Page 3 of Revealing a Rogue
When Bronwyn pursed her lips against his finger, he flinched and withdrew. The daring minx jutted her chin up, boldly staring into his eyes. Relieved to know she hadn’t changed in the past months, he waited for her answer.
Seconds ticked by. He was determined not to give in and lose the battle. He loved her spirited nature, but he wouldn’t always be able to accede to her demands.
Rolling her eyes, she answered, “Cadby.”
The name sparked an alarm in his mind. He shook his head, dropped to one knee, and pried her small hand from her hip. His hand engulfed hers. “Miss Bronwyn Cadby, will you do me the great honor of marrying me?”
“Are you asking, or are you merely phrasing a command in the form of a question?”
Of course, the woman wouldn’t simply say yes and jump for joy. Most women would cheer at the prospect of becoming a countess. Not her. She had to scrutinize his intentions.
“Very well, I shall address each of your concerns.” Rising to his feet, Landon continued, “While we have not been in contact for years, I confess you have been at the forefront of my mind every day since we last spoke.”
The corner of Bronwyn’s lips twisted as if she didn’t believe him.
Squeezing her hand, he continued, “I know everything I need to know about you. I’m not a fortune hunter in need of funds. However, I am in need of a wife and heir. You are the woman I want.”
The crease between Bronwyn’s eyebrows deepened. His ability to formulate highly persuasive arguments had failed, for the woman clearly remained unconvinced.
Landon squared his shoulders and added, “It’s not a titled lady I’m seeking. I can assure you there is no other woman of my acquaintance who will fulfill the position as adeptly as you. I choose you to be the next Countess of Hadfield. Do you accept?” When she remained silent, Landon added, “It’s a query, not a demand.”
“Then you will allow me a day to consider.” Her lips twitched as if she was resisting a smile. It was enough to convince Landon she would ultimately agree to marry him.
He rolled to his full height. “I’ll return tomorrow for your answer.” The alarm bells had yet to cease in his mind, and he would be a fool to ignore his intuition, which had proven to be his savior since inheriting the Hadfield title.
He turned to leave, but curiosity about what the woman would feel like in his arms got the better of him. Landon swiveled and came face to face with a bewildered Bronwyn. His arm wrapped about her waist as she swayed. Although she wasn’t the swooning type, her faltering meant she wasn’t entirely unaffected by his closeness.
Leaning in, Landon whispered into her ear, “Until tomorrow.”
Reluctantly he released his hold as she twisted to return to her seat behind what once was his papa’s desk. She grabbed a file from the top of a stack and opened it with a flourish.
With a slight hop in his step, he left her to work. Yes, Bronwyn was exactly the woman he needed as a wife.
Chapter Two
The black marks on the parchment before Bronwyn blurred. Her mind was a mass of confusion. Landon Neale, Lord Hadfield, Head PORF and the man who crept into her dreams nightly, had proposed—to her! He claimed she had invaded his daily thoughts, exactly as he occupied hers. How was that possible? His admission set her heart to racing, but from panic or joy, she wasn’t sure which.
Snapping the file in front of her closed, she placed the folder upon a pile and then moved it a second time to its original stack. Mr. Neale had requested full summaries by the morn, but after Lord Hadfield’s proposal, how was she to focus?
During the six years she’d been in the man’s employ, he never once inquired about her family. She questioned whether or not he was even aware of her position within the Network. Even when she had disclosed her surname, he hadn’t seemed to make the connection.
Eight years ago, Bronwyn had vied for the position of Landon’s secretary to keep her true purpose—protecting him—secret. That was when he remained unmarked and unaware of his family's ties to the Crown. Her dad and Lady Theo’s papa, the Earl of Hadfield at the time, had argued it was too dangerous for her. The likelihood of her obtaining the position of personal secretary was slim, given it was a position typically reserved for men. But after a few persuasive arguments, they relented and allowed her to apply for the post. Thankfully, Landon was due in court on the day of the interviews, and Mr. Christopher Neale had conducted them and hired for the position. Mr. Neale was two years Landon’s junior and, while an extremely talented debater, was no match for Bronwyn. Never had an hour gone by with such speed, and every week since, her meetings with Mr. Neale provided Bronwyn with an opportunity to exercise her mind and broaden her knowledge.
Mr. Neale barreled into her office with his usual flare of exuberance. “Right, Miss Bronwyn, I’ve prepared an excellent critique of the Coleman case. You won’t be able to…” He stopped short and turned to look behind him. “Whatever is the matter?”
The two brothers couldn’t be more opposite in disposition despite their strong physical resemblance. Landon was a fiercely independent leader and thrived on hard work, while Mr. Neale tended to rule by consensus and employed a laissez-faire attitude to life.
Mr. Neale advanced a step. “Are you well?”
“Have you spoken to Lord Hadfield?”
“I didn’t cheat by seeking out Landon’s help. I formulated my arguments all on my own, thank you very much.”
“That’s not what I meant. Your brother was here earlier; did he not seek you out?”
“Landon was here?” Mr. Neale chuckled. “I imagine he was quite surprised to find his office reassigned.”
“Your brother did seem rather nonplussed by the fact.”
