Page 22 of An Earl Unmasked
“And for each answer I provide, what will you grant me?”
“What is it you want?”
He ceased pacing and swiveled to face her. Her breath caught at the sight of his furrowed brow and thinned lips. She had either angered the man, or he was appalled at her question.
“What are you willing to give?”
Blast the man. He, too, was quite skilled at the game. “It is not a question of what I’m willing to concede, but what do I possess that is of interest to you?”
He smiled and walked back to stand next to the bed. “Do you really want to find out?”
She laid the papers down upon the bed and then clasped her hands in her lap. Smiling, she looked up and said, “I do.”
“You desire to gain access to the library, and I want…” He raked a hand through his hair.
She wasn’t a mind reader, but she recognized the flare of yearning in his eyes. She’d witnessed it numerous times when her papa gazed at other women and on the rare occasions when Lord Drake believed Minerva unaware of his presence. It was the look she had avoided all Season but had only a few hours ago fantasized about seeing it in Randal’s hazel eyes. She bit down on her lower lip, a habit she’d developed to prevent her from speaking.
Randal sank down to the bed and cupped her face. “I want you.”
“If it is me that you want, why were you inquiring about Minerva?”
He dropped his hands from her face. “This afternoon in the library, your sister exhibited a skill I’d never witnessed before.”
“The ability to maneuver people like chess pieces.”
Randal frowned. “We are each responsible for our own actions. No one forced Lord Drake or the others to take their leave.”
“Aye, that is true, but Minerva is exceptionally skilled in predicting the reactions of others.”
“She said she acted out of a promise to you.”
“Oh, did she?” Diana crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. “Well, that promise cost me three months’ worth of pin money.”
“Why would you agree to such an arrangement?”
She rolled her eyes and said, “It was the only way I could get her to enter a room she knew Drake occupied. And while you do not care, itisimportant for you to build a rapport with those gentlemen who share a border with your estate.”
“I agree.” He drummed his fingers over his thigh—a rather muscular thigh that she had ran her hand over the other day. She should have lingered over him in her examination, then she wouldn’t be plagued with curiosity that was driving her to distraction. Giving into temptation, she uncrossed her arms and placed a hand over his to still his movements.
Randal’s gaze fell upon their hands and then back up to her eyes. “Minerva is not the only one in your family who is able to anticipate and coordinate the action of others.” He rubbed his thumb back and forth along the width of her wrist. “Do you know what occurred for your sister to have such a dislike of Drake’s company?”
“I do, but I’m at a loss as to how to repair the damage Drake caused with his callous comments.”
His soothing caress ceased. “What did he say?” A flush appeared across the bridge of his nose and on the tops of his cheeks. Diana’s heart cinched. The ache was unfamiliar. Was it jealousy or self-disappointment that she may yield and break her promise not to fall in love before Minerva married?
Taking a deep breath, she sighed and said, “It is a very long story.”
“I’m in no hurry to leave.”
“Very well. At the end of last summer, Benedict, Drake, and Cunningham were all in our papa’s study. Minerva and I were passing by to fetch books from the library. We stopped when we overheard the three of them discussing my debut season. Benedict claimed he was at a loss as to how to protect all three of us. Cunningham laughingly suggested Drake should marry Minerva. Benedict laughed and made a statement that as his best friend, Drake would never do such a thing. Drake joined in the laughter and professed he had absolutely no interest in marrying Minerva and that the idea gave him hives. Minerva never said anything, but from that night forth, she has avoided Drake, and he, the fool, has done nothing to repair the special bond they had shared since we were children. I believed Drake sincerely cared and loved Minerva. But I was wrong.”
“Do you think Drake would act upon jealousy? What if he believed there was a chance of losing her to another? Do you believe he may act upon his true feelings?”
“You have spent very little time with them. What occurred this afternoon that gives you the impression Drake loves Minerva?”
“Nothing specific…at least not quantifiable occurred, but I trust you and your instincts. I doubt you are wrong about the situation. And while I sensed Minerva’s feeling for Drake, he did a remarkable job of hiding his feelings for her this afternoon. I assume that was because your brothers were present.”
“How would we make Drake jealous?”
