She set down her pencil and tapped her fingertips together. “You mean if I cross the river, there is no going back.”
“I see your classical education goes beyond a command of Latin,” he said dryly. “At some point, I would be curious to know how that came about.”
“At some point, I may be willing to satisfy your curiosity. But now is not that moment.” She raised her brows in challenge. “What promises do you need from me?”
“That the information I tell you will be held in confidence and not color your drawings.”
“What if I learn the same information from other sources?” asked Charlotte quickly.
“Bloody hell—are you training to be a barrister?” he grumbled.
“It’s a pity women aren’t allowed to practice law,” she shot back. “We’d be far better at it than men because we care more about practical results than prosing on like pompous windbags.”
Wrexford chuckled. “Point taken.” He hesitated, his expression turning grave, and then added, “As for what promises I require, I will trust you to decide what is right, Mrs. Sloane.”
A spasm of surprise flitted over her face, along with an emotion he couldn’t read.
“But allow me to repeat that I am deadly serious about the dangers of inciting wild speculation merely to sell morenewspapers or satirical prints. Innocent lives can be put at risk, reputations can be ruined, and the guilty party may have leeway to manipulate the truth.”
“Have you reason to think I don’t take such responsibilities to heart, Lord Wrexford?”
Their eyes locked.
“If I did, I wouldn’t be here,” he replied softly.
CHAPTER 4
Charlotte rose abruptly and went to put the kettle on the hob. “I feel in need of some tea. Would you care for some as well?”
“I would prefer brandy, but tea is probably a wiser choice.”
She had noticed the dark hollows beneath his eyes and the taut lines etched around the corners of his mouth, but refrained from comment. The earl’s moods were best described as mercurial. However, his personal life was none of her business.
After adding several heaping spoonfuls of Lapsang souchong leaves to the pot, Charlotte turned and set a hand on her hip. “Nebulous as they are, I agree to your terms, milord.” A sigh. “Though likely we will clash incessantly over their interpretation.”
A glint of amusement lit in his eyes. “That goes without saying.”
“You speak as if that is . . . entertaining.”
“My valet tells me that I am a very difficult fellow to live with when I am bored,” he replied. “You never bore me, Mrs. Sloane.”
The kettle began to hiss, sending a cloud of steam into the air. “No, I drive you to distraction.”
“Let us just say you challenge me. Few people do.”
“I’m not sure whether to take that as a compliment or a castigation.”
“Yes you do,” murmured Wrexford.
Impossible man. At times she was sorely tempted to strangle him. And yet, a smile curled at the corners of her mouth as she carried the tea tray to the table.
“Enough of verbal sparring, sir.” Charlotte passed him a cup. “You’ve come here to discuss business.”
A plume of steam rose up, blurring the sharply chiseled planes of his face. And yet, even when softened by the silvery vapor his features radiated an elemental strength.
Or perhaps stubbornness was a better word. Charlotte ducked her head to hide another smile.Birds of a feather.Honesty compelled her to concede that she saw the same unyielding expression every time she glanced in the looking glass.
The earl took a sip of the scalding brew, then set it aside. “Ashton’s widow is convinced her husband was murdered because he was on the verge of a momentous discovery.” He pursed his lips. “I’m inclined to give her suspicions credence because of the state of the body.”
