right, of course. And you’re right that I won’t let Catalina and
El Grande
off so easily. But once I have them in my power, your part ends. I won’t go into how I intend to deal with them afterward.”
She said, without much hope of convincing him, “What if you’re wrong? What if
El Grande
and Catalina are innocent? What if there’s another reason for all those murders—if they really are murders.”
“If I’m wrong, I lose nothing. If I’m right, I’ll make damn sure that justice is done.”
Eyes closed, she leaned her head against the back of her chair. He was on the wrong track or he was playing her along for some sinister purpose of his own. But she couldn’t make this decision by herself. Others were involved and she needed to consult them.
Marcus watched her in silence. He didn’t know what to make of her. Perhaps it was truer to say that he didn’t know what to make of himself. In the coach, she had enthralled him. Now, he felt contemptuous. She was just like every other woman—she could be bought if the price was right. Perhaps he’d been wrong about her. Perhaps she was Melrose Gunn’s mistress. The thought irritated him, but not half as much as his body’s automatic response to her.
“In addition to the money,” he said, “you may keepthe wardrobe and jewels that will be necessary to pass you off as my wife.”
She opened her eyes. He was using that tone of voice again, the one that barely masked his contempt. She would ponder that later.
Before she could respond, he went on, “I could hardly expect you to do it because it’s the right thing to do, now could I? Besides, you’ll earn your money. This may take several months. We’ll spend some time in London, just to show you off and spread the word that my wife has arrived from Spain. That should give Catalina and
El Grande
a jolt.” His smile showed just how much he enjoyed that particular prospect. “Then we’ll retire to Wrotham, where my family resides.”
“Wrotham?”
“My estate in Warwickshire. Don’t look so alarmed. We won’t even embark on any of this until you’ve learned your part.”
“It’s just too farfetched,” she said. “How can I play Catalina? What about my hair? What about the language? I know only a few words of Spanish.”
“We can deal with all that.”
“What about my friends? If they see me, they’ll recognize me.”
“Your friends don’t move in my circles. And, in my experience, people see what they expect to see.”
Testing him, she went on, “Why me? Why not someone who already has black hair? Why involve me in your affairs?”
“You look like her. That may or may not be important, but it will certainly be more convincing to
them”
There was a long silence, then she exhaled a slow breath. “I need time to think about it,” she said.
“How much time?”
She did a quick calculation in her head. “A week. No, don’t try to press me. If you do, the answer will be no.”
He gave in gracefully, sensing that she was already halfway persuaded to help him, and he didn’t want to tip the scales the wrong way. At the front door, he waved McNally off as he came to assist him with his coat.
“Melrose Gunn,” he said casually. “Will he be a problem?”
“Why should he be? I can write my articles anywhere.”
“I wasn’t thinking of your articles.”
“What were you thinking?”
“You seemed rather taken with him.” His expression was guileless, blank.
“I am taken with him. He’s an intelligent, articulate man who has dedicated his life to improving the lot of others.”
“I heard something tonight to the effect that he is courting you?”
“That won’t be a problem,” she said. “Melrose and I are friends, and that’s as far as it goes.”
“Mmm,” said Marcus, and opened the front door. “Do women find that sort of thing appealing?”
“What sort of thing?” she asked, mystified.
“You know, men like Gunn, intelligent, articulate,
El Grande
off so easily. But once I have them in my power, your part ends. I won’t go into how I intend to deal with them afterward.”
She said, without much hope of convincing him, “What if you’re wrong? What if
El Grande
and Catalina are innocent? What if there’s another reason for all those murders—if they really are murders.”
“If I’m wrong, I lose nothing. If I’m right, I’ll make damn sure that justice is done.”
Eyes closed, she leaned her head against the back of her chair. He was on the wrong track or he was playing her along for some sinister purpose of his own. But she couldn’t make this decision by herself. Others were involved and she needed to consult them.
Marcus watched her in silence. He didn’t know what to make of her. Perhaps it was truer to say that he didn’t know what to make of himself. In the coach, she had enthralled him. Now, he felt contemptuous. She was just like every other woman—she could be bought if the price was right. Perhaps he’d been wrong about her. Perhaps she was Melrose Gunn’s mistress. The thought irritated him, but not half as much as his body’s automatic response to her.
“In addition to the money,” he said, “you may keepthe wardrobe and jewels that will be necessary to pass you off as my wife.”
She opened her eyes. He was using that tone of voice again, the one that barely masked his contempt. She would ponder that later.
Before she could respond, he went on, “I could hardly expect you to do it because it’s the right thing to do, now could I? Besides, you’ll earn your money. This may take several months. We’ll spend some time in London, just to show you off and spread the word that my wife has arrived from Spain. That should give Catalina and
El Grande
a jolt.” His smile showed just how much he enjoyed that particular prospect. “Then we’ll retire to Wrotham, where my family resides.”
“Wrotham?”
“My estate in Warwickshire. Don’t look so alarmed. We won’t even embark on any of this until you’ve learned your part.”
“It’s just too farfetched,” she said. “How can I play Catalina? What about my hair? What about the language? I know only a few words of Spanish.”
“We can deal with all that.”
“What about my friends? If they see me, they’ll recognize me.”
“Your friends don’t move in my circles. And, in my experience, people see what they expect to see.”
Testing him, she went on, “Why me? Why not someone who already has black hair? Why involve me in your affairs?”
“You look like her. That may or may not be important, but it will certainly be more convincing to
them”
There was a long silence, then she exhaled a slow breath. “I need time to think about it,” she said.
“How much time?”
She did a quick calculation in her head. “A week. No, don’t try to press me. If you do, the answer will be no.”
He gave in gracefully, sensing that she was already halfway persuaded to help him, and he didn’t want to tip the scales the wrong way. At the front door, he waved McNally off as he came to assist him with his coat.
“Melrose Gunn,” he said casually. “Will he be a problem?”
“Why should he be? I can write my articles anywhere.”
“I wasn’t thinking of your articles.”
“What were you thinking?”
“You seemed rather taken with him.” His expression was guileless, blank.
“I am taken with him. He’s an intelligent, articulate man who has dedicated his life to improving the lot of others.”
“I heard something tonight to the effect that he is courting you?”
“That won’t be a problem,” she said. “Melrose and I are friends, and that’s as far as it goes.”
“Mmm,” said Marcus, and opened the front door. “Do women find that sort of thing appealing?”
“What sort of thing?” she asked, mystified.
“You know, men like Gunn, intelligent, articulate,
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