Quick, Amanda by I Thee Wed Page B

Ghastly stuff." Emma made another face. I cannot think why she would enjoy it. I don't believe any of us actually finished a full cup. I could barely concentrate on her silly games." Edison reached out and grasped her. Describe these games to me, please." Her eyes widened. She glanced uneasily at his hands on her shoul ders. I played only one of them. Lady Ames put a card facedown on a table. We all took turns trying to guess which one it was. I won, but I was feeling so unwell that I could not continue." You won?" Edison watched her. You mean you guessed correctly?" Yes. Pure chance, of course. I have always been rather good at that sort of thing. Lady Ames wanted me to continue with the game. Indeed, she got quite annoyed with me when I insisted upon going up to my room. But I really had no choice." Bloody hell." Neither he nor Lorring had even considered the possi bility that the thief who had stolen the recipe for the elixir might be a woman, Edison thought. It occurred to him that if he was, indeed, after a lady, a female assistant might prove extremely useful in his inquiries. Miss Greyson, last night you told me that you are working as a paid companion in order to recover from recent financial reverses." She grimaced. Only necessity would convince any woman to take such a post." What would you say to an offer of a second, more lucrative posi tion?" For an instant she looked utterly baffled. Then she flushed furiously. A cold light washed every trace of warmth out of her eyes. Beneath the sudden hostility lay something else, Edison thought. She looked both hurt and strangely disappointed. Nothing he had learned during his years of study in the gardens of
     
Vanzagara, he reflected, had ever been of any use when it came to comprehending women. No doubt you feel that I should be flattered by such an outrageous offer, sir," she exploded softly. But I assure you I am not yet that desper ate." I beg your pardon?" Belatedly realization dawned. He groaned. Oh, I see. You thought I was offering you a carte blanche?" She stepped out from under his hands, turned her back to him, and clenched her fists at her sides. You and Lady Mayfield have a good deal in common, sir. She thinks that I ought to sell myself in marriage. You are suggesting a less formal contract. To me it is all one and the same thing. But I have no intention of taking either route. I will find another way out of this mess. I swear it." He studied the determined line of her spine. I believe you, Miss Greyson. But you mistook my meaning. 1 was not offering to make you my mistress. I was proposing to give you a position as my assistant." She glanced over her shoulder, green eyes narrowed. Your paid assis tant?" He had her now. You would not have to give up your current post with Lady Mayfield in order to enter my employ. In point of fact, your present position with her puts you in an ideal situation to perform your new duties for me." A shrewd gleam danced in her vivid green eyes. Are you saying that I would have two posts? That I could collect wages from both you and Lady Mayfield? Simultaneously?" Exactly." He paused deliberately. I am not a clutch-fisted employer, Miss Greyson. I will reimburse you quite handsomely for your services." She hesitated a few seconds longer. Then she swung fully around to face him. Hope bloomed in her face. Could you be a bit more specific about what you mean by quite handsomely, sir?" He smiled slowly. The trick now was not to frighten her off by promising her a vast sum that would arouse her suspicions. He knew that as a professional companion she earned only a pittance, however. He wanted to dazzle her a bit. Shall we say double your current wages?" She drummed her fingers on the bedpost. My current arrangement
     
with Lady Mayfield includes room and board as well as a quarterly stipend." Obviously I am not in a position to offer room and board." Obviously. Also, you will not need my assistance for long." True. Only for the rest