“Did you travel with Lord Southwell, perhaps? Maybe went down the Amazon with him? Never mind.” She waved him away as if he was nothing more than a gnat. “Where’s the study? No, better, where is the room in which Lord Southwell drinks and makes maps?”
Dunst didn’t answer, but his gaze flickered down the hall. He reached for her arm. The butler was large. Muscular. But he wasn’t agile in the least. She had no trouble ducking around him to dash down the hall, which was difficult considering how tightly she was laced. Wouldn’t it be disappointing if she came all this way only to faint?
A door at the end of the hall stood open. Ink, cedar, and scotch fumes floated to her. The room reeked of them. She imagined the man sitting before the fire did as well.
Chapter Nineteen
“Christ.” Gideon rolledhis head toward the door, which made the room spin just a bit but not so much that he couldn’t see the petite form of a woman storming into his study. There was no mistaking all those delicious curves.
“Go away, Miss Drevenport.” The very sight of her made his chest hurt. “If you’ve come to gloat, please do so from where you are. Once you are finished, leave.”
Dunst appeared behind her in the doorway. He looked ready to toss her out on her lovely, plump ass. “I’m sorry, my lord. She slipped by me.”
Gideon gave a wave, which made him nearly spill his drink. “It isn’t your fault, Dunst. Miss Drevenport is far more devious than she’d have you believe.”
“The lady says her name is Mrs. Culpepper.” Dunst’s broad forehead wrinkled.
“I’m both, Dunst. Please shut the door behind you. I’ll ring if you’re needed.”
Dunst looked askance at her, uncertain whether to obey.
“It’s all right, Dunst.” Gideon waved again, uncaring when the scotch spilled on his arm. His bloody leg hurt terribly, along with the rest of him. He had to admire her determination to eviscerate him after spending the night with him. He’d even told her she should, if it would ease some of the wound he’d given her so long ago. Nowhewas the laughingstock of London. Not that he cared what that group of prigs and staunch matrons thought, but—
“I’m sobloodyangry at you right now, Gideon.” She stamped her foot.
Miss Drevenport was really a tiny thing. Rounded in all the proper ways. Like a porcelain doll. Smart as a whip. He was madly in love with her, a thought that was very unwelcome just now.
“I haven’t done anything. At least this time.” He took another sip of his scotch, barely tasting it. “Your anger is misplaced.”
“You left without even talking to me first.”
“Was it necessary? I did tell you to disparage me if, in doing so, it brought you happiness. Did it bring you happiness, Miss Drevenport?”
“Do I look happy, Gideon?”
No, she didn’t. He hoped there wasn’t anything sharp lying around, but Miss Drevenport would more likely throw a book. She loved books.
He’d stayed drunk since leaving London, and it took him a moment to recall what, exactly, had happened. Lady Trent, whom he adored, had visited him, a tear running down her cheek as she’d held out a letter from Loretta Culpepper. It was terrible, what had been written there. And there were more letters. Details of conversations Loretta Culpepper had overheard. Names of Honora’s lovers. He felt like an idiot. He’d been so certainhe’dbeen her only lover.
“Lady Trent brought me a note—several, actually—from your mother-in-law.”
Miss Drevenport made a terrible face.
“TheMrs. Culpepper was quite descriptive. But some of her words held a ring of truth. Still, I escorted out Lady Trent and put the letter aside, and I went to White’s, deciding whether I would confront Montieth over the possibility of his being your lover.” He tried to focus on her face. “He never gave me a straight answer, you see, at Lady Pemberton’s ball, when you and I were reintroduced.”
“Oh, Gideon.” Her eyes fluttered shut.
“Belmont found me and took me aside.” He tried to give her a pointed look, but she was much too blurry. “Belmont,” he said again, “who appraised me he’d had you shortly before we consummated—” He paused, feeling the way his heart squeezed. “I forgot how bloodthirsty you are, Miss Drevenport.”
“I don’t even know Lord Belmont.” She sounded angry.
“He claims to know you very well.” Gideon’s fingers tightened over the glass. “And he isn’t a lord, just a mister. Why don’t you know that?”
“Possibly because I’ve never met the man.” She placed her hands on her hips and stared him down. “I’ve been told I’m highly intelligent—by you, as a matter of fact—several times. Surely if I were tupping him, I wouldn’t have missed how to address him properly. Can you not see that Tarrington put him up to it? All of them? Even Loretta?”
“Lady Trent—”
“—has been manipulated as well. How could you believe I would hurt you even if Lady Trent was presenting the evidence?” She came down on her knees before the chair, which gave him a lovely view of her bosom. He unfurled his fingers, just thinking about those delicious mounds in his hands.
