That he’d been on the verge of putting forth a similar suggestion when Alicia asked was beside the point.
“Aliciarequested—which is theonlyreason I agreed.” Ash narrowed his eyes. “I cannot express this strongly enough; I expect you to behave.”
“Youexpectme tobehave? I’m not an errant child.”
“You have been known to act like one on occasion,” Ash said harshly.
“You’re out of line,” Hurtheven warned.
“You cannot lie to me.Me!I’ve been watching you, and it’s clear to me that you have been preoccupied with Mrs. Montrose from first sight.”
Hurtheven bit back a retort and wet his lips. Damn Ash’s powers of perception. He looked away. “My main concern was and is the safety of the children.”
“I believe you. But I also believe that Mrs. Montrose is more than just a secondary concern. Are you certain your interest there is just as honorable?”
“Good God, Ash!” The insult landed with the force of pugilist Jackson’s famed bunch of fives.
“Spare me your offense.” Ash gripped his shoulder. “As your friend, I must be honest with you—especially when you are not being honest with yourself.”
Hurtheven pulled away before he gave into impulse and planted an actual facer against Ash’s cheek. “I admit I find the woman attractive.” He held his palm to the throb in his temple. “But youknowI would not insult her person.”
At least not without her full consent.
Ash frowned. “In any other case, I would trust your honor, but, in this case, I want more.”
“What more can I offer than my honor?”
“I want your word as my oldest friend.” Ash lowered his voice. “I want your word as a member of the council, as theZetainEta, Rho, Zeta,I want your wordas my brother,that you will not endanger, compromise, or seduce Mrs. Montrose.”
“I don’tseducewomen!”
“Oh?” Ash raised his brows. “A few scant years ago, didn’t a bullet graze your arm as you were sneaking out some poor woman’s window?”
He scowled. “I believed the lady and I had an exclusive, mutually agreed upon arrangement. Obviously, I was not her only lover at the time. And Lady Adelaide is a widow.”
Ash hesitated. “As is Mrs. Montrose.”
Was she?Housekeepers, he knew, often usedMrs.whether they’d ever married or not. His experience with nursemaids was, however, admittedly limited.
So, she’d been married. He didn’t care for the idea at all. His discomfort alone was telling, was it not?
Ash might have a point.
“Well?” Ash prodded. “Will you give me your word?”
Hurtheven’s face heated. “Don’t you find thispledgeyou’re demanding slightly hypocritical, given your history with Alicia?”
Ash narrowed his eyes. “So, youdohave an interest in my nursemaid.”
Damnation.“I didn’t say I did.”
Ash threw out his arms. “You didn’t have to.”
Hurtheven exhaled harshly. “I only admitted that I find her uncommonly attractive.” He’d left out compelling, intriguingly feminine, and disarmingly tender with the children, among other things.
She’d become a tug beneath his ribs, a labyrinth he felt compelled to map.
“Despite yourhighopinion of me,” he continued, “I do not endanger, compromise, and seduce every woman I find attractive. That would make me a right rogue.”
