His eyes widened. “You—you wish to invest with Danvers?”
She nodded. “His vision of the future is fascinating.”
“And risky,” he said.
“Too risky for me but not for you?” She folded her arms. “Or is it thatyoudon’t think a woman should be able to make moves to protect her own future?”
“I think nothing of the sort,” he said. “But if it doesn’t pay off?—”
“Then I suppose both of us will be paupers, Alexander,” she said. “And we can go into hiding and become street thieves together.”
He shut his eyes with a little grumble that seemed to work its way through her every nerve ending. God, she wanted to hate him so much, but it was very difficult when he was so handsome and when he seemed hellbent on trying to help her.
“When itdoespay off, though,” she said softly, “it will take the very small amount of money I have, enough for a few years of expenses if I’m careful and frugal, and turn it into a lifetime of safety. A way for me to walk away from my past and from any man, including your grandfather, who might try to destroy me.”
He shook his head. “You’ve already been through so much. I would hate to see you go through more.”
She wrinkled her brow at how genuine he seemed. “Well, the very nice fact is that I do have others to turn to if this goes awry. If I lose it all, I’ll surrender to being the scandalous aunt who lives in the garret with her cat. I won’t blame you, at least not for this.”
“I think I owe you, don’t I?” he asked after he thought on the request a moment. “I’ll reach out to Danvers and find out if he’llmeet with you. And if he won’t, then I’ll find a way to arrange you to be able to invest by some other means.”
“Good.” They were silent together a moment, and suddenly she was very aware of the fact that the door was closed and they were alone and there was a settee right there. What a fool she was to still want him. To still want anyone. She cleared her throat. “Now if you don’t have any more business to discuss, Mr. Castleton.”
He gave a half-smile. “Mr. Castleton again, eh?”
“I think it must be. Whatever else happened between us, it was a very pleasant mistake and it can’t be repeated.”
There was a flutter of disappointment that crossed his features and she braced for him to argue or threaten as some men did. But he merely nodded. “Very well. I’ll send word when I’ve talked to Danvers. Good day, Miss Comerford.”
She winced at his return to formality to match her own, but didn’t correct him or stop him as he started for the door. Before he opened it, he turned back.
“When you said cat, does that mean you took Beatrice from Castleton Grange?”
She nodded. “I did.”
He smiled and this time it was real. God, it made him more handsome. It also made her realize how rarely she’d seen such an expression on his face. “Good. She belongs with you.” She expected him to go but he continued to look at her. “Julia, I’ve one more thing to say. I’ve thought of that night with you more times than I should say. But I never want you to ever fear that I would use that night or my desire for you against you. I’ll prove that, I hope, if nothing else. And now, good day.”
She caught her breath and whispered, “Good day,” as he left her without asking for anything more or saying another word.
She moved to the window and watched him ride away a few minutes later. She found she wished he’d walked back acrossthat room and kissed her. That she had pinned him to the door and kissed him.
“You’re an idiot, Julia,” she muttered, trying to shrug those foolish thoughts away. Then she went back upstairs and went back to reassembling her life.
The one that had nothing to do with Alexander Castleton.
CHAPTER 17
Within a day, Alexander had arranged for the meeting with Danvers. The other man had suggested Fitzhugh’s, which was a club Alexander liked and felt comfortable in, so now he sat in the fine front hall of the place in the big window overlooking the park, waiting. He was…nervous. Even more nervous than he had been when he had put his own money into the man’s ventures.
That feeling only increased when he looked toward the entrance to the hall and saw the Earl of Blackburn and Silas Windham enter. These were Julia’s brothers-in-law and if the look they exchanged when they noticed him was any indication, they knew who he was, too. The two talked together for a moment and then started toward him.
He braced himself as he rose in greeting, ready for anything, including a fight. Perhaps he deserved it.
“Ah, Mr. Castleton,” Lord Blackburn said. “Good day.”
“Good day, my lord, Mr. Windham. Were you…were you looking for me?”
Windham shook his head. “No, this is happenstance. We’re here after boxing at Ripley’s this morning. May we join you?”
