A Daring Liaison(24)

Ah, she was in a bit of a pique about last night. Well, tonight would go no better for her. “Did you come alone tonight, Mrs. Huffington?”

“I live less than a quarter of a mile away, Mr. Hunter.”

He cringed. “Never say you walked.”

“Very well. I won’t.”

He stopped to face her. “Have you no sense at all? Someone may have tried to kill you last night, and you go out in public without a care to your safety?”

To his amazement, she laughed. “For a moment I thought you were going to lecture me on the unsuitability of a woman arriving on foot or alone. And I was going to remind you that the only real danger to me occurred in a coach last night.”

He could only look at her wide, innocent eyes and marvel at her impudence. Women did not mention such things—they ignored them.

She blinked, a tiny smile hovering at the corners of her luscious mouth. “Why, Mr. Hunter, whatever is wrong?”

“I—” He began to stroll again, trying desperately not to like her. He could not afford to lose his objectivity. “I had some matters I needed to talk to you about, Mrs. Huffington. Matters I think could be of advantage to us both.”

“Then by all means, sir. Speak.”

“Private matters.”

She sighed. “Hmm. Private matters. You do realize the brief coach ride to my home will not allow for...private matters, do you not?”

He glanced down at her, strolling by his side, not sparing him so much as a glance. So that was her game. Turn the tables on him by laying their intimacy bare? Was that her way of rebuking him? Well, she could think again. He’d trafficked with far too many courtesans to be embarrassed by sexual nuance. “You seem different tonight, Mrs. Huffington.”

“Do I? Perhaps it is because I am feeling a bit more...familiar with you.”

“I am pleased to hear that, my dear.” He paused to note her reaction to the endearment and was not disappointed. A slight frown knit lines between her eyebrows. If she was going to toy with him, she had better be prepared for the consequences.

“Are you not frightened for your life, sir? Almost certain death awaits the objects of my affection.”

“I enjoy a bit of danger. Adds spice to the game, eh?”

It was her turn to stop and glance toward the door and long for escape. “Then it is difficult to say which of us is the greater fool.”

“Quite a pair, are we not? And that brings me to my proposition.”

“Proposition? Oh, I think not, sir.”

“My coach is waiting outside, Mrs. Huffington. Shall we discuss it on the way home?”





Chapter Six




Georgiana found herself whisked out the door and deposited in Charles Hunter’s carriage before she could even take leave of her hostess. Where had she gone wrong? A dose of his own medicine had not cured Mr. Hunter of his relentless baiting. Instead it had seemed to double his determination.

Occasionally, when he looked at her, she thought he might like her just a little. But more often his words had an edge to them that put her on her guard and made her feel as if he did not like her at all. But if that was so, why did he pursue her so persistently? Whatever was going on in his mind made Georgiana uneasy and she suspected Charles Hunter knew that. And encouraged it.

She could think of only one way to end it. “Mr. Hunter, what is it that you want from me?”

He looked surprised as the carriage started off with a jolt. “I am not certain what you mean, Mrs. Huffington.”

“I think you do. A moment ago you were calling me ‘my dear’ and now you are all formality again. What is it you want?”

“My proposition, you mean?”

“Precisely.”

“I propose to escort you to and from all public functions. We mix in the same circles, are invited to the same affairs and know the same people. It should be an easy task, and I flatter myself in thinking I could keep you safe.”

“From what?”

“Accidental discharges of pistols, among other things. You mentioned last night that you think there might be more than mere chance behind your many misfortunes. That you feel compelled to find what might lie at the bottom of it. The answer to your questions, as it were. I stand ready to help you with all of that, and more if necessary. And the first step is to be your escort.”

Could he be serious? He’d mentioned it last night, but she thought he’d been joking, or trying to cozen her before trying to seduce her. She shook her head. “No, Mr. Hunter, but thank you for your concern.”