“Everyone has a secret, Miss Cordelia,” he taunted as he drew closer. “What is yours?”
“I…I do not have one.” Why was she so flustered all of a sudden? Was it because he leaned so close to her that she could nearly feel the heat of his body, or was it that his smile hinted at… Oh, she didn’t know, but by the queer little flip in her belly, Cordelia was certain it hinted at something she should know nothing about.
“It is only fair that you tell me.” Bentford grew serious as if he truly expected her to confess. “I will hold your secret as you promise to hold mine.”
For a moment she stared into his brown eyes, robbed of speech, and nearly robbed of thought. He was the sorcerer and with that, Cordelia stood. “This is ridiculous. Either you trust that I will not speak out of turn about your family, or you won’t. Regardless, I will not share with you any secrets.”
Bentford grinned as he stood. “Ah, so there are secrets.”
“I did not say that,” Cordelia insisted.
“Ah, but you did.” He chuckled. “When you said you would not share secrets with me it indicated that there was a secret that you held.”
Blast him. He was a sorcerer with his teasing and flirting, but she’d not succumb and admit anything.
“I admit to nothing,” Cordelia maintained as she crossed her arms over her breasts and lifted her chin. “If you are so certain that I do hold a secret, then tell me what it is,” she challenged.
His grin widened, revealing straight white teeth and humor danced in his brown eyes. He may want her to believe that he knew, but he didn’t. Bentford was simply testing her, and she’d not fail.
He leaned down and close to her ear. “Is it no longer a secret that you come from a family of smugglers?” Bentford’s warm breath on her neck caused goose pimples to erupt on her arms as her stomach flipped again.
As she contemplated her physical reaction, she was slow to comprehend his words. But when she did, Cordelia sucked in a breath and pulled away from his nearness.
How could he possibly know? He was not from around here and had only just arrived. Had someone in Bocka Morrow told him? Or one of his servants. She knew that many came to work at Nightshade Manor when the family was in residence but certainly, they’d say nothing as it could endanger the lives of their own families.
“No denial?” he reproved with a quirk to his lips and the left eyebrow arched.
Oh, Lord Bentford was maddening. “I’ve no idea where you have obtained your information, Lord Bentford.” It wasn’t a denial, nor was it a confirmation.
“Your brother took Cadmus into the caves beneath Hollybrook Park once and let me follow,” he confided. “I was extremely excited and wanted to be a smuggler too one day.”
Had grandfather known, he would have…oh, Cordelia didn’t know what he would have done, but Adam would have certainly been disciplined. Yet, she still did not confirm as she had no proof that Bentford had truly been in the caves and perhaps he’d only heard a rumor.
“You have the means.” She gestured to the cove.
He chuckled. “I’ll consider the smuggling as your secret, whether you admit it or not.”
“I am not denying there are caves beneath Hollybrook Park, but did it ever occur to you that perhaps two older boys were telling a story to a younger boy?” she asked. “Therewasa good deal of smuggling when Uncle Jonathan was alive.” If Bentford saw no cargo or boats, she could deny there was any illegal activity.
“It is possible that maybe my brother and yours were telling tales.” Then he grinned. “But then why were casks and crates stored along the back walls?” he countered.
She simply grinned at him and shrugged.
It was likely he did know the truth, but she certainly was not going to confirm anything to someone new to Bocka Morrow.
Chapter 9
Oh,if only those in Society could hold confidences as well as Miss Cordelia then…actually, London would be quite boring as it seemed gossip was one of the main entertainments during the Season.
Damon couldn’t even remember the last time he had settled into such ease when talking with a woman. And he enjoyed teasing her about the secret she held, which wasn’t a secret at all except to those outside of Bocka Morrow. But he also needed to be careful.
When he leaned in to whisper in her ear, he’d been overcome with the desire to kiss her neck.
This was the second time he’d considered kissing Miss Cordelia. Yesterday it had been her kissable lips and today it has been her neck. And he mustnotconsider doing so again. She was an innocent miss and heneverkissed misses.
“Damon, have you seen Ianthe?” his mother called.
Blast! He should have known his mother wouldn’t leave him be for long.
