“No,thatis simple.” Anger loosened her tongue. “Bancroft is a scheming, snake in the grass who has been poaching my customers. He means to put me out of business with his lies. And my customers are nodcocks who take him at his word just because he’s a man and I’m—”
“A woman?”
“Exactly!” The word left her in an explosive breath. “It’s blooming unfair!”
“I agree.”
She stared at him. “You do?”
“Any rational person who’d met Bancroft would know he’s not to be trusted,” Rhys said calmly. “You’re head and shoulders above the competition.”
“I found the plesiosaurus skeleton,” she blurted.
“Beg pardon?”
“The remains of a prehistoric reptilian sea creature.Ifound them.” A dam broke inside her, the words flowing out. “Everyone thought Mr. Foley did the fossil finding, and it’s true that he taught me all I know, but in the last five years, I was the one doing the work. Because of his ailment.”
Rhys’s eyes sharpened. “Your husband had an ailment?”
Don’t talk about Paul’s physical problems. You’re treading in deep waters. Retreat.
Swallowing, she said, “The point is, everyone thinks that Foley’s Emporium can’t stay in business now that he’s gone, but that is untrue. I’ve been finding fossils for years, and I will continue to do so, if only the collectors would give me a chance.”
“But you aren’t getting commissions because of the lies Bancroft has been spreading.”
“Precisely.” She leaned forward, uncaring that her elbows were on the table. “And he, of all people,knowsthat I’m fully capable of finding fossils. He’sseenme mucking about in caves on my own!”
Rhys frowned, as if he were about to say something, but Mrs. Gibson arrived with tiered plates of savories and sweets. Maggie’s stomach gave an ignominious growl. Since she’d been too nervous to eat before meeting with Pickering-Parks, her last meal had been supper the night before.
Rhys filled a plate and passed it to her. Suddenly ravenous, she dug in. The food tasted heavenly. She plowed through a mincemeat pie, some biscuits and cheese, and was working her way through a fluffy sponge layered with jam and whipped cream when she caught Rhys looking at her.
He was leaning back in his chair, his own food untouched. His lips were tipped up at the corners. Dimples showed above his manly beard.
“Hungry?” he said.
Suddenly embarrassed, she finished the bite of cake. “I haven’t eaten anything today.”
“Feel better now that you have?”
She did feel better, she realized. And not just because of the food.
She blew out a breath. “Why are you being like this?”
“You’ll have to be more specific.”
“Likethis.” She waved at the food, then at him. “Having tea with me. Listening to my complaints.”
“I enjoy your company.”
The food had helped to clear her head. She felt stronger again, more in control. Looking around the room, making sure no one was within earshot, she said, “I’m not going to bed with you again.”
“Well.” He arched a brow. “No one’s ever going to accuse you of beating around the bush.”
“I’m serious. If that’s what this is about, if you’re being…nicejust because you think I’ll succumb to your charms again, you can forget about it.” She lowered her voice to a hush. “No matter what you think, I’m not a whore to be used for your pleasure.”
“I don’t think that.” His voice had an edge of impatience. “But I’m curious why you think that I do.”
“Isn’t it obvious? We shared a bed the night we met.” Despite her flaming cheeks, she forced herself to go on. “The morning after, you left fifty pounds on the table—for services rendered.”
