power she will be able to wield in the relationship, and the less likelihood that she will be taken advantage of.
A Ladies’ Guide to the Pursuit of