his sarcasm. "I was merely trying to assist you in this matter."
"Hmm."
"Need I remind you, my lord, that I am the one who has been observing the villains? It seems to me you should be glad of the opportunity to consult with me on how best to go about laying a trap for them."
"And I would remind you, Miss Pomeroy, that I used to live in this district. I am well aware of the terrain."
"Yes, I know, but you have no doubt forgotten a great many small details. And due to my extensive explorations I am something of an expert on these caves."
"I promise you, Miss Pomeroy, that should I need your advice, I will request it."
Irritation overcame Harriet's wariness. "You would no doubt enjoy somewhat broader social acceptance, sir, if you would contrive to be more polite."
"I have no particular interest in expanding my social life."
"Apparently not," she muttered. She was about to say something more on the subject when she skidded on a stray bit of seaweed that had been left behind by the departing waters. She slipped and reached out to catch herself. Her gloved hand slid along the slimy wall without finding purchase. "Good grief."
"I have you," Gideon said calmly. His arm circled her waist and pulled her securely back against his broad chest.
"Excuse me." Harriet was suddenly breathless as she found herself locked to Gideon. His arm was like a band of steel, hard and utterly unyielding.
She could feel the solid, muscled outlines of his chest against her back. The broad toe of one of his massive boots had somehow wedged itself intimately between her feet. She was acutely conscious of the pressure of his thigh against her buttocks.
When she took a deep breath she caught the warm, masculine scent of his body. It was richly laced with the smell of damp wool and leather. She tensed instinctively at the unaccustomed sensation of being held so close to a man.
"You must exercise more care, Miss Pomeroy." Gideon released her. "Or you will surely come to a bad end in these caves."
"I promise you, I have never been in the least bit of danger in these caves."
"Until now?" He gave her a bland look of inquiry.
Harriet decided to ignore that. "This way, my lord. It is only a little farther now." She straightened her pelisse and the skirts of her gown. Then she took a firmer grip on the lamp, held it boldly aloft, and strode forward into the bowels of the cave.
Gideon followed in silence, only the play of light and shadows on wet stone giving any indication of his presence. Harriet did not venture to say another word about plans and schemes for apprehending thieves. She led him along the gradual upward incline of the sloping passageway until they reached the point where the seawaters did not lap during high tide.
The cave walls and floor were dry here, although a bone-chilling cold permeated the atmosphere. Harriet automatically studied the rocky surfaces as the lamplight struck them. Her customary enthusiasm for fossils got the better of her.
"Do you know, I found a wonderful fossil leaf embedded in a stone here in this portion of the cave." She glanced back over her shoulder. "Have you by any chance read Mr. Parkinson's articles on the importance of relating fossil plants to the stratum in which they are found?"
"No, Miss Pomeroy, I have not."
"Well, it is the most amazing thing, you know. Similar fossil plants are found in exactly the same strata throughout England, no matter how deep the strata happen to be. It appears to be true on the Continent as well."
"Fascinating." Gideon sounded amused rather than fascinated, however. "You certainly are passionate on the subject."
"I can see the subject of fossils is of little interest to you, but I assure you, sir, that there is much about the past to be learned from them. I, myself, have great hopes of someday discovering something of importance here in these caves. I have made several intriguing finds already."
"So have I," Gideon murmured.
Unable to decide just what he meant by
"Hmm."
"Need I remind you, my lord, that I am the one who has been observing the villains? It seems to me you should be glad of the opportunity to consult with me on how best to go about laying a trap for them."
"And I would remind you, Miss Pomeroy, that I used to live in this district. I am well aware of the terrain."
"Yes, I know, but you have no doubt forgotten a great many small details. And due to my extensive explorations I am something of an expert on these caves."
"I promise you, Miss Pomeroy, that should I need your advice, I will request it."
Irritation overcame Harriet's wariness. "You would no doubt enjoy somewhat broader social acceptance, sir, if you would contrive to be more polite."
"I have no particular interest in expanding my social life."
"Apparently not," she muttered. She was about to say something more on the subject when she skidded on a stray bit of seaweed that had been left behind by the departing waters. She slipped and reached out to catch herself. Her gloved hand slid along the slimy wall without finding purchase. "Good grief."
"I have you," Gideon said calmly. His arm circled her waist and pulled her securely back against his broad chest.
"Excuse me." Harriet was suddenly breathless as she found herself locked to Gideon. His arm was like a band of steel, hard and utterly unyielding.
She could feel the solid, muscled outlines of his chest against her back. The broad toe of one of his massive boots had somehow wedged itself intimately between her feet. She was acutely conscious of the pressure of his thigh against her buttocks.
When she took a deep breath she caught the warm, masculine scent of his body. It was richly laced with the smell of damp wool and leather. She tensed instinctively at the unaccustomed sensation of being held so close to a man.
"You must exercise more care, Miss Pomeroy." Gideon released her. "Or you will surely come to a bad end in these caves."
"I promise you, I have never been in the least bit of danger in these caves."
"Until now?" He gave her a bland look of inquiry.
Harriet decided to ignore that. "This way, my lord. It is only a little farther now." She straightened her pelisse and the skirts of her gown. Then she took a firmer grip on the lamp, held it boldly aloft, and strode forward into the bowels of the cave.
Gideon followed in silence, only the play of light and shadows on wet stone giving any indication of his presence. Harriet did not venture to say another word about plans and schemes for apprehending thieves. She led him along the gradual upward incline of the sloping passageway until they reached the point where the seawaters did not lap during high tide.
The cave walls and floor were dry here, although a bone-chilling cold permeated the atmosphere. Harriet automatically studied the rocky surfaces as the lamplight struck them. Her customary enthusiasm for fossils got the better of her.
"Do you know, I found a wonderful fossil leaf embedded in a stone here in this portion of the cave." She glanced back over her shoulder. "Have you by any chance read Mr. Parkinson's articles on the importance of relating fossil plants to the stratum in which they are found?"
"No, Miss Pomeroy, I have not."
"Well, it is the most amazing thing, you know. Similar fossil plants are found in exactly the same strata throughout England, no matter how deep the strata happen to be. It appears to be true on the Continent as well."
"Fascinating." Gideon sounded amused rather than fascinated, however. "You certainly are passionate on the subject."
"I can see the subject of fossils is of little interest to you, but I assure you, sir, that there is much about the past to be learned from them. I, myself, have great hopes of someday discovering something of importance here in these caves. I have made several intriguing finds already."
"So have I," Gideon murmured.
Unable to decide just what he meant by
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