With This Ring by Amanda Quick Page B

of his glass. "In my own defense, I can say only that I had a demanding day. One that left me feeling distracted and out of sorts. I was not at my best."
    "Do you do this sort of thing on a regular basis?" "Hunt highwaymen? Only when the odd one appears in the district. For the most part, they tend to avoid Monkcrest lands. The rumors of werewolves and sorcerers are a bloody nuisance, but they do serve to keep most villains out of the neighborhood."
    Beatrice considered the ramifications of that simple statement. "The one who attempted to rob me last night was not, precisely speaking, on Monkcrest lands."
    Leo made an extremely vague motion with the hand that held the brandy glass. "He got close enough."
    "He was, in fact, operating on the other side of the river," she said very carefully.
    Leo studied her through half-lowered lids. "Indeed?' Beatrice shot to her feet. 'In order to pursue him tonight, you would have had to cross the bridge. The one that was supposedly underwater."
    "You will be happy to learn that the flood waters have subsided more quickly than anticipated."
    "Is that so?' Beatrice gripped the lapels of her wrapper very tightly. "I wonder why that does not come as a great surprise."
    "Mrs. Poole, I do not know what you are implying, but I assure you--
    "I am not implying anything, my lord. I am accusing you of failing to tell me the truth about the condition of that bridge."
    "Calm yourself. Even if the bridge was not underwater the entire day, the roads would have been too muddy for
     
    A m a n d a
    swift carriage travel. If you had left this morning, it would have taken you three days to get back to London rather than two. That would have meant another two nights at bad inns instead of one.'
    "Do not try to cozen me, Monkcrest." She stalked back and forth in front of the fire. "I was tricked. I knew there was something suspicious afoot. I should have investigated the condition of the bridge firsthand."
    "I just explained that you lost no time by delaying your departure for a day," he said soothingly.
    "That is not the point, sir. You deceived me."
    Irritation glinted in his eyes. It was clear to Beatrice that the Mad Monk was not accustomed to having his decisions disputed.
    "I did what I thought was best," he said very evenly. "Hah. I do not believe that for a moment. You delayed me because you hoped to use the time to persuade me to abandon my plans."
    "For all the bloody good it did me," Leo muttered. "Complete waste of breath."
    She stopped at the far end of the mantel. "Yes, it was. I have every intention of beginning my investigations into my uncle's death the instant I reach London."
    "You have convinced me of your intentions, Mrs. Poole. It is obvious that you will not be swayed by logic or common sense, in spite of your father's training in those skills."
    She shot him a disgusted look.
    Leo tossed back the last of the brandy and set the glass down very hard on the end table. "And that, in sum, is the reason I went out hunting your highwayman tonight and, hence, the reason I am in this condition."
    "I beg your pardon?" She rounded on him. "Are you attempting to lay the blame for your injury at my feet?" Leo looked morosely reflective. "Yes, I think we can
    safely say that it was entirely your fault that I sustained this wound to my shoulder."
    W i t h T h i s
    "Of all the unmitigated nerve. How dare you?"
    "It seems quite clear to me. Had you listened to my excellent, practical advice and agreed to refrain from risking your neck in the pursuit of those damned Rings, I would not have been obliged to go out at midnight this evening."
    "I fail to see any connection, my lord.'
    "The connection is glaringly obvious. I was forced to take care of the highwayman problem tonight because it could not be postponed."
    She gave him a withering glare. "Why could it not be put off until another night?"
    "Because, as I told you, I intend to accompany you back to London in the morning," he said patiently.
    "If you