“What?”she’d asked eagerly.
Maybe he would compare her to a jewel, a flower. Maybe that would turn into a confession of love.
“A time ball.”
When she’d furrowed her brow, he said,“Do you know what that is?”
“Yes.”The one advantage of having an explorer for a father.
“Have you seen the one in Greenwich, at the Royal Observatory? As much as I detest London, it is the one place I always visit when I am in the area.”
He’d looked at her as if he expected her to swoon with joy at the comparison.
“Unless I’m misunderstanding,”she’d replied primly.“Are you saying that I remind you of something that is round, red, and constantly falls?”
He’d blinked, letting out a roar of laughter.
Then he’d gathered her close, looking into her eyes.
“You remind me of a time ball because you are my constant,”he’d said tenderly.“You are the reason I do not feel lost in this world. You are my way home, Lottie, and I…I love you.”
Emotion swelled, and Charlie had to push it back. To not dwell on how readily she’d trusted him. How eagerly she’d responded with her own profession of love.
Taking a breath, she parried his move. “Why the games, Sebastian? I questioned my sanity when I saw you at the Rigbys’ affair and in that alleyway. But after that rock conveniently interrupted myrendezvous, I knew I wasn’t going mad. You always had a possessive streak.”
Although Sebastian lowered his brows, he didn’t deny it.
“None of this has been a game.” He spoke in a tight, controlled fashion. “Whatever you may think of me and of everything that has happened, I want you to know that I never intended to hurt you. I left to protect you. And I am here now for the same reason.”
She couldn’t hear over the roar in her ears.
“Protectme?” Despite her best efforts, her voice shook in the gale of her emotions. “How is letting me believe that you died a fiery death whilst in the arms of your mistress protecting me? What reasons could you possibly have for betraying our marriage, for abandoning me, for making me grieve you, you bloody bastard?”
He stared at her with the eyes of a warrior who knew he was fighting a losing battle. Eyes filled with a mix of resignation and resolve.
“I know you want answers,” he said. “But I cannot give them to you.”
Fury such as she’d never known whipped through her.
“Go to hell,” she said through her teeth. “And this time,stay there.”
She turned and made it three steps before she felt his hand circle her arm.
In the next heartbeat, she twisted around, her pearl-handled pistol in hand. She aimed it at the area where an ordinary man would have a heart.
“Don’t touch me.” Her voice trembled, but the hand holding her weapon did not.
“I’m sorry.” He released her but did not back away. “For everything, Lot—Charlotte. But please heed me: you must stop following Gilbert Quinton.”
An icy rivulet trickled down her spine. At his knowledge of her activities and the reasons why he might be warning her about Quinton.
“Why?” she said with frosty hauteur.
“Quinton is involved in something dangerous. Something beyond the domestic problems you are investigating,” Sebastian replied.
She thought about denying her covert operation, but the glint in his eyes told her he already knew too much. With pointed slowness, she slid the pistol back into the pocket of her skirt.
“What makes you think I am investigating him?” she asked stiffly.
