“I know who you are, Lord Hawthorne.”
*
Tabitha had wantedto keep his identity to herself, but after what had happened in the music room and during dinner, she realized she couldn’t carry on this farce any longer. She must let him know, and ask him to please leave her alone.
So maybe she wouldn’t actually be as polite as she’d rehearsed it in her mind, but one way or another, he’d know her feelings tonight. Then perhaps she’d be able to sleep.
Even through the shadows, she could see the stunned look on his face. His mouth hung open, but no words were forthcoming. He would try to deny it. After all, he was a man who got caught and didn’t want to accept his punishment for doing wrong.
Just like most every man she’d ever met. The only exception was her half-brothers.
Soon, he heaved a sigh and straightened his shoulders. “What gave away my secret?”
Her brain stopped functioning. He was actually going to confess? Where was the denial she’d been waiting for, and preparing to rebut?
Clearing her throat, she nodded. “There were many things that gave your true identity away. Unfortunately, I’m the only one who noticed since these people don’t know you as I do.”
“Enlighten me anyway. I tried hard to be my cousin, so I’d like to know where I went wrong.”
She folded her arms, wishing she’d chosen a warmer night to confront him outside and in the shadows. “At first it was your famous wink and the twinkle in your eyes. Then this morning when you were all wet, I could tell you had powdered your hair because the white color was gone. This evening when you had called memy lovely,is when I knew for certain that you were Lord Hawthorne.”
He smiled. “Ah, yes. I recall now how you used to scold me for calling youmy lovely.”
“But it had somehow slipped your mind while playing a clergyman?”
“Perhaps.” He shrugged. “Or maybe it was because deep down inside my heart, I had wanted to tell you the truth but knew I couldn’t.”
“Why can’t you?” Her heartbeat quickened. Apparently, there was a reason he pretended to be his cousin.
He glanced around the yard, then out into the street as if looking for someone. When his attention returned to her, he shook his head. “I cannot tell you out here. Who knows who else might be listening? We should talk, but somewhere private.”
At first, she wanted to agree with him, until realizing that was exactly what he wanted her to do. She couldn’t forget what kind of man he was and how he twisted everything around just to get his way. “No.”
“No?” His eyebrows rose.
“I don’t want to meet you in private. Tell me here. Now.”
Sighing, he folded his arms. “Then I guess you will never know my deep, dark secret, will you?”
She gasped. “Are you telling me that you’re not going to say anything?”
“Not unless you agree to meet me somewhere in private. Not only am I thinking of your safety, but my cousin’s secret, as well.”
“What does your cousin have to do with anything?”
“I’m playing him, am I not?” He took a step closer to her and lowered his voice. “My cousin has everything to do with this, since trading places was his idea.” He came closer again. “Do you honestly believe I enjoy pretending to be a clergyman?”
She couldn’t help but chuckle. “No, I don’t think you would enjoy it at all.”
“Exactly. So if I’m not doing it for my own entertainment, I’m doing it to help someone.”
“All right, I understand now.”
He came closer and leaned against the tree. She wished he would have stayed where he was when she’d first stopped him. Experience had taught her that being this close to him was dangerous. She could smell him, and the lemon tart he’d had for dessert was still on his breath. His cologne was still the same musky scent as what had been branded in her memory.
“Please meet me in private?” he whispered. “We have much to talk about.”
“IfI meet you in private, the only thing we’ll be discussing is why you are in disguise.”
