“Ah, well.” He didn’t sound particularly discouraged. “I didn’t honestly expect any differently. Happily for me, I’m not easily discouraged. I’ll never give up until I’ve wormed my way back into your good graces. So, how goes the snooping?”
She closed the ledger with a snap and cast him a glare. “Poorly.” It was true. The fact that she had discovered nothing of use and was in desperate need of information was the only thing that could have brought her here, into the lion’s den.
He shook his head in mock sympathy, then leaned in close to peer at what she had been reading. “Going over the account books, are you? Looking for signs I won’t be able to support youin the style you deserve? I fear you won’t find anything there. The estate was profitable at the time of my grandfather’s death, and my cousin, in addition to his other flaws, is both a stickler and a miser. But at least that means that the family fortune has never been in better shape.”
Rosalie stood and slipped the book back into its place on the shelf. “How happy for you. That is not, however, the information I was seeking.”
“Oh?” He sounded unaccountably cheerful. “What were you looking for, then?”
She plucked another volume from the shelf and began paging through it. “Why should I tell you?”
He crossed the room to stand next to her. “Because I might be able to help you?”
She gave him a queer look. “And why should you want to do that?”
He tutted. “Rosalie. Darling. We’re to bemarried. We must be honest with one another, don’t you think?”
Fury sparked through her veins. “What nonsense! Our entire relationship has been a lie. Don’t bother to deny it!”
Suddenly, his grey eyes were very intense. “I will not deny that I have lied to you before. But ourentirerelationship has not been a lie. That will be the trick, in the course of your investigation—figuring out what is the lie and what is the truth.”
“I already know the truth—that you are an utter blackguard! A man so heartless you would humiliate and possibly ruin someone who has never done anything to you in order to win a three-pound bet!” Rosalie was furious to realize that her voice was shaking. She turned to face the shelves again, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing real pain in her eyes.
She drew in a breath and when she spoke again, her voice was steadier. “I do not seek the truth. Merely sufficient proof ofthe truth I already know to bring my father around. Once I have it, you will never see me again.”
“Jolly good.” His voice was rich with amusement, not at all like a man whose bride had just informed him that she never wanted to see him again. “So, what is it you’re seeking? Hopefully, something located in my bedroom.” A lurid look swept over his face. “Or better yet, something concealed upon my person.” He spread his arms wide. “I will submit to your search.”
Rosalie rolled her eyes. “Nothing like that. What I want to know is…” She trailed off. The truth was, she probably did need Lucian’s help. She had written a note to Lysander asking for the information she sought, but nobody seemed to know where he was residing since losing the title.
It was just so difficult to ask a man you did not trust for a favor.
“What?” Lucian prompted.
Rosalie heaved a petulant sigh. “I would like to know the name of your grandfather’s physician.”
“Done.” He paused a beat. “For a tiny, trivial price.”
Rosalie’s brows lowered. “What do you want?”
Lucian’s dark eyes gleamed with something wicked. “A kiss.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Akiss?” Rosalie took a step back, her gaze scornfully sweeping the length of his frame. “Here I thought you didn’t have to force yourself on women!”
He spread his hands, palms facing out. “I’m not forcing anybody. If you do not wish to enter into a deal with me, you are free to leave unmolested at any time. Should you care to accelerate your investigation, on the other hand, or should you wish to belightlymolested for your personal enjoyment, I would be more than happy to accommodate you.”
Rosalie crossed her arms. “How could I kiss you when I find you so utterly repulsive?” She managed to say this with an impressive level of conviction. Unfortunately, her gaze strayed to his lips and got stuck there as images of her doing the precise act she had just described asrepulsivedanced through her head. She suspected this did nothing to enhance her credibility.
Those soft, supple lips twisted into a grin. Rosalie wrenched her gaze up to meet his eyes.
“That is precisely what makes my proposal so perfect,” Lucian explained. “You will be able to demonstrate the depths of your indifference, even in the face of my amorous onslaught.With any luck, I’ll be so discouraged that I’ll fuck off and leave you alone.”
Her traitorous mouth tried to curl into a smile. Desperate to stop it, Rosalie bit the inside of her cheek so hard that she tasted blood.
Lucian must have seen it, because his voice dropped into a silky croon. “Come on, Rosalie. You know you want to.”
“I… don’t.”Gracious. That wouldn’t do at all. She hadn’t convinced even herself!
