Page 35 of A Relentless Rake

“If I’ve offended you, I apologize,” he called out quietly to her, suddenly and surprisingly contrite. “I only wanted to know you better.”

He knew hermorethan well enough. He’d looked through her intimates drawer, for heaven’s sake! And now she could just picture his tall, solid body leaning against the wall beside the screen, with muscular arms folded over his broad chest, ankles crossed casually, a lock of chestnut hair falling boyishly over his forehead that the mask had covered before…Damn him!

When she stepped from behind the screen, he snapped up straight at the fury that seethed unchecked from her.

“Never.” Blinking hard and desperate to cling to whatever shreds of dignity she had left, she jabbed her chin into the air. “I willneverlet that happen.”

“Olivia,” he whispered, stunned by the change in her. “What’s the—”

She fled before he could stop her.

Nine

Alec kept to the shadows as he ran down the dark alley behind the row of terrace houses. He could have ridden his horse, he supposed. Hell, he could have had his grooms hitch up the St James carriage and driven right through Westminster for the lack of attention such a sight would have brought. But tonight, he felt caged and restless. He wanted to be part of the night, so he’d struck out on foot. He also needed to burn off the frustration of not seeing any trace of Henry Everett tonight. And of seeing too much of Olivia.

With a quiet curse, he jumped a puddle and hurried on.

Olivia Everett was an absolute conundrum. She was brilliant enough to have worked the equations on the building plans herself, and Alec couldn’t shake the fact that the name on the charred slip of paper could just as easily have been hers as her brother’s.

But she hadn’t been with the assassins in the warehouse, he knew that in his gut. Her never-break-the-rules propriety wouldn’t have stood for it. After all, assassination simply wasn’t proper.

Yet she’d frustrated him at every turn, and not just with the mission. She’d not softened at all beneath his flattery and flirtations tonight. He’d never before met a woman as aggravating, challenging, maddening…alluring.

It was time to stop playing games.

So once more, he’d donned his black clothes and satin mask to sneak through the back alleys at the edge of Westminster. This time when he entered her room, there would be no blackmail, no flirtations. He planned on thoroughly interrogating her to secure all the information he needed. Then he would never have to be bothered with her again.

He stopped, glanced up and down the alley to make certain no one was there to see him, and easily scrambled over a stone wall into the school’s service yard. Crouching low in the shadows, he crossed to the back of the house where he silently pried open the lock on the rear door and slipped inside.

He made his way through the dark and quiet school to Olivia’s room in the attic garret. Her door was unlocked. With a smile, he entered—

“Good evening,” a soft voice called out.

He froze. Olivia sat in a chair in front of the fire, her legs tucked under her until all that showed were the tips of her bare toes. She was wide awake.

And waiting for him.

He closed the door and leaned back against it. Then he glanced around the room for the trap he suspected she’d set for him.

He forced a smile. “You’re home from the ball already?” He knew she’d left—rather,Alecknew, but the masked man didn’t. Good Lord, his life was becoming damnably confusing.

“The evening ended early for me.” She gestured toward the gown she’d hung on the armoire door. The red punch stain glared like a purple bruise. “I’ve ruined the dress.”

Sheruined it? No, Reed and he had, and a twinge of guilt at spoiling her ball pricked him.

“I’ll find a way to repay you for it,” she offered. Then bit her bottom lip. “Somehow.”

“No need.” The twinge of guilt turned into a piercing stab. “I’m certain it was an accident.”

“Are you? Because I’m not.” She glanced regretfully toward the dress. “Still, I’d planned on returning it to you. But now…”

“The dress is yours. You blackmailed me for it fair and square.”

Her lips curled wryly, but something warned him that she wasn’t amused. As she sat there in her white dressing gown, her blond hair cascading loose around her shoulders and her blue eyes bright, she looked like an angel.

An angel he didn’t trust one whit.

He asked cautiously, “How did you know I’d return tonight?”