Silently, she said a prayer of thanks that Nash had decided to play things her way for now. Perhaps now she would get some answers.
“Would you like another drink?” he offered.
“Surely you jest. After what your servant did to my companion, I’m skeptical about accepting any more refreshments from you.”
When he took the poker and bent to stir the fire, his supple movements stretched the fabric of his clothes, which strained across his muscular frame. He was very well put together, and she couldn’t stop the improper thoughts from flooding her mind. She grumbled under her breath and bunched her hands into fists.
He stood and faced her. “So, my sweet, what do you want to know about me?”
Her red face betrayed her stoic act, and she willed herself to gain control. If only she could find a way to control her blush.
“Nash, I find it fascinating you left your family when you were eighteen. Do you mind sharing with me what you did during those years before you left home?”
He led her back to the opposite end of the sofa where Sally slept. Nash patted the cushion next to him. Reluctantly, Maxey sat.
Nash relaxed and crossed one leg over the other knee. “I have a brother and two sisters. My father is titled, and so is my brother, but I will never have the privilege.”
“Were you close to your family?”
He shrugged. “I suppose I was when I was young, but when I reached my fifteenth year, my uncle and father quarreled, and at that point, my father became controlling. My uncle hasn’t spoken to my father since that time. But I believe my father is the one who drove me away, just as he did my uncle. My uncle owns a large piece of land in Devonshire, which was where I stayed for several months before joining the military.”
She arched a brow. This, she hadn’t heard. But then, why would Carolyn tell Maxey about William’s brother? “In Devonshire? I have a cousin who lives there. I wonder if she knows your uncle.”
“If she grew up in Devonshire, then I’m certain she knows or has heard of him.”
Maxey didn’t dare tell Nash that she was very young when her family lived in Devonshire. Then Father moved them to the Lake District, but once the scandal with her mother spread like wildfire, he moved them to Wales. Maxey wouldn’t remember anyone in Devonshire, anyway.
“Is your uncle wealthy?”
Nash shrugged. “It depends on what you consider wealthy. My uncle lives like a king, yet the only wealth he can claim is the land.”
“Only the land? No family jewels?” Perhaps she shouldn’t have brought it up, but she needed to steer the conversation in that direction.
Nash shook his head. “My father was the older brother, and after their quarrel, my uncle left with nothing that connects him to the title.”
Her heartbeat picked up, and she sucked in a breath. It sounded as if Lord Wentworth’s brother could indeed be a suspect. If he were given nothing at their parting, it would make sense for him to want to steal the ring with the family crest.
Maybe Nash was the thief and murder suspect after all. If only she knew if he had the ring.
“Were you given anything connecting you to your family before you were cut off?”
“Nothing but the clothes on my back and my horse. I waited for my father to take the horse away from me, but thankfully, he never did. But now, the one thing of importance I care about is my singing voice. To me, that is worth far more than any family jewels.”
A groan of defeat that she dared not release hung in her throat. She would not admit failure. No matter what it took, she would get him to confess.
“I agree. I have never heard a man with such a beautiful voice.”
He folded his arms and stared at her. “Now, we will talk about you.”
Maxey straightened. “There is not much to tell. My life does not compare to yours. Besides, you haven’t answered all my questions.”
By the narrowing of his eyes, she received the impression that he didn’t want to continue the conversation. She had to do something in order to discover if he was the man she was searching for.
There was no way around it. She had to use her womanly wiles on him, even as unskilled as she was at this. She must remember what her cousin had taught her about charming men. Could she charm him without being affected herself? Her mother was a wanton woman, so maybe the daughter had this talent, also.
After much hesitation, she touched his knee and leaned closer. “Please, Nash, tell me more about your life and estate.”
His chest shook with silent laughter. “But I am not a storyteller, Maxey.”
