He considered her with his head cocked to the side. “Not at all.”
A thread of disappointment wove itself through her chest before she could stop it.
“Terrify, perhaps,” he added, “but not threaten.”
She almost laughed at that. She would have under much different circumstances. “And you still won’t tell me who you are?”
He sighed, acquiescing. “I am a second son of something minor.”
She rolled her eyes. “Not telling the truth means you have something to hide.”
“Don’t we all?” Now, he seemed even more entertained. “Rumors can tell you all you wish to know.”
“Rumors have been cruel,” she pointed out.
“Undoubtedly,” he agreed with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “They rarely flatter.”
“Except to me,” she reminded him. “Apparently, I am terrifying and well past my prime.”
“Well,” he repeated as if considering it, “youareterrifying.”
She couldn’t resist laughing, but it was short and sharp. This was a situation she never thought she would find herself in. “And I suppose that is meant to endear you to me?”
“Not at all,” he assured her. “It’s meant to tell you I am no fool. And perhaps, I find the prospect of terror rather thrilling.”
She studied the amused arch of his dark brows, the unbothered set of his wide shoulders. All of this was entertaining to him. It enraged her beyond measure.
“Well then, I do hope you enjoy the rest of your evening,” she said. “I am certain that the other guests miss you terribly.”
“Oh, must I leave so soon?” he inquired lightly. “But you haven’t even insulted my cravat.”
She looked at the mentioned cravat only for a moment. “It doesn’t seem worth the effort.”
“Then, you are not living up to yourterrifyingreputation of a wicked spinster,” he reminded her.
Cordelia flushed furiously. “Well, thank you for thatcharmingsummary,” she said crisply. “Do tell me what else you’ve heard.”
He laughed, and damn him, it was an actual, amused, horribly warm laugh. But that was exactly when he stepped forward, and she had to do something.
“No,” she said quickly, inserting herself again between him and her guardian’s unconscious body. “Don’t.”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “Don’t…?”
“Look,” she tried, inhaling deeply. “I may as well confess. I was… I was intrigued by you.”
He stopped.
She nodded to herself, committing to the game fully. “Yes. That’s why I was here in the library, lurking like a… a terribly curious raccoon.”
“A raccoon,” he repeated.
“Yes. One of those wild creatures from the Americas; they’re terribly curious! I heard you were visiting and I, well, I was caught… red-handed. I was hoping to see what sort of man you were. Because… I always dreamed of running into a handsome stranger in a library of all places.”
Cordelia, what on earth are you doing?
Her inner mind screamed, but all she could do was continue with this dangerous game she was playing.
“And now I have, so… mystery solved.” Her smile was wide and imploring.
