“Are you asking if I’m married?”
Her smile fell. “Are you?”
It would be so much easier if he were. A simple way to keep his distance.
She shifted in her seat, and the silk of her gown rustled.
He ground his jaw. There were many things that kept the distance between him and a woman such as her. “No.” He shoved another bite of duck into his mouth.
She loosed a breath. “Good.” At his glance, she looked down at her plate, flushing. “I’m glad I’m not keeping you from anyone.”
He shoveled in another forkful. Just because there was no one waiting for him didn’t mean he didn’t want to leave.
She slumped back in her chair. “Is it so awful, spending time with me? To discuss the case, I mean.”
He didn’t know how to respond to that, so he didn’t.
She cradled her glass to her abdomen, like it was a shield. “You’ve made it clear you wouldn’t willingly spend time with someone like me, that you don’t find me appealing, but can we not at least enjoy a pleasant conversation together?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Lady Juliana,” he began.
“I just don’t want things to be awkward between us.” She pushed a bit of vegetable around her plate with her fork. “We will be working together and—”
“Juliana!”
“Hmm.” She kept her gaze fixed on her plate. “Yes?”
He glared at her. “Whatever gave you the foolish idea that I don’t find you appealing?” He should keep his mouth shut. He should let her go on having her delusions about his indifference. But he didn’t care for how she closed up, went from being a roaring fire to a dim ember. Didn’t like the false smile she sent his way, or the way her skin puckered between her eyebrows as though she were in physical pain. And besides, deceptions of any sort never sat right with him.
“Oh, I don’t know.” She tossed her silverware down. “Perhaps it is the way you flinch away as though I’m diseased when you touch me. Or that you sat yourself as far away from my person as possible.” She nodded down the long distance of the table. “Or maybe it’s the way you’ve treated most of my attempts to aid the investigation with contempt. I first thought that was merely because I’m a woman and you have backward ideas about my sex’s abilities, but now I see your disdain is saved solely for me.”
“Are you done?” A burning sensation started in his stomach and rose to his chest. She truly was a fool.
She held up her hand and pointed to her fingers as she spoke. “Dislikes my touch, physical avoidance, and disgust. Yes, I think that paints a pretty fair picture.”
He tossed his napkin to the table. His feet itched to move, but he forced himself to keep his seat. “The Bond Agency for Discreet Inquiries is a somber business. Professionalism and dedication are required of all its agents. I am treating you in the only way I can treat a client.”
Although from the stories he’d heard, the founders of the agency hadn’t been as dedicated to separating business from pleasure. But they were all toffs. Different rules applied to that lot. He glared at Juliana. Different rules applied to her.
“Are you saying that if I weren’t a client—”
“No.” He stood. “You’re the daughter of an earl. I’m the son of a woodworker. I’d be run out of town for even looking at you. And I’d deserve it.”
She pushed to her feet. “Mr. Duffy. Brogan. I know English society likes to impose nonsense ideas of class structures on to us, but you cannot believe that you are any less worthy because of your parentage.”
He huffed. “I don’t. I’m a free man, equal to any other. But I’m also a realist. Some things aren’t possible. Some people aren’t possible.” He strode for the entry closet and gathered his coat and hat.
Juliana hurried after him, needing to take two steps for each of his. “I don’t understand you. I was raised to believe that it is a person’s character that mattered, not their wealth. And…” She bit her lip and looked to the side. “Not to put too fine a point on it, but I also learned that not every affair needs to end in marriage. I was hoping to enjoy your company. No expectations besides pleasure.”
He scowled even as his cock thickened. Thiseducationof hers had a lot to answer for. “Very free with your favors, are you? Or is this a bonus for your investigator?”
The look she gave him was full of disappointment with a hint of anger. “My favors, as you call them, are only bestowed on those I deem worthy. You are looking less and less so. Perhaps it is best if we keep this relationship purely on a business footing.”
He slapped his hat on his head. “Now you’re talking sense.”
“Pick me up at ten tomorrow.” She crossed her arms under her bosom. No matter how much she wanted to deny the class system, her voice had perfected the proper tone in which to order a servant about.
The muscles of his body strained, screaming at him to take what had been offered. But his brain pushed his feet a step back.
