unwelcome.
“Well, that explains a great deal,” he finally said. “I did wonder why you chose to seek me out.”
The reason had nothing to do with the inadequacy of her half-brothers and everything to do with his ability to accomplish the task.
“When it comes to the study of the ancient world, I could think of no man better qualified.”
He inclined his head to acknowledge the compliment.
“Talking of which,” Rebecca continued, “perhaps we should make our way downstairs. It would not be prudent to let Mrs. James discover us eating breakfast together.”
“Or discover that I slept the night.” He gave a devilish grin as he walked around the table to hold out her chair. “Do you have the list I asked for?”
“Yes. It’s on my desk.”
“Come, let us hurry downstairs to your office,” he said picking up his plate. “I shall hide this in the kitchen. It would not do to have someone stumble upon our secret rendezvous.”
Standing in her office, Mr. Stone scanned the list, his lips moving as he read her notes. Rebecca stood and watched, remembering the way they’d moved so expertly over her mouth.
“So, the only person with a key to the premises is Mr. Pearce. Is it wise to give him unrestricted access? After all, your private apartments are in this house.”
“He is the curator, Mr. Stone. Of course he needs access.”
In truth, his words of caution left her feeling a little cold. She had never even considered the possibility that one of her staff would enter the house without warrant.
“Then perhaps you should look for somewhere else to live.”
Oh, this gentleman knew how to aggravate her temper. “I cannot afford to live anywhere else,” she said thrusting her hands on her hips, “and I cannot leave the museum unattended.”
“If money is the issue, have you considered marriage?”
Had his words not presented a perfect opportunity to tease him, she would have stamped on his toe. “Mr. Stone, how wonderful of you to offer,” she said fluttering her lashes. “Rebecca Stone has a certain elegance about it, don’t you think?”
“I was not referring to myself,” he said, glancing back at the notes. “Although now that I have witnessed you performing your daily ablutions, perhaps it is only right I do make you an offer.”
With wide eyes and a trembling lip, her gaze met his. “Well … well, I do not want a husband. I could not tolerate any man telling me what to do.” When she noticed he was pursing his lips to suppress a chuckle, she batted him on the arm. “You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”
He did laugh then, his eyes sparkling with genuine amusement. “I am, Miss Linwood, but only because you saw fit to do the same.”
His laughter was infectious, and she laughed, too. “So, I take it you don’t like the sound of Rebecca Stone?”
“I think Rebecca is a fine name. Indeed, as the Bible reminds us, Rebecca was known for her kind and generous nature.” His gaze fell to her mouth before drifting up to her hair. “She was also known for being extremely beautiful.”
He was teasing her again.
“She also married a man more than twice her age,” Rebecca added.
“Yes, but he truly loved her. Is that not what is important? Is that not what you wish for yourself?”
A hard lump formed in her throat. The words were another reminder she was alone in the world. No one truly cared for her, and it didn’t matter how many times she swallowed, it would not go away.
“I am not the sort to indulge in whimsical fantasies, Mr. Stone,” she said, aware her voice sounded strained.
“Yet another thing we seem to have in common.”
Why did he persist in sayings things that made her body react in a multitude of different ways? One minute she felt as though she had a stone tablet stuck in her throat, the next her stomach was overrun with an infestation of butterflies. It wasn’t just what he said. It was the way the words fell from his lips, the rich drawl that teased and
“Well, that explains a great deal,” he finally said. “I did wonder why you chose to seek me out.”
The reason had nothing to do with the inadequacy of her half-brothers and everything to do with his ability to accomplish the task.
“When it comes to the study of the ancient world, I could think of no man better qualified.”
He inclined his head to acknowledge the compliment.
“Talking of which,” Rebecca continued, “perhaps we should make our way downstairs. It would not be prudent to let Mrs. James discover us eating breakfast together.”
“Or discover that I slept the night.” He gave a devilish grin as he walked around the table to hold out her chair. “Do you have the list I asked for?”
“Yes. It’s on my desk.”
“Come, let us hurry downstairs to your office,” he said picking up his plate. “I shall hide this in the kitchen. It would not do to have someone stumble upon our secret rendezvous.”
Standing in her office, Mr. Stone scanned the list, his lips moving as he read her notes. Rebecca stood and watched, remembering the way they’d moved so expertly over her mouth.
“So, the only person with a key to the premises is Mr. Pearce. Is it wise to give him unrestricted access? After all, your private apartments are in this house.”
“He is the curator, Mr. Stone. Of course he needs access.”
In truth, his words of caution left her feeling a little cold. She had never even considered the possibility that one of her staff would enter the house without warrant.
“Then perhaps you should look for somewhere else to live.”
Oh, this gentleman knew how to aggravate her temper. “I cannot afford to live anywhere else,” she said thrusting her hands on her hips, “and I cannot leave the museum unattended.”
“If money is the issue, have you considered marriage?”
Had his words not presented a perfect opportunity to tease him, she would have stamped on his toe. “Mr. Stone, how wonderful of you to offer,” she said fluttering her lashes. “Rebecca Stone has a certain elegance about it, don’t you think?”
“I was not referring to myself,” he said, glancing back at the notes. “Although now that I have witnessed you performing your daily ablutions, perhaps it is only right I do make you an offer.”
With wide eyes and a trembling lip, her gaze met his. “Well … well, I do not want a husband. I could not tolerate any man telling me what to do.” When she noticed he was pursing his lips to suppress a chuckle, she batted him on the arm. “You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”
He did laugh then, his eyes sparkling with genuine amusement. “I am, Miss Linwood, but only because you saw fit to do the same.”
His laughter was infectious, and she laughed, too. “So, I take it you don’t like the sound of Rebecca Stone?”
“I think Rebecca is a fine name. Indeed, as the Bible reminds us, Rebecca was known for her kind and generous nature.” His gaze fell to her mouth before drifting up to her hair. “She was also known for being extremely beautiful.”
He was teasing her again.
“She also married a man more than twice her age,” Rebecca added.
“Yes, but he truly loved her. Is that not what is important? Is that not what you wish for yourself?”
A hard lump formed in her throat. The words were another reminder she was alone in the world. No one truly cared for her, and it didn’t matter how many times she swallowed, it would not go away.
“I am not the sort to indulge in whimsical fantasies, Mr. Stone,” she said, aware her voice sounded strained.
“Yet another thing we seem to have in common.”
Why did he persist in sayings things that made her body react in a multitude of different ways? One minute she felt as though she had a stone tablet stuck in her throat, the next her stomach was overrun with an infestation of butterflies. It wasn’t just what he said. It was the way the words fell from his lips, the rich drawl that teased and
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