It was his turn to snort. “I see. You’re one of those desperate females who want to finish dragging my reputation through the mud until it is abused beyond repair.”
She paused. “Actually, no. I want to tellyourside of the story.” Her gaze was direct, steady.
Elwood tilted his head to the side. There weren’t many women that he met who actually surprised him, but this woman was doing an excellent job. She wasn’t one to mince words and it was a quality not many ladies of his acquaintance held in abundance.
Before he could say anything more, she added, “My reasons for coming here today are purely selfish. I have aspirations of becoming a noted writer like ‘The Belle.’ I see my opportunity to prove my worth by interviewing you, and gain recognition of my own.”
“While happily destroying me in the process,” he reiterated dryly.
“An unfortunate occurrence, but it seems to me ‘The Belle’ has already managed to do that,” she pointed out. “I’m sure your reputation will recover in time. Perhaps not fully, but enough to salvage your title and prove to society that you are a worthy gentleman. There is nothing more enticing than a reformed rake, after all. That is where I come in.”
Despite himself, Elwood’s lips twitched. “Do I get the courtesy of your name since you are, not only accosting me inmy bedchamber in the middle of the night, but are set on this course?”
Another pause. “How about Miss Smith?”
“An assumed name hardly seems very sporting, since you are expecting me to pour out my heart and soul to you for an advantage that I only see is one sided,” he murmured. He started to move toward the silhouette. “Perhaps what you’re really here for is a demonstration of my… talents?”
“Hardly.” She denied his claim, and yet, he heard the slightly breathless tone in her voice. “I just want to see if there is anything redeeming about you.”
He stopped, because he had a sudden thought, a purelywickedthought. “I admire your courage, so I have decided to tell you whatever you would wish to know, the entire sordid tale of my life to this point. But I insist on conducting the interview in private. I have a carriage waiting in the mews to take me to my hunting box for a time. If you are interested in my history, then you will have to join me.”
“You expect me to go with you, to God only knows where for an undisclosed amount of time, dressed in that ridiculous Prospero costume? And take you seriously?”
He blinked. Ignoring the second insult, and asked instead, “You are familiar with Shakespeare?”
“Somewhat. I have some friends who perform on the stage.”
“Indeed?” This woman continued to fascinate him. Perhaps she was a new actress. It had been some time since he’d seduced one of those. He crossed his arms. “It’s your choice, madam. I am leaving this evening whether or not you tag along. It makes no difference to me as society’s opinion has been swayed against me, and with just cause.”
He got the sense that she was torn. “Why should I trust you will remain a gentleman?”
Elwood grinned, but the beard likely hid the reaction. “For the same reason I don’t trust you. You shouldn’t. But then, I think you already knew that, didn’t you?” He headed for the door and he saw her shadow retreat further into the darkness away from him. He stopped, because he decided he wouldn’t mind having her along for the ride—in more ways than one. “Might I remind you that you camehere. You approachedme, and yet, when you have the opportunity to fulfill your dream, you would let something as inconsequential as me stand in your way?” He shook his head. “Perhaps you aren’t the one to discover the truth, after all.” He lifted his hand to his head in a silent salute. “I bid you adieu.”
Meliah’s heartwas beating so fast that she wasn’t sure she could calm it ever again. She clenched her fists at her sides and tried to make a decision that wouldn’t ruin her life forever. On one hand, she had the chance to interview Lord Belmont, but on the other, there was certain ruination. Something told her that she already knew he was the licentious libertine that “The Belle” had claimed, but without the sufficient proof to claim otherwise, there wasn’t much she could take to the papers. She needed something that would make the printers take notice of her talents.
If she did this, and went with Lord Belmont, she would have to lay down a few rules. She must insist on his proper distance, and he would have to ensure that she was returned to Spitalfields by the following day. Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be her parent’s wrath she would have to face, but the rest of the shopkeepers who would gossip about her lengthy absence.
Meliah commanded her feet to move and she scrambled down the stairs after the earl. She rushed out the door and abruptly stopped—nearly colliding with his towering figure on the other side.
He was perched against the side of the manor. “I was wondering how long it would take you,” he drawled.
Meliah’s breath caught. While he was still dressed as the character from one of the Bard’s plays, it was the sensual look in his blue eyes that caused words to fail her. They caught the faint light from the moon and shone with a glimmer that promised entirely too much.
“I have some demands,” she stated, although it lacked the conviction she had been hoping for.
“And what are they?” he asked softly, as his gaze ran the length of her body.
She had to fight the urge to put a hand to her stomach to quell the butterflies that were fluttering against her ribcage. “I need to be back home tomorrow.”
He shook his head. “I’m afraid that’s impossible. It will be a few days before I can secure passage back to the city for you. And if you want a full accounting of my life to find the one good deed buried deep, it will take longer than a single day.” He scratched the side of his face and she wondered if the beard was bothering him. “Is that all?”
Some of her spirits sank at that, but she lifted her chin with determination. She would think of the issues she might face later. “I shall not be your next conquest,” she added pertly.
“And here I thought I was to be yours,” he drawled.
Her head was starting to spin. He spoke in such a way that she found it difficult to keep her own thoughts straight. She certainly understood why most believed him to be so callous.
“I’m waiting. What’s it to be?”
