Page 94 of The Moonstone Pirate
“I don’t know,” he said again. “They don’t know I am aware of their activities or that I suspect them in the murder of Driscoll. Perhaps they did mean to shoot me, but their aim was quite far off, and they would have shot you instead. I wonder if you were their target.”
She frowned. “Why would I be? I’ve done nothing to gain their notice.”
“Haven’t you? Perhaps they overheard you as you questioned Thaddius, or saw you looking about.”
“I was as discreet as you were,” she said with a guilty blush.
“Imogen, you are a little spy, and everyone knows it. But assume their actions were aimed at scaring me. They might have decided to target you knowing I would not be deterred if they only came after me. But to harm an innocent…one that I care about? It could have been you or Deandra they meant to hit. You were seated beside me. They might have aimed for Deandra had I not sent her off to tend Parrot.”
Imogen clutched her stomach and inhaled lightly. “Oh, heavens. Thank goodness she was out of the way.”
He gave her cheek a light caress. “But I’m sorry you were close by. I wish fortune had kept you safe.”
“You were my fortune, Draco. Who knows what would have happened had you not pushed me out of the way? None of this is your fault. You were protecting me.”
He shook his head. “You’re a little thing, and I was afraid I had squashed you.”
“No, you felt nice.” She cast him an impish smirk.
“Do not encourage me,” he said with a groaning laugh. “I have a hard enough time keeping my hands off you as it is.”
Her smile broadened. “You do?”
“Of course. You are beautiful, Imogen. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since I helped you down from your carriage on the night of the masquerade ball. But we are not going to talk about this right now. Help me puzzle out this latest mystery. If Burke and Healey are to blame, then what is their purpose? Why anger me when they desperately need my caves?”
“A warning to ensure your cooperation once those crates are delivered to you?”
He frowned. “Threatening me will never work. And I was already cooperating.”
“But as you said, threatening to harm someone you care about? That would get you to think twice about creating problems for them.”
“Before I had ever created a problem? Then they do not know me at all. If anything, threatening a loved one would make me more determined to go after them. I would come at them like a god of vengeance, raining fire and brimstone down on them.”
“Would you do this before you accomplished your Crown assignment?”
“Yes,” he said, obviously surprising her. “I agreed to put my life at risk, not risk the lives of those who are dear to me.” He reached out and took her hand. “I include you in that group. I’ve grown quite fond of you, Imogen. I hope you know that.”
“I do, Draco. It took me a while to be certain because you confused me, blowing hot one moment and then cold another. But I think you’ve decided not to fight your feelings for me anymore. I’m glad. If we are meant to fall in love, then let it happen.”
If?
There was no “if” about his affection for her.
She shook her head and laughed lightly. “I’ve placed your gift atop my bureau and will open it later. Or should I bring it down and open it now?”
“Save it for later.” He gave her chin a light tweak. “You’ll turn mawkish and weep if you open it now.”
“Oh, is it that beautiful?” Her expressive face glowed with pure delight. “Draco, thank you. I shall run up and fetch it right—”
“No, Butterfly. I’d rather finish talking to you before your family returns and interrupts us. Besides, I really need to get back to town and ask questions.”
“Oh, yes. That is important. What were you saying about Healey and Burke?”
He raked a hand through his hair. “I cannot think of what their motive might be.”
“Perhaps we are wrong to accuse them,” she said, her lips now pursed in thought. “What if they had nothing to do with the incident?”
“Then who else do you suspect?”
