“I believe that we may have reason to include Lady Kerr in our list of suspects,” she whispered.
Gabe’s hands paused briefly before he let out a hoarse laugh and finished with her corset.
“What is so amusing?” She turned to face him as she removed the loosened articles and hung them over the same chair he had used.
“What in God’s name,” he said, correcting his accent, “makes you think that Lady Kerr is a potential suspect?” He was not smiling, but she could hear the barely suppressed mirth in his voice and saw the slight crinkle beside his eyes.
Mary listed the reasons off on her fingers. “She gives me long, calculating stares, she has an excellent bluffing expression as noted by her gameplay, she asked whatpreciselyit was that enamoured me to you, the shrewdness behind her gaze, and…” she crossed her arms defensively as he cocked an eyebrow at her, “I have a feeling about it. Instinctually.”
He shook his head, laughing. “Have you any notion of how mad you sound?” He lowered his voice, “Lady Kerr isnota spy.”
Incensed, Mary stepped toward him, her hands on her hips. “You only believe her incapable of treachery because you cannot give credence to her flirting with you only to gain something.”
“Youonly believe her capable of treachery because you cannot give credence to her flirting with meat all.”
Mary grit her teeth at the ring of truth to his words and shook her head. “This is not merely a matter of feminine competition or jealousy, I assure you. I have no desire to be intimate with youorto renew our friendship,” she lied. “Ours is purely a business association and nothing more. So you may trust that when I say I suspect Lady Kerr of wrongdoing, my opinion is unclouded by emotion.”
* * *
Gabe gazed at Mary, his stomach knotted so painfully he was certain he would be sick. This entire discussion had bound him in an emotional coil, wound so tightly he did not know which sensation to trust.
Abusiness association, indeed. Whatever Mary thought, Gabe knew that those youthful years of friendship were more than mere childhood reveries. He just didn’t know what theydidmean. Or how he should behave towards the woman that continued to muddle his thoughts.
He clenched and released his jaw before he shook his head. “You are wrong, Mary.”
His gaze bored into hers as his mind worked, his throat tightening. Something was there, but the answers were just out of reach. He didn’t yet know what he wanted out of hisassociationwith Mary, but it wasn’t a damned business transaction.
With one last searing glance, Mary turned her back on him and went about her nightly ablutions. Gabe watched her as she moved, both gracefully and almost…mournfully. The shadows cast by the flickering fireplace dancing along her spine like a wicked marionette. Gabe was suddenly very aware that she was mostly nude, her only article of clothing the thin chemise that clung to her every curve.
Cursing himself for even looking, Gabe removed the remainder of his outer clothing and draped them over the nearby armchair. With agitated movements, he snatched a pillow from atop the turned-down bed and tossed it atop the rug before the hearth. He lowered himself to the floor wearing just his smallclothes and curled his knees up to lie on his side, keeping his back to—and his eyes away from—Mary.
“Would you like a blanket?” Mary said from behind him.
“No,” he grunted. “The fire will keep me warm.”
“As you wish, then.”
His gut still in turmoil, Gabe forced his eyes to close against the brightness of the flickering fire.
