Her Ladyship's Man by Joan Overfield

Author:Joan Overfield [Overfield, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ten Talents Press
Published: 2014-07-18T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

"Nothing."

Melanie blinked at the terse command. "I beg your pardon?"

"I said I wish you to do nothing," Drew repeated, his firm voice revealing no hint of his inner trepidation. He knew Melanie's recalcitrant nature only too well, and he knew if they hoped for her cooperation, he would have to proceed with the utmost caution. "That is to say," he added when it looked as if she might protest, "I don't want you to do anything which might arouse Barrymore's suspicions."

"Yes, that would be disastrous." Sir, who had remained silent during most of their exchange, spoke suddenly, content to follow Drew's lead. "We have been working covertly to trap the scoundrel, but we dare not expose our operation by moving openly against him. At least not at this time. Do you understand?"

"I suppose," Melanie agreed with visible reluctance, "but I still want to help my father. Surely there is something I can do to be of assistance?"

Drew's brows snapped together at her continued obstinacy. It was obvious Melanie was as stubborn as ever. He opened his mouth, about to administer a blistering set down, when a sudden thought occurred to him.

"Actually," he began, striving for a neutral tone, "there is a way you might be of use to us."

"What is it?" She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with eagerness.

"Despite our best efforts, we've been unable to learn anything of a personal nature about Barrymore," Drew said, taking a chair facing Melanie. "The man is as enigmatic as a sphinx. I was hoping you might be able to remedy that for us."

"But how?" Melanie's brows puckered anxiously. "I have already told you all I know of him."

"Yes, but you could learn more, couldn't you?" he pressed, leaning closer. "You could become better acquainted with him?"

"I could try," she agreed, her mind spinning with possibilities. She had secretly suspected that Mr. Barrymore had a tendre for her, and she had always been careful to maintain a discreet distance between them. Yes, she thought, a slow smile touching her lips, it was the very thing. She would set up a flirtation with him and seduce him into revealing himself to her. It was precisely the sort of thing one of the heroines in a novel might do!

Drew saw only her angelic smile and felt some of the tenseness draining out of him. Thank God the chit was finally seeing the sweet light of reason, he thought, flashing Sir a secret look of male superiority. He was beginning to fear they would have to place her under house arrest in order to carry out the mission.

"Thank you for your help, Lady Melanie," Sir said, rising to his feet. "With luck, we should have this unpleasantness resolved before your father's reputation suffers any irreparable harm. Now, I think we should see about getting you home. It is grown rather late, and we wouldn't want your family to arrive first, would we?"

"Oh . . . no, of course not," Melanie stammered, her cheeks flushing at such a possibility.

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