“You may have to wait some time. It has been a damnable day.”
“Before the lady on the stairs?”
“Unfortunately.”
She glanced at the untouched glass. “Mr. Talbert was insistent I understand your likes and dislikes.”
“Was he now?”
“Yes,” she said before doing a very passable imitation of his secretary giving orders. “His Grace expects a whisky when he first arrives home and one before he retires.”
Gavin eyed the glass. “I am alarmingly predictable.”
“Do you wish to talk about your day?”
“I like your dress.” He’d like to take it off her body.
She seemed to hear his thoughts. Her head tilted as if evaluating him and he had a sense that if he made one wrong move, she would fly.
And he wanted to know why?
She accepted his change of topic. “I thank you for it, and the many others Mrs. Hillsman is making for me. However, it was not necessary.”
“Seeing you like this makes me believe it was absolutely of the greatest importance. Did you find a theater?”
“The one you suggested, Your Grace. The Bishop’s Hill that Geoff and Charles abandoned. Mr. Talbert says you have set funds out for me to start hiring actors.”
“When will you begin?”
“Perhaps on the morrow, if you agree.”
The morrow. He would fight a duel on the morrow. “Of course, I agree. Whatever you wish.”
“Thank you.”
“And did you find a suitable residence?”
“We looked at one, but I wish to discuss the wages for my actor friends first.”
“Oh?”
She folded her hands in her lap, giving the impression of being a prim and very stern, but attractive, governess. “It is too much.”
“It is our agreement.”
“Still, I expected that you would wait until Geoff and Charles could be brought to justice. Thank you,” she said, the words so heartfelt, they humbled him. “It was not your battle.”
“Sarah, it was a small matter.”
“What is small to you was vitally important to them. I’ve not witnessed much open kindness in my life. Of course—” Her voice broke off as she questioned the wisdom of saying more.
Gavin could feel her distrust. He didn’t want the easy, open conversation between them to end. “Of course?” he prompted.
She shook her head. “Would you care for something to eat?”
“If you wish to know what I care about, it is that you finish your statement. Go ahead, Sarah. Tell me what you were about to say.”
She ran her hand along the material of her dress covering her thighs, as if she could pull the garment off of her. “Of course, let us not forget that you want something of me. Something you could have taken last night. I offered.”
