“I’m in need of a cabin boy. And you are just the right size, if not shape.”
He’d tried not to allow his gaze to linger on her breasts. He was already going to hell for half a score of reasons as it was, agreeing to this. “But we can take care of that,” he quickly added.
Daphne had pressed a hand to her breasts. “We can take care—”
“We’ll work out the details later,” he’d said, waving a hand in the air and flipping his tricorn over and placing it back on his head. “I must get back.”
But last time had been quite a bit different. Last time, he’d needed an interpreter, yes, but he’d have been able to talk Donald into going if he’d truly wanted the earl’s help instead of his sister’s. Now, however, he had no choice. This time he was desperate. Daphne was already established as his cabin boy and she spoke Russian. Donald was dead. It was hardly a difficult decision.
“Yes,” Rafe answered simply, dragging his thoughts back to the question she’d just asked him. She hated it when he compared her to a sister. And the fact was, he thought of her as anything but. But he didn’t much care for the thought of having Julian Swift knock every single one of his teeth down his throat.
“I’m not your sister and you’d better have a more convincing argument than that or I still refuse to help you.”
Rafe let out his breath, slapped his gloves against his thigh again, and considered his options. She’d really got her back up this time. “As soon as the mission is over, I’ll grant you your annulment. I’ll go to the Home Office myself and see to it immediately.”
She narrowed her eyes on him. “How long will the mission take?”
“A sennight, give or take a day.”
“One week?”
“That’s right. That’s all.” He took a deep breath and played hisrealtrump. He glanced at her and blinked. “I thought you’d want to help, Daphne. Don’t you want to catch the bastards who killed Donald?”
The glimmer in her eye told him he’d won. If there was one thing Rafe knew, it was people. Their motivations and their weaknesses. It’s what made him a good spy. Daphne would never be able to resist that challenge.
“I’ll do it,” she said. “On one condition.”
CHAPTER SIX
Daphne eyed the handsome rogue who stood before her. Rafe scrubbed his hand through his blond hair, mussing it so the short ends stood up straight. He was so certain of himself. So confident, strolling in here with ultimatums and bargains. Two could play at that game, and Daphne was no longer the unsure little ninny she’d been last year. He’d appealed to her sense of justice. He knew she couldn’t refuse that. And she couldn’t. If she thought for one moment she could help catch the evil men responsible for Donald’s death and Rafe’s torture, she wouldn’t say no to the opportunity, but she certainly wasn’t about to allow Rafe Cavendish to be in charge and order her about.
She was going to help him avenge her brother’s death. But she would do so onherterms, by God. Not Rafe’s.
“What’s the condition?” Rafe asked, squeezing his gloves so hard his hands turned red. Oh, he wasn’t pleased with her today. Not at all. Good. She wasn’t pleased with him. But Daphne turned away so she wouldn’t have to look at his mussed hair. It was too alluring by half.
“I refuse to allow the party tomorrow to be affected by this. I want you to leave. Come back Sunday night and I’ll go with you then.”
She shouldn’t have glanced at him for his answer. His sparkling eyes, the cleft in his chin, they were too much.
“Not a chance,” he replied, his grin positively wicked.
She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot on the rug. “I’m sorry. I think you have me confused with someone who doesn’t have the upper hand.”
He gave her a look that clearly indicated he was sure she’d taken leave of her senses. “Who says you have the upper hand?”
She narrowed her eyes on him. “You’re attempting to convince me to agree to help you, are you not?”
“I’m offering you the opportunity to keep up this charade of a courtship with your suitor. But there’s no way in hell I’m leaving this house. I’m staying right here. I won’t cause trouble.”
“Charade of a—” Ugh. There was no arguing with the confounded man. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Why?”
His grin widened. “Why won’t I cause any trouble?”
She narrowed her eyes on him. “Why do you insist upon staying? Why would you even want to?”
“I can’t leave, Grey. I couldn’t do that. That wouldn’t be fair to you. You need me too much.”
“I need you too…? You’ve completely lost your mind.”
