Page 12 of Seducing the Knave

Though caution had never really been one of her strong suits, she did take exception with his other accusation. “I assure you, I am totally aware.”

His slashing brows lifted with disbelief and amusement. “Are ye?”

“Of course,” she asserted, lifting her ale for another drink.

What was there to be aware of anyway? She’d already determined Jasper’s men weren’t skulking in any corners. Beyond that, they were at a rural inn during the dinner hour. People all around were eating and socializing. She was just another traveler among the crowd.

“So, ye’ve noted the three blokes at the end of the bar who’ve been tossing quick little peeks at ye while hunched in private conversation? Fer fuck sake, don’t look,” he added beneath his breath when she would have turned in her seat.

Elle stiffened. She was terribly tempted to turn and look despite his crude command not to. “How could I possibly notice men who are behind me?” she retorted.

“Don’t put yer back to the room.”

He had an answer for everything.

“Well, who cares if they glance our way. We’re strangers. It’s likely nothing more than curiosity.”

His gaze flickered toward the bar. There was an immediate shift in his demeanor. It was swift but potent, like a flash of lightning through a calm sky. In that moment, a terrifying iciness flickered in his eyes and his features hardened almost unnaturally. Then he tipped his head in a subtle gesture of acknowledgment.

Elle held her breath. But a bare second later, his manner relaxed again and his lips curled as he shifted his gaze back to her. “Ye’re probably right.”

But she didn’t feel right. Not at all. Somehow the meaning of his words did not carry through in his tone.

Though she didn’t want to believe total strangers would catch one look at her—as shrouded as she was—and develop some nefarious intention, she suddenly wasn’t so sure. Then again, it was very possible Max was simply trying to set her off-balance again. It could just be a ploy to convince her not to trust her own judgment so she’d more readily do as he instructed.

Well, that wasn’t likely to happen.

She’d gone through most of her life in a subtle state of blissful acquiescence. She’d trusted her parents explicitly and would never even have thought to question their direction or intentions. But in the years since losing them, she’d been forced to face the fact that she no longer had anyone to look out for her. And if there was one thing she’d learned under Jasper’s neglectful guardianship, it was how to trust her own instincts and make the decisions she knew to be right for herself.

As the serving woman came back around to set another bowl of hearty lamb stew in front of Max followed by an empty glass and a full bottle of gin, Elle brushed off any lingering sense of unease and turned her attention back to her food. “Well, if you’re going to insist on dining with me out of a noble commitment to my protection, I shall just endeavor to ignore you.”

He gave her a flinty smirk as he poured some gin into his glass. “Good luck.” Then he leaned forward to add intimately, “I assure ye there’s nothing at all noble about me.”

“I quite agree, considering you intend to swindle me out of additional payment,” she retorted with a narrowed gaze.

He just shrugged and sipped his gin. His total lack of contrition was infuriating.

“All right, then. Let’s negotiate,” she said in a clipped tone.

Casually crossing his ankles and folding his arms over his chest, he tilted his head to a condescending angle. “By all means, princess. Make yer offer.”

Elle straightened in her chair and gave a little shake of her head.

“You will agree to see me safely to London—Mayfair, to be exact—”

“Where else?” he interrupted sarcastically with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

“—with the understanding that we must continue to evade anyone who might try to intercept me along the way.”

He gave a short nod. “And my compensation shall be...?”

“The broach I already gave you is an heirloom and worth a fortune,” she noted sharply. “It’s certainly more than enough to cover our expenses until we reach town tomorrow.”

“Perhaps,” he noted with a shrug. “But the ruby was payment fer a job already done.”

Before she could argue, he gave up his relaxed posture to lean forward, resting his forearms on the table. “There’s also the fact that this task appears to carry some significant risk to me person if those three blokes from this morning are any indication.” He arched his brows. “Any chance ye’re ready to fill me in on that business?”

“Who they are and what they want isn’t relevant to your task,” she evaded.

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