Page 4 of A Remarkable Rogue

“You are mistaken, Captain. Mr. Everett was nothing more to me than a passing acquaintance. I am grieving for his sister, that is all.” She paused, and her hands rested lightly against the table to steady herself as she took a deep breath and began to rise from her chair. “If you’ll excuse me, I must see to my dress.”

“Stay.” He put his hand over her wrist and stopped her, forcing her to remain unless she wanted to cause a scene and draw the attention of everyone in the room.

Stiffly, she eased down onto her seat. “Release me this—”

“Only an acquaintance?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you give him money?” He forced a pleasant smile for anyone who might have been watching them. He wanted to appear to be nothing more than another in the long line of men determined to persuade her to visit his bed tonight.

Everyone would believe it, too, from the way she glared at him. “I did no such thing.”

“A great deal of money, in fact. You bought up his gambling debts. Twelve hundred pounds in all.”

She stared down at her hand, which now trembled beneath his, not with anger but fear. Years of watching soldiers march into battle had taught him the difference. But who was she afraid of—him…or Scepter?

“Let go of me, or I’ll scream.”

“No, you won’t.” He coolly dismissed her weak threat. “Everett brought attention to himself, and look how that ended. You’re far too smart to do the same.”

The tops of her breasts rose and fell rapidly over her low neckline as her breath came shallow and quick. She looked up at him in a heated mixture of fear and fury that left no doubt she’d scratch his eyes out if given half a chance.

“You bought up his debts, then asked for immediate repayment even though you knew he couldn’t pay. Not a poor schoolmaster.” When Nate was convinced she wouldn’t flee or cause a scene—or attack him—he slowly released her wrist and leaned back in his chair. His eyes pinned her. “Why?”

She pulled her hand out of his reach, then rubbed at her wrist as if his touch had scalded her. “Who told you that?”

“I have my sources.” He had no intention of telling her that those sources came from within her own household or that she should pay her groom a larger salary in order to ensure his loyalty. “You’re wealthy already. Why bother with a few hundred pounds from an indebted mathematician?”

Her stormy eyes gleamed as she tried to see through the carefully controlled expression he wore like a mask. “You’re not one of the messengers, then?”

“What messengers?”

She started to reply, then snapped her mouth shut. Whatever she was about to say vanished.

Nate turned cold. She knew far more than he and Sinclair suspected.

Without warning, she shot to her feet before he could stop her.

Damnation.His gaze darted to the mountain-sized men standing at the sides of the room who provided security for the club. He’d be tossed into the street on his arse if he made a grab for her now, and all the ground he’d gained tonight would be lost.

“You’re not leaving this club,” he warned as he rose to his feet, as if he were truly a gentleman instead of the soldier set on arresting her.

She sniffed haughtily. “You spilt brandy on my dress.”

He’d done no such thing, although he strongly suspectedshewould have tossed her drink directly into his face if she didn’t have to brush past him to reach it.

“I have no intention of leaving before I’m ready,” she informed him coldly, then snatched up her reticule from the table. “But even you, Captain, must be enough of a gentleman not to prevent a lady from visiting the retiring room to clean up a spill.”

He bit back a curse. She’d cornered him. By standing, she’d shown the front of her dress to the crowd. Anyone watching would think it peculiar if she remained at the table instead of attending to the stain, and she would draw the type of curiosity neither of them wanted.

He had no choice but to let her go.

For now.

“Very well,” he conceded. She may think she’d won, but the battle had just begun. “When you return, we’ll continue our conversation.”

“Right where we left off?” Her eyebrow rose in mocking challenge. “With you accusing me of extorting money from Henry Everett?”