He shouldn’t have said it. One didn’t speak of satisfaction to a lady, especially not in such a low, suggestive voice, but he couldn’t help himself. He burned with curiosity to see what she’d do now. Would she acknowledge the innuendo? Or better yet, return it? Take it into that saucy mouth of hers, turn it over on her tongue—
Her steps faltered. Cam’s lower belly surged with anticipation.
“I think you must refer to that feeling,” she whispered, “that feeling a lady has when she, well, when she . . .”
“Yes?” Cam asked, surprised at how hoarse he’d grown.
“She finds a particularly flattering bonnet?”
She didn’t say another word or make a noise of any kind, but her entire body vibrated with suppressed laughter.
The breath he’d been holding left him in a heated rush.Damn her. She’d held him right on the edge just now, and had delighted in hurling him to the ground. Risky, to toy with a man’s lustful urges, but if he didn’t want a knife in his back from Tilly—who no doubt hid one under those folds of gray wool—he’d have to ignore it.
He glanced back to find the servant had fallen far enough behind she couldn’t overhear their conversation. That was the best he could hope for today, but tomorrow he’d take care to get Lady Eleanor to himself.
“I can’t comment on the heights of ecstasy a lady might reach in relation to her bonnet.” At leasthecould enjoy the innuendo, even if she refused to. “But I imagine Lord Carlisle’s satisfaction with his son must be comparable.”
She gave him a puzzled look. “But my brother doesn’t wear bonnets, Mr. West. At least, not that I know of.”
Cam stifled a laugh. Oh, she was enjoying herself. “No, I imagine not, but you see, my lady, one thing hasn’t anything to do with the other.”
Her brow furrowed. “It hasn’t?”
“No. I mean to observe for a family like the Sutherlands, a family with such an ancient and respected title, it must be comforting to know the family is secure. Not just for Lord Carlisle, but for all of you. I believe you’re a close family?”
If they weren’t, she wouldn’t be playing these games with him to secure her sister’s future.
“Oh, yes, very close. My sister is not two years younger than I am, and Lady Carlisle and I are of an age.”
Cam sighed, amazed he’d managed to lead her this far in the conversation, as skilled as she was at making sure it went nowhere. “Ah, yes, but I don’t refer to your ages, my lady. I mean “close” in the emotional sense, not the chronological one.”
She blinked at him. “Oh. Well, that too, then.”
He pressed on valiantly. “I only mean to say that as you allareso close, Lord Carlisle’s happiness must be your own.”
“Happiness? Yes. We’re all very much concerned with each other’s happiness.”
Her tone didn’t change—it remained vague and pleasant—yet Cam sensed a subtle shift in her, undetectable for one who wasn’t attuned to every nuance of her conversation.
But he was. He’d underestimated her once, and he wouldn’t do it again. She didn’t seem to realize it, or detect any shift in his attitude toward her, but she had his full, undivided attention now.
Lady Eleanor had just delivered a warning—an oblique one, yes, but a warning nonetheless.
“With each other’s happiness, and with the security of the family, just as you said earlier, Mr. West.”
Well. Not so oblique, after all.
Trifle with one Sutherland, and you trifle with us all.
She hadn’t broken character to do it, but it was a near thing, which meant she’d felt it necessary he understand . . . what? The depths of her loyalty to her sister? Cam already understood that kind of loyalty. In Lady Eleanor’s case he depended on it, for that loyalty would be her downfall in her dealings with him.
He understood it, and he wouldn’t hesitate to exploit it.
And now it was time he delivered a message of his own. “Anyone who knows the Sutherlands, either personally or by reputation, knows that, my lady.”
She gave a bright, tinkling laugh. “Indeed? How would they?”
Cam paused to choose his words. “Because, my dear Lady Eleanor, if your brother weren’t concerned for your happiness, he would have forced you to accept one of the five suitors who’ve asked for your hand since you made your debut.”
