“Opinion on what matters? I thought this was a social evening.” His blue eyes flashed at her, and she realized this was the first time they’d spoken since...
“Do you want the polite answer, or should we have some measure of honesty between us, my lady?” Againthatvoice, with just enough of a pleading undertone, sentthatchill down her spine.
“Can I trust you to be honest?” she asked.
“I have never lied to you, Clare.” His voice had dropped so that her name was uttered as a hoarse whisper only she could hear. As he’d issued his sensual commands. As he’d touched her and more. “I may not offer the truth, but I never deny it.”
Clare lost her breath for a moment. Her stays felt too tightly tied. She sipped her wine before meeting his gaze. He meant it. He would tell her the truth. She might not like it. She might disagree with it. So....
“Tell me.”
“Your father wanted my opinion about your prospective husbands. Whether they are as financially sound as they present or if there is gossip about unwise investments, et cetera, et cetera.”
She would never change her father. He would do what he wanted and needed to do to attain his goals. And those goals were simple—whatever made him wealthier, more powerful or more influential.
“And will you give him such advice?”
“Since it would help me to have the prestigious Earl of Heath on my side, I believe I will.”
“Even if I have no plans to marry?” she asked. “Because I do not.”
He laughed then, loud enough to draw notice but she could not resist laughing with him. Iain handed off his drink to a waiting footman and wiped his eyes. Clare wanted to kiss him. She wanted to feel his laughter against her mouth and to tussle his neatly-combed hair. Samantha’s voice echoed in her thoughts.
There is some leniency when it comes to relationships.
Leniency. As a widow, if discreet, she could...
“If I were to offer to pay you for your advice?” He stopped laughing so fast, he nearly choked on his own spittle.
Clare noticed that too many of those gathered in her father’s impressive drawing room were staring now. Her parents both studied her, exchanging glances between them. Clare understood that antagonizing them was never a good thing. With a nod of her head, she walked away and approached her mother’s friend who was with a young man who must be her son.
When she finally had the chance to glance back, Iain stared back at her.
He came herebecause he was curious—a plain and simple explanation of his reaction to the earl’s unexpected invitation. He’d remained, at first, because he could not believe the man’s explanation—he’d finally gotten his daughter back in his sphere of influence and wanted Iain’s advice. But he remained now because of Clare’s words—she would pay him for his advice.
Regardless of knowing how bad an idea it was to do such a thing, the way she stared at his mouth when she asked him convinced him that he would lose a fortunate opportunity if he left now. And probably the best fuck of his life. Somehow, he knew she would not offer the contested property and in this moment, after watching her from his shadowed alcove, he really did not care.
He had sold information to the highest bidder before and benefitted greatly in such transactions. He even sold information to several interested parties at once to his even greater profit. His flexible scruples allowed him a wide swath of choices in his life and accepting her offer, whatever it was, would not create any dilemma for him at all.
The lady had made her way around the drawing room, stopping and chatting with each of her father’s prospective choices, all in the smooth, graceful manner expected of someone raised in this life. He could see each man stand a little straighter, grow a little taller, under her attention. Though she managed to get a laugh out of most of them, she seemed to know which of the men were of a more serious nature and adapted her manner to them.
He’d been the recipient of her glances and words, and more, and he recognized the way it felt. How the heat rose in his blood. How his body hardened at the thought of touching her again. How his predator nature stretched inside him, demanding he take her and make her only his.
Just at that moment, as he was fighting the very real urge within him that would see him stride across this luxurious chamber, take hold of her and lead or drag her to the nearest bedchamber, Clare glanced over and met and held his gaze.
The slightest tilt of her head towards the hallway gave him the message she wanted.
Follow her.
Tipping his glass up and swallowing the last bit of brandy, he did exactly that. Iain waited a few moments after she’d excused herself and then he made his way along the same corridor. She paused and opened a door and entered the chamber there. A few paces and he stood before it. A glance around for any witnesses, and he entered.
It was a small closet not unlike the one at his offices where he’d dragged her to continue kissing her. Clare stood in the center, watching him as he tugged the door closed and locked it behind him.
“You have information.”
“I do,” he said, taking a step towards her. He couldn’t help the smile that lifted one side of his mouth as she backed one step away. He liked her against the wall.
“And you are willing to share it with me? To assist my efforts in remaining unwed?”
