Page 4 of Revealing a Rogue
Mr. Neale’s gaze intensified. “Hmm. What did he want?”
“You don’t know?”
“I’m not the one practicing to be on the witness stand in this instance. Now, tell me why Landon was here.” He stood and placed his right hand behind his back and the left on his hip. It was the stance he always took when he was about to begin cross-examination.
Bronwyn stared at Mr. Neale, the sole reason she was allowed by the Network to remain employed at the law offices after Landon’s departure. Abiding by Landon’s orders, her dad had yet to place the mark upon Mr. Neale’s body that would indicate the man was indeed a PORF. Her duty was to ensure no harm came to Mr. Neale. How was she to answer her employer? If Mr. Neale bore the mark, she would have had no choice but to obey and disclose Landon’s purpose. Since Mr. Neale didn’t, and Landon hadn’t sought out his brother’s time, she was at a loss for the appropriate response. Bronwyn rolled back her shoulders and replied, “I’m not at liberty to say.”
“Was he here to reclaim his office?”
“No.” Bronwyn’s knee bounced up and down under the desk. She reached out and adjusted each of the piles of files in front of her to keep her hands occupied.
“Did he inquire as to my whereabouts?”
“No.” If it had been Landon standing before her, he’d simply demand an answer or stare her down as he had earlier. Instead, Mr. Neale would doggedly ask questions until she relented, or he’d muddle through the facts based on her answers and figure it all out on his own.
“Did he receive what he came for?”
Bronwyn hesitated. “No.”
Blast!
Mr. Neale’s eyebrows rose at her answer. Pauses of any sort were a telltale sign of weakness or uncertainty. To a barrister, it meant they should further ponder and continue the line of questioning. Her employer turned, placing his back to her and murmured to himself—
“Not office related.
“He hinted at having made a decision,yet he’s not shown a preference for any of the ladies on Theo’s list.
“He was rather prickly this morn.
“Aha. By Jove, Landon’s finally come to his senses and figured it out.”
Mr. Neale was too clever by half. When he rounded to face her again, his features had softened, no longer accusatory. “My brother was here to seeyouand to pose a specific question. Did you say yes?”
She reached up and withdrew the pencil from her hair, setting her bun askew. “I requested a day to consider his proposal.”
Christopher came to stand next to her. “You can say no if you want to.” His knees cracked as he crouched down beside her. “I’ll speak to him if you would like.”
“In my position,Nois not an option.”
“Of course, it is! Landon would never force you to marry him.”
“You don’t understand.”
“No, it is not I who is mistaken, it is you. I may pretend to be oblivious to the workings of the Network and my family dealings, but I’m fully aware of who and what my brother is. I also know that he would never order or command you to marry him. So, what is your answer to be?”
“That’s the issue—I don’t know what the right answer is.”
He gave her his brotherly look. “Very well, let’s reason it out together, shall we?”
Bronwyn nodded. She had always considered Mr. Neale rather like an older brother. If she married Landon, he would, in fact, be that.
Mr. Neale rose and paced in front of her desk. “Landon is not one to make decisions rashly. He must have given this much thought.”
“Yes, but why me? Never once, in the six years we worked together, did he ever act anything but the gentleman. Why not offer for a young lady of the ton?”
Mr. Neale lips twisted into a smirk. “Now, you know what I’m about to say.Never make assumptions until you have all the facts. Have you met these young ladies you speak of?”
“No. However, I am kept rather well informed. Especially of your cousin Lady Theo.”
