so annoying.”
“And you too. Ben called you a lady, but wearing trousers and that baggy jacket doesn’t do much for your ladylike attributes.”
“It’s to get around the city without being bothered. No one can tell I’m female. I fooled you, didn’t I?”
One corner of Nathan’s mouth twitched. “Indeed. But what does your husband think of this?”
“There isn’t one.”
“He’s dead?” The pain of Nathan’s injuries disappeared, replaced by true shock. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh, don’t be a fool, Nathan. There isn’t a mister. Never has been.”
“You live in sin?”
* * * * *
She shook her head and speared him with a hard, challenging gaze. “No. I don’t live in sin. I am not married. I live with Papa.” She couldn’t leave her father yet, though she desperately wanted to be independent, maybe even to marry one day.
She watched Nathan, her gaze slipping to his beautiful mouth.
She remembered his kiss all those years ago. Remembered holding on to his jacket, holding him to her, feeling the frantic thud of his heartbeat as his lips closed over hers, teasing her lips apart, teaching her what a kiss really meant.
That she had definitely never forgotten.
“So you did check on me, then, to make sure I was breathing and not lying at death’s door?”
Rose scuffed a boot-clad foot back and forth across the cobbled floor. “Might have. You’re no use to me dead.”
“So I am useful. Thanks.”
Actually, she’d been very worried about him, constantly alert to his breathing, and even in the feathered light of their prison cell, she’d checked his wounds, secretly relieved that though bloody, he was relatively unaffected from their manhandling. She straightened and pushed her shoulders back. She would definitely not let him see her relief.
“I think it’s about time you told me what’s going on, squirt.”
Instinctively, her foot flexed out, but Nathan jerked away.
“Not this time, Rosie. No more kicking.”
“And no more nicknames.”
He held up his hands. “It’s a form of endearment.”
“People only use endearments for those they like, Nathan, and that doesn’t apply to you.”
“Okay, okay, sorry. Boy, did you get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning.”
With her back pressed hard against the wall, Rose slid her feet out in front of her and lowered herself the floor, too bad that the floor…everything was filthy. She needed to rest. Once seated, she drew her legs up and wrapped her arms around them. “I didn’t go to bed in the first place.”
“Oh, that’s right, you were up all night trying not to steal a diamond.”
“Be quiet! I’ve told you I was not trying to steal the Pasha Star.”
For a split second, Nathan simply stared hard at her, and Rose had the distinct feeling he was trying to look into her mind, see what she really thought.
That, however, she would definitely keep secret.
“So how about you tell me what you were doing? I bet you have a paste diamond in your pocket.”
Her breath stilled.
“And that you were intent on replacing the Pasha Star in the locked case with your fake one.”
Rose hooked her gaze with his, and she couldn’t look away.
“Then you found out there was already a fake one, which foiled your plans. Am I correct so far?”
Lips dry, she nodded.
“So I understand what you were doing, but there’s a big gap, Rosie. One you need to fill in. The why? How about you enlighten me?”
“I can’t. If they find out…”
“Probably a bit late for that, don’t you think, given our current lodgings? They kidnapped you and me, so I guess they believe we’re working together.”
“You can tell them you don’t know anything.”
“No, Rosie.” He softened his tone, which she really wished he wouldn’t. She could manage his antagonism and even his teasing, but being kind and gentle and sweet… Her eyes welled with tears she’d held back for what seemed days.
“Are you crying?” he murmured.
A soft
“And you too. Ben called you a lady, but wearing trousers and that baggy jacket doesn’t do much for your ladylike attributes.”
“It’s to get around the city without being bothered. No one can tell I’m female. I fooled you, didn’t I?”
One corner of Nathan’s mouth twitched. “Indeed. But what does your husband think of this?”
“There isn’t one.”
“He’s dead?” The pain of Nathan’s injuries disappeared, replaced by true shock. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh, don’t be a fool, Nathan. There isn’t a mister. Never has been.”
“You live in sin?”
* * * * *
She shook her head and speared him with a hard, challenging gaze. “No. I don’t live in sin. I am not married. I live with Papa.” She couldn’t leave her father yet, though she desperately wanted to be independent, maybe even to marry one day.
She watched Nathan, her gaze slipping to his beautiful mouth.
She remembered his kiss all those years ago. Remembered holding on to his jacket, holding him to her, feeling the frantic thud of his heartbeat as his lips closed over hers, teasing her lips apart, teaching her what a kiss really meant.
That she had definitely never forgotten.
“So you did check on me, then, to make sure I was breathing and not lying at death’s door?”
Rose scuffed a boot-clad foot back and forth across the cobbled floor. “Might have. You’re no use to me dead.”
“So I am useful. Thanks.”
Actually, she’d been very worried about him, constantly alert to his breathing, and even in the feathered light of their prison cell, she’d checked his wounds, secretly relieved that though bloody, he was relatively unaffected from their manhandling. She straightened and pushed her shoulders back. She would definitely not let him see her relief.
“I think it’s about time you told me what’s going on, squirt.”
Instinctively, her foot flexed out, but Nathan jerked away.
“Not this time, Rosie. No more kicking.”
“And no more nicknames.”
He held up his hands. “It’s a form of endearment.”
“People only use endearments for those they like, Nathan, and that doesn’t apply to you.”
“Okay, okay, sorry. Boy, did you get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning.”
With her back pressed hard against the wall, Rose slid her feet out in front of her and lowered herself the floor, too bad that the floor…everything was filthy. She needed to rest. Once seated, she drew her legs up and wrapped her arms around them. “I didn’t go to bed in the first place.”
“Oh, that’s right, you were up all night trying not to steal a diamond.”
“Be quiet! I’ve told you I was not trying to steal the Pasha Star.”
For a split second, Nathan simply stared hard at her, and Rose had the distinct feeling he was trying to look into her mind, see what she really thought.
That, however, she would definitely keep secret.
“So how about you tell me what you were doing? I bet you have a paste diamond in your pocket.”
Her breath stilled.
“And that you were intent on replacing the Pasha Star in the locked case with your fake one.”
Rose hooked her gaze with his, and she couldn’t look away.
“Then you found out there was already a fake one, which foiled your plans. Am I correct so far?”
Lips dry, she nodded.
“So I understand what you were doing, but there’s a big gap, Rosie. One you need to fill in. The why? How about you enlighten me?”
“I can’t. If they find out…”
“Probably a bit late for that, don’t you think, given our current lodgings? They kidnapped you and me, so I guess they believe we’re working together.”
“You can tell them you don’t know anything.”
“No, Rosie.” He softened his tone, which she really wished he wouldn’t. She could manage his antagonism and even his teasing, but being kind and gentle and sweet… Her eyes welled with tears she’d held back for what seemed days.
“Are you crying?” he murmured.
A soft
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