That Infamous Pearl by Alicia Quigley Page B

voice was nervous and brittle.
    "Not
to trust other people and to care for what is mine," answered Alaric. "You
can be very sure I do not repeat my mistakes, Rowena."
    "And
Lady Bingham was a mistake?"
    "A
very bad one." Alaric's voice was rough. He was uncomfortable discussing
this with Rowena. He did not want her to know of his previous liaisons.
    "And
what of Lily Magdalene? She is not a mistake?"
    Alaric
jumped as though he had been shot. "How do you know about Lily?"
    Rowena
smiled, a bit smugly. "You activities are very well known, my lord. It
took little effort for me to discover the name of your mistress."
    "You
have gone altogether too far, Rowena. You and I should not be discussing Lady
Bingham, much less Lily. That is something a gently brought up female does not
know about." Alaric felt as though he was being slowly smothered.
    "We
only pretend not to know, my lord. I have made it my business to know as much
as possible about you. It's not that difficult, as you are hardly discreet. All
of London discusses your affaires ." Rowena felt a touch of
satisfaction at having ruffled his calm.
    "Lily
is none of your business, Rowena. A woman like her is a mere convenience.
    "Is
she so? And what am I, my lord? Am I also a convenience? Or am I just another
way of competing with Malcolm?" Rowena set her chin at an aggressive
angle.
    "Whatever
are you talking about, Rowena? I was under the impression that I was here to
help you attempt to clear your brother's name." Alaric hoped desperately
that Rowena would be distracted by his mention of the mystery she was so intent
on solving.
    Rowena
shook her head. She felt a gnawing sense of uncertainty inside her, and sought
desperately to assuage it. "I cannot believe that such a thing truly
interests you, my lord. And our earlier discussion would indicate that you
might perhaps have other motives for pursuing Malcolm Arlingby's sister."
    "I
have no intention of seducing you in order to hurt your family," said
Alaric abruptly. "You have far too melodramatic an imagination."
    "Have
I?" Rowena tightened her grip on her shawl. "Then what did you intend
by kissing me last night, Lord Brayleigh?"
    A gleam
of laughter lit Alaric's eyes. "I meant to give myself—and you--pleasure. Don't
tell me you didn't enjoy it, Rowena. I wouldn't believe you."
    Rowena
flushed. The memory of Alaric's kisses had kept her up half the night. "That
is beside the point," she said.
    "No,
that is very much the point." Alaric placed his hands on her shoulders,
easing the shawl aside and stroking her petal-soft skin lightly with his
fingertips. He experienced a flash of triumph when he felt a tremor shoot
through her body. He sensed that she felt the same attraction that he did.
    Rowena
moved away from his grasp. "My lord, we should consider the further course
of our investigation. I will agree not to speak to Lady Bingham if you can
present me with other areas of inquiry we may pursue. But I reserve the right
to question her at a later date, should I feel it necessary."
    Alaric
let her go, his hands falling back to his sides. He watched the gentle line of
her spine as she turned away from him, enchanted by the proud way she held
herself.
    "My
lord?"
    Alaric
pulled himself back to the garden. "I do have other leads to pursue,"
he said softly. "I spoke to my lawyer today and he has found me the
direction of a laborer on Ingram's estate who was present on the day of the
shooting. I will go there one afternoon this week to speak with him and see if
some new information can be gleaned from his memories. "
    Rowena
beamed up at him. "How wonderful. I am sure that he will be an excellent
source. What day shall we go there?"
    Alaric
blanched. "We?"
    "Of
course I will go with you," said Rowena. "I wouldn't miss this for
the world. It will be far more exciting than a ride in the park or shopping
with Aunt Louisa."
    "Rowena,
I am willing to investigate this matter for you, but I do not wish you to
become directly involved."