Lord Archer.
“Now, you’ll change out of those trousers, as fetching as they are on you,” he said with a wink, “and put on that dress in your bag.”
“Why would I do that?”
Oh, why had she asked? She was being drawn in, and she should resist with all her might. This entitled lord was entirely too accustomed to getting his way.
“Because you’re coming with me.”
A dry laugh escaped her. “I’m going nowhere with you.”
His head cocked. “It’s near midnight in Southwark, and you’ve lost your place of employment. Where else will you go?”
“Lord Archer?—”
“Archie,” he corrected. “Everyone who knows me calls me Archie.”
“Well, see? That’s the thing. I don’t know you.”
“You will after tonight, so we may as well skip the formalities.”
She snorted. Could this man possibly be real? “Why are you taking an interest in me?”
“Because, Contessa?—”
“Valentina,” she said before immediately correcting herself. “Miss Hart.”
“Miss Valentina Hart?” His ever-present smile widened. “Truly?”
“Truly,” she said. “English father. Italian mother.”
“Ah.”
“You still haven’t answered my question, Lord Archer.”
“Because you have exceptional talent, Miss Hart. Your singing voice… How did you come by it?” For all his glib appearance, she detected true interest.
She shrugged. “I’ve always sung. My mother encouraged it.” Why was she telling him all this? “Now, I shall be going.”
“Where?”
“That’s none of your concern.”
“I’m afraid it is,” he said, spreading his hands wide in apology—an apology that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Why is that?” she asked, wary.
“Because I got you dismissed, and now you’re my responsibility.”
“The first part is true, but not the second.”
Her words found no purchase with him. “Now you’re going to put on the dress in your bag and come with me.” When she didn’t move, he continued, “Or we can stand in this alleyway all night. Though I’m certain the rats will have something to say about that eventually.”
Rats.Ugh.
He turned his back to her and began whistling as he waited. She hesitated. If she put on that dress, then she would be as good as sayingyesto whatever night he had planned. This Lord Archer, he possessed a wildness in his eyes that she didn’t entirely trust. Andyet, strangely, she didn’t sense any real harm in him, either.
Really, all she had to do was see the night through until dawn, then she could begin reassessing her plans.
