Page 19 of Once Upon a Reckless Rogue
Elena studied his face. What was she looking for?
“Why did you come here?”
He shouldn’t tell her, but what harm could it do? “I was sent here to discover if the French were indeed planning to try to take Spain again.”
Her eyes grew wide. “Are they?”
“From what I was able to find out they have exhausted all the avenues here. You will not see Joseph Boneparte here again.”
She sighed loudly. “That is good.”
She must have been worried about the French coming back, and who could blame her? “Anything else?”
“Why did you kiss me?”
Thomas raised a brow. Of course, this would play on her mind. How to make her understand. “I made you cry. I never, ever want to make you cry.”
“So, you kissed me out of guilt?”
“No. I wanted to kiss you. I have for days. I guess I am attracted to bossy, clever women.”
“You think I am clever?” She grinned.
“You know you are, and pretty besides. A combination that I obviously cannot resist.” He tapped her gently on the nose.
She looked pleased with his compliment. “Do you have a woman at home in England?”
He shook his head. “No. I avoided the marriage mart. My profession is not one made for marriage.”
“But…many men in the army marry.”
“Ah, yes. I mean the other part of my job.”
She looked adorably confused. “The other part?”
“Elena, I’m a spy for the British Empire.” Her look of astonishment was comical, and he wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
“A spy? This is how you know about trip wires, poisons, and traps?”
“Yes,” he replied.
“Hmm, you don’t look like a spy.”
He laughed. “And what does a spy look like?”
“I imagined they would be ordinary, trying to hide amongst the masses. You are too handsome not to be noticed.”
“I am?” He’d never considered himself particularly good looking.
“No. I find your looks infinitely interesting,” she said with a blush. “Now I understand why the French wanted to torture and kill you.”
“I don’t think my looks had anything to do with why they wanted to torture me. They wanted to know what cards I held to my chest. They did not like the fact I did not play their game.”
“I meant now I know you are a spy.”
“I see. What is so interesting about my face? I would think I looked like a mess of bruises and scars.”
“Oh, you do, you do, but as your injuries heal and fade it is like your true face is emerging. Every day you look more handsome.”
