Page 30 of The Lady Has a Past

“Yes,” she said. “And while we’re on this particular subject, I realize it’s a bit late to be asking the question, but I should probably know the answer before we check in to a hotel suite together.”

“I told you I wasn’t married.”

“Yes, but is there, perhaps, a woman in your life who might not like the idea of the two of us registering as man and wife?”

“No.”

“A man?”

“No.”

“Aha. You’re divorced.”

“No.”

She considered briefly.

“Engaged?” she ventured.

“Once upon a time. Like you, I’ve come to the conclusion that marriage isn’t for me.”

“Was she the one who ended your relationship?” Lyra asked.

“How did you guess?”

“Something about your very short, very brusque responses to my little attempt at interrogation. It was a messy ending, I assume?”

“Do relationships ever end in any non-messy ways?”

“Probably not. How bad was it?”

She could have sworn that this time Simon actually flinched in surprise. Then he shook his head, bemused.

“Do you really want to know?”

“I’m bored. Long drive. Can’t get good radio reception this far away from a town. I would be okay if I was behind the wheel, but you’re the one who gets to drive, because this is your car. So that means you are my only source of entertainment.”

“I should tell you about my failed engagement so that you won’t be bored?”

“Have you ever talked about it to anyone else?”

“Hell, no.”

“Maybe you should,” she said. “Might do you a world of good. It’s clear you’re a bit depressed.”

“I’m not depressed,” he said. “It so happens I’m not the chatty type. Unlike, say, you.”

“Look at it this way. We’re stuck with each other for now but after this case you and I will probably never see each other again. What have you got to lose by talking to me?”

“Has it occurred to you that I might find it awkward to discuss my private life with a complete stranger?”

“We’re checking into a hotel as Mr. and Mrs. Simon Cage,” she said. “Most people would consider that incredibly scandalous. I’d say that, under the circumstances, we are not complete strangers.”

“What are we?”

“Professional colleagues. I told you why I broke off my engagement. I think I deserve to know your story.”

“If you want to know about what happened to my engagement, you need to tell me more about why yours ended.”

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