“I’ve never been far.” Max poured a glass of water and gave it to her. “Just dealing with business in another room.”
She swallowed the cool draught, but it did nothing to alleviate her sudden thirst. Why was he looking at her like that? Gone was the indifferent stare of the night before when he’d told her to leave. She’d expected disgust. Perhaps gratitude at saving his life. Not … admiration?
“Well, I think it’s time we all went home.” Montague clapped his hands together. “I know my wife and Rothchild’s will be worrying.”
Summerset settled back in his chair. “There’s no one to worry over me. I think I’ll have another drink.”
The duke grabbed Summerset under the elbow and yanked him to his feet. “Don’t make me hurt you.”
“Well, I should at least see if Mrs. Bonner needs an escort home.” Summerset turned to her and dipped his head. “My carriage awaits, madam.”
Max growled. “What the devil—”
“Thank you. I was on my way to my cousin’s house in Wapping when I was taken.” Colleen put her glass down. “It’s long past time he expected me.” Fatigue tugged at her eyelids. She desperately needed a good night’s sleep. Maybe then she could understand what Max was about.
“You’re going back to your cousin’s?” Max planted himself in front of her. “You detested that man’s house.”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.” Planting his hands on his lean hips, Max bent over her. “I could just tell.”
“And now his home seems like the better alternative.” Swaying slightly, Colleen tried to gather her strength. Every muscle in her body drooped, aching for rest. Even the two-foot space on her nieces’ bed seemed appealing. She’d sleep so deeply she wouldn’t even feel Mary’s nightly kicks. Head down, she stepped around Max and gave Summerset a weak smile. “I’m ready when you are.”
Max glowered. “I need everyone to get out of my house, right now.” He gripped her elbow. “Except you.”
Staring at the carpet, Colleen waited until the men filed out. The door to the sitting room clicked shut behind them. “I’ve asked Lucy to run the club until you find a new manager. Although I’d recommend you give her a try. She’s impressed me with her competence.”
“I couldn’t care less about The Black Rose at the moment.” He circled around her, his very nearness making the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
“No, I don’t suppose your club is at the top of your concerns. Not after a night like tonight.” She could scarcely meet his gaze, glancing everywhere but at him directly. “Even in your line of work it can’t be every day you witness a woman murder another.”
He stopped behind her, his chest brushing her shoulders. “You hold a strange definition of murder. Molly was about to shoot me.”
“And instead I shot her.” An act she couldn’t regret. Not like the fire that had killed her husband. But now she was responsible for the loss of two lives. Max hadn’t been able to forgive the one. “I’m sure you’re grateful, but I don’t need any thanks. I don’t want to prolong our farewell any longer than it needs to be.” She turned and looked up at him. He hadn’t shaved that day and a thick stubble darkened his cheeks and jaw. A hint of the man she’d first met. Her fingers tingled with the urge to reach up and stroke his face. Instead, she raised her hand chest high. “Let’s shake goodbye and part as friends.”
Max looked at her hand, eyes narrowing. “Friends?”
Oh, God, he didn’t even want that. A giant fist grabbed her around the middle and squeezed, wringing the air from her body, crushing her until it felt as though her heart would burst.
He despised her.
Trembling, she lowered her hand.
Max grabbed it before she could turn tail and run. Encircling her wrist, he whipped it behind her back and pulled her body snug against his. “Are you so daft as to think that we could only ever befriends? That I’d let you walk out that door and out of my life?”
The vise around her chest loosened, and a sob burst from her lips before she could control it. Blood pounded behind her temples. “But you wanted me to leave. Last night, you said—”
“Don’t repeat it.” One hand held her in place against his body, the other skimmed up her spine. “And if we’re to have a successful future together, you’ll have to learn to ignore half of what I say. I can be a bit of a numbskull. Ask any of my friends.”
“Are you saying you forgive me?”
“When I thought about it, I realized there wasn’t much to forgive. Your husband’s death was an accident. It was a mistake not to tell the magistrate, but you must have been scared.”
She bit her lip. “I should have told you. Not let you believe you were responsible.”
“Yes, but when?” He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “You wouldn’t tell me something like that until you trusted me completely. I should have taken your admission as the honor it was. I’ll regret till the day I die how I reacted.”
Hope reared its head and stole her breath. But she’d been here before. Laid her heart bare. His touch was clouding her mind when she needed to think clearly. Stepping away, she turned to the glass wall separating the conservatory from the sitting room. She walked forwards until she felt the cool glass against her palms.
