“And you thought the best way to gain my assistance was to climb in through my window? What a strange understanding of the world you have.” He laughed softly, enjoying the way the woman’s amber eyes flashed with barely disguised irritation.She does not care that she can be read like an open book.
She scoffed. “You left me no choice. Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
“Few people would admit to desperation in my presence.” Adrian said, taking a step away from her . “Many would see it as a weakness.”
“I would have thought you enjoyed a little bit of desperation, I cannot imagine any other reason would drive someone to seek out your presence.” The woman shot back, her voice dangerously sweet.
Adrian clapped his hands together in mocking celebration. “Oh, little thief, what a feisty little thing you are!”
“Stop calling me that.” The woman took a step towards him, and then seemed to change her mind.
“What else would you have me call you, little thief? After all, I do not know your name.” Adrian grinned at her and swept into a mocking half bow from his seat. “Allow me to demonstrate how one usually makes introductions. I am Adrian Stone, Duke of Blackwood.”
“I know who you are.” The woman took a steadying breath, and curtseyed. “I am Lady Natalie Rokesby, youngest sister of the Duke of Emberly, Alexander Rokesby. You might have heard of him.”
Duke Emberly.The name stirred something in his mind, and he nodded. “The Beast of Emberly Castle. The man everyone thought had killed his own father to inherit his title.”
“That was proven false years ago. If your information is so outdated, then perhaps you cannot help me after all.” Lady Natalie made a dismissive gesture. “I would expect a scandal of that nature to be known to even the most guileless of the ton, and I find it rather worrying that you seem unaware of the truth of things.”
“Perhaps my use of the past tense escaped you. I am well aware of your brother’s fall from grace and his subsequent redemption.” Adrian made a dismissive gesture as though the story was beneath him, all the while watching her. “You said you needed my help. Well, you seem rather capable, and I am not inclined to help people who break into my house.”
He turned from her opened a nearby door and walked into the library. His smile broadened as he listened to her footsteps behind him.
“I would not have done so if you had had the decency to respond to any of my requests for a meeting, I am not some half-wit. You simply left me no choice.” Lady Natalie strode towards him, and as she did so he caught a waft of lemon and bergamot.
Adrian whirled around again, drawing himself up to his full height. “Do you have any idea how many insipid little nothings send me requests for meetings? Why should I answer them if they have nothing to offer?”
She looked up at him, her jaw tight, words clipped as she retorted, “I am not some nobody, sir. And I have plenty to offer!”
“Do you indeed?” He took a step closer to her, closing the distance between them as he let his eyes drift across her body, hoping to make her blush.
It had the intended effect, but she did not look away from him or take a step backwards. Instead, she said in a voice too sweet to be anything but deadly, “I think the unorthodox nature of our meeting shows that I am not like other people.”
“That much is clear.” Adrian nodded and moved towards the decanter, pouring two glasses of whiskey.
“So are you going to hear me out, or do you wish to continue our little tête-à-têteinto the wee hours of the morning?” She smiled a dagger sweet smile.
“For someone so desperate for my help, you play a dangerous game.” He canted his head towards her.
“I would have thought you enjoyed dangerous games.” Lady Natalie shrugged.
“I do. Though few people care for my stakes.” Adrian gestured to one of the sofas as he sat down in an armchair. “Are you sure you are ready to play my little game?”
“Perhaps it is you who is playing my game.” Lady Natalie sat down, defiance in her eyes.
Adrian let a soft chuckle escape him. “We shall see. Can I offer you a drink, dear lady?”
“No.” The vehemence in her voice surprised him, and from the look of alarm on her own face, it surprised her as well. “I mean, no thank you.”
He filed it away in his mind, and simply shrugged. “Tell me, Lady Natalie, what exactly is it you think I can help you with?”
“I need information. Information on Lord Henry Lindon, the Marquess of Bolton.”
“Lord Bolton?” Adrian’s brow furrowed as he tried to recall the name.
He visualised a library in his mind, thumbing through shelves of books and pulling down volumes until he found what he was looking for. He nodded to himself.
“Why would you need information on him? Surely the time is past to do your due diligence. He is your intended, after all.” Adrian saw Lady Natalie clench her fist, her eyes full of unbridled rage.Interesting.
