“Neither,” she replied, lifting the cup to her pink lips. “Just a profound knowledge of how reckless you are.”
He inclined his head. “Used to be.”
“Really?” She raised a brow. “Is that why you’ve come? To tell me you’ve changed?”
He chuckled. “I haven’t changedthatmuch.”
“I’m not surprised.” She set down her teacup and crossed her arms over her chest. “Tell me, Mark, whyhaveyou come?”
He saluted her with his glass, the amber-colored liquid shining in the afternoon sunlight. “You were right. I need a favor from you.”
She didn’t so much as bat an eyelash. “Of course you do. What’s the favor?” She picked up her cup once more and took a sip.
He downed the final splash of brandy and met her gaze. “I need you to return to England with me for a few months and pretend to be my loving wife.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Nicole nearly choked on her tea. The warm liquid slipped down her windpipe and she spent the next several moments battling a coughing fit. If Mark had just told her he wanted her to join him in a traveling sideshow she couldn’t have been more astonished.
Once the coughs subsided, she set aside her teacup and dabbed at her watery eyes with a handkerchief she’d produced from her pocket. Then she cupped a hand behind her ear. “You want me towhat?”
Mark set his empty glass on the sideboard and strolled nonchalantly toward her. “I believe you heard me.” His tone had lost its typical condescending note. “I’m being considered for another promotion. Quite a large promotion. To Secretary of the Home Office.”
Nicole’s brows shot up. “Secretary of the Home Office?” She gave a long, drawn-out whistle. She’d known he was ambitious. Known he would go far. But thatlofty position was something she’d never even guessed he’d be eligible for. It was essentially the head of all the spies in England. He’d have the ear of the King. Mark would wield more power than she’d ever imagined. She lowered her gaze to her cloudy tea and did her best to keep her face blank. “So your political ambitions are finally being realized, but what does that have to do with me?”
Mark tilted his head to the side and studied her face. “Unfortunately it has a great deal to do with you. They want a family man to be the secretary.”
She furrowed her brow. “Did you tell them about your family?”
“No.” His snapped rejoinder nearly cut her off. “My family has nothing to do with this. They merely want a man who’s settled instead of a bachelor.”
Of course. She should have known better than to mention his family. Clearly, he was still as prickly about the subject as ever. “Ah, so you hope trotting me out after all these years will secure you the position?”
He cocked his head to the side and nodded. “Something like that.”
She set her teacup on the silver salver that rested on the table at her knees and crossed her arms over her chest once more, regarding him down the length of her nose. He had a great deal of explaining to do. “Why don’t you just hire some biddable little thing topretendto be your wife?”
He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “There are people who know we’re married, Nicole. Not many, but a few. If I’m caught in a lie I might sacrifice the position.”
“So youdidconsider it?” She laughed and wavedaway his reply. “No need to answer. I’mcertainyou considered it.”
He cocked his head to the side again. “By the by, what does your family think of you living in France all these years?”
Her breath caught in her throat. Was he truly going to ask her about it so casually after all these years? Fine. Two could play at this game.
“I didn’t give them much choice in the matter.”
“You didn’t give anyone much choice.” Was it her imagination or was there an edge of anger in his voice?
She stood, pressing her hand to the strangely hollow place in her breast. “I write to Mother when I can. We keep in touch.”
“And all of this?” He waved a hand in the air. “How do you manage it?”
How dare he ask about her resources? He had no right to. She hadn’t taken so much as a tuppence from him in all these years. “You of all people should know that working for the War Office can be lucrative. I’ve also done some work for the authorities here in France.”
“Ah, yes, yourcareer.Start a branch of the Bow Street Runners in Paris, did you?”
Purposely ignoring that remark, she made her way to the sideboard where she poured herself a finger of brandy. She could not allow him to bait her like this.Merde.Why couldn’t she bring herself to toss him out on his handsome head? “Care for some more?” she asked in her most gracious hostesslike voice. It was entirely fake.
