Again, Meliah fought between her conscience and her desire to succeed in a field other than that of a weaver for the remainder of her days. “Yes.” For a moment, she was stunned that the word erupted from her so easily, but when he held out his hand to her, she found her own extending toward his in return.
She said nothing else as they entered the hackney. As soon as they were settled, he rapped on the roof of the carriage and they set off. It wasn’t until they started moving that her tongue unglued itself from the roof of her mouth. “I don’t have anything else to wear.”
His gaze swept her once more. “That won’t be a problem,” he murmured.
She gasped in outrage—but a rush of heat poured through her that wasn’t entirely rage. “Pardon me?”
He started to remove his facial covering. “It won’t be a problem to find something for you. It is easy to procure women’s clothing.”
She rolled her eyes as she removed her straw bonnet. “I’m sure you find it so.” She couldn’t believe she was being so calm when she was riding in a carriage with a complete stranger who was known to be a ruthless scoundrel. Not only that, but she was speaking so boldly to a peer of the realm! Her parents would be aghast if they could see her behavior. But Meliah had always believed that it wasn’t a title that made a man a gentleman, but rather his character. And thus far, she wasn’t seeing anything that might suggest the Earl of Belmont deserved a glowing recommendation from society. She had the feeling that “The Belle” was completely accurate in her estimation, and yet, for some reason, that didn’t unnerve her like it should.
“To be clear,” he countered with all the arrogance of his stature. “I was referring to a local seamstress in the area. Shegenerally has a few premade gowns on hand for gentry who are passing through the village and need something quickly.”
Meliah started to panic. “I didn’t bring sufficient funds with me to go shopping.”
He waved a hand. “Don’t concern yourself with the cost. Consider it a gift.”
She narrowed her eyes. “For what reason?”
Again, those eyes flashed. “Entertainment.”
Elwood was findingit entirely too intriguing when it came to teasing this mystery lady across from him. He couldn’t believe his fortune when she came barreling out of the house and almost directly into his arms. The fact that she was the lady in pink that he’d seen earlier that day pleased him more than he could say. Who would have guessed such an innocent looking female would be so precocious?
He was grateful that she had dispensed with the bonnet. It gave him the opportunity to admire her dark hair. It was difficult to see clearly in the dim light, but he was quite certain it was more than a plain, unassuming brown. He imagined that there were flashes of mahogany woven throughout to match her fiery spirit.
She crossed her arms as he removed the last of his costume. More comfortable, he sat back and observed his lovely companion. “I want to make sure you know I don’t intend to be the sort of entertainment you have in mind.”
“I was thinking no such thing,” he lied smoothly. “I am rather curious how long you intend to keep up this masquerade, however.”
She frowned, obviously perplexed. “What are you talking about?”
“Come now.” He coaxed. “It’s obvious that you’re working for the notorious ‘Brazen Belle.’ As if I would give you any further reason to incriminate myself, or make me look like an innocent cherub. The very idea is quite nauseating.”
She lifted her chin and looked at him warily. “I suppose we shall see.”
He lifted a brow. “Why don’t you get some sleep, Miss…” When she didn’t supply her name, he sighed. “Come now, don’t be stubborn. I refuse to refer to you by ‘Miss Smith’ the entire time when I know it’s nothing but a stage name.”
He could tell by the way she pursed her lips that she didn’t want to offer that small courtesy, but since it appeared that she had been instilled with some sense of propriety, she reluctantly said, “Newton.”
“Miss Newton.” He tried the sound of it on his tongue. “Do you have a first name?”
“That should suffice,” she snapped. “We are not friends, nor acquaintances. This is a business arrangement.”
“And yet,” he pointed out slowly. “You want to gain some rather personal information from me while I am asking for nothing in return but your company. I should think that gains me a first name.”
He adored the mutinous glare she offered. But his ploy worked, just as he thought it would.
“Meliah.”
“Very lovely,” he murmured. He dared to cross the carriage and sit down beside her.
Her eyes widened and it was the first time he got a clear look at their color. It surprised him. “Green,” he murmured.
She blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Your eyes are green,” he repeated softly. “Not blue as I’d imagined.”
“Why should you have imagined my eye color at all?”
