the past, she felt she could be far more opinionated.
She had choices. Not too many in life, but she definitely did as it pertained to him.
Treading carefully, she said, “Again, I do not see how your suspicions affect me. There is nothing holding us together any longer.” Just to set the record straight, she added, “And I must admit that I am no longer interested in your suit.”
With obvious impatience, he brushed a stray lock of hair back from his forehead. “Lydia, this has nothing to do with you. I don’t care what your feelings are.”
“If you don’t care, then perhaps you should go speak to someone else. I fail to see why you came to see me at this time of night.”
“I’m here because I want you to talk to Marks on my behalf.”
“I don’t know him that well. And what would he have to do with someone watching you?”
Did this have something to do with what had happened in the hotel? Even if it did, even if she had known Mr. Marks well, she was absolutely sure now that she wouldn’t do what Jason was asking anyway. His words were confusing and frightening. Nothing she wanted to become embroiled in.
He ignored her. “I want you to insist that he call off his watchdogs immediately. I am sure he is behind this.”
It was becoming obvious that Jason was a bit confused. Yes, Mr. Marks had come to her rescue, and yes, he had been angry about Jason’s behavior, but why would he care to have Jason followed? Mr. Marks lived in an expensive hotel and spent afternoons reading at her library. She was fairly certain he wouldn’t know the first thing about spying on men.
Whatever Jason feared from Mr. Marks, this was taking it too far.
“Jason, forgive me, but you’ve let your imagination run away with you. Mr. Marks doesn’t spy on people. Furthermore, he has no reason to do such things—not even after your despicable behavior at the hotel. Why would you think he would be behind this?”
A myriad of expressions—confusion, amusement, anger, despair—passed over Jason’s features. Now Lydia felt sure he was struggling with something dire. She wondered if he was hiding a secret about himself or about Mr. Marks.
Then again, she remembered how instantly angry Jason had become when he saw Mr. Marks at the hotel. Was his first instinct really that there was something between her and Mr. Marks, or was there something between the two men that made him so suspicious? Something Mr. Marks didn’t like but Jason actively feared.
It was time to uncover the truth, or at least move on. His pensive glares were becoming tiresome, and his accusations about Mr. Marks were giving her a headache. “Jason, I cannot help you if you are not honest with me,” she chided. “Please either tell me what is the cause of your worry about Mr. Marks or bid me good evening.”
“Honest? You want me to be honest?”
“Of course.” She was becoming impatient. “Please be honest, if you can. It means candid. Straightforward. Sincere.”
He scoffed. “You and your definitions. It’s enough to make one ache to press a hand to your mouth, just to silence your superior attitude.”
Remembering the way he’d gripped her wrist, she flinched. “Please leave.”
He didn’t budge. “Tell me, don’t you ever get tired of being the smartest person in the room?”
His words were caustic. Cool. She knew his question was rhetorical as well. However, his criticism was just painful enough that she decided to pretend ignorance. “Actually, no, I do not tire of it. I am usually the smartest person in the room. I certainly am this evening.”
His eyes turned cold. “One day you will wish you had minded your tongue.”
That felt as though he were threatening her, but he did not make a move toward her. He only seemed to want to make her do his bidding, and she would not. Standing up on shaking legs, she said, “I will see you to the door. I believe this conversation has run its course.”
Looking even more agitated, he got to
She had choices. Not too many in life, but she definitely did as it pertained to him.
Treading carefully, she said, “Again, I do not see how your suspicions affect me. There is nothing holding us together any longer.” Just to set the record straight, she added, “And I must admit that I am no longer interested in your suit.”
With obvious impatience, he brushed a stray lock of hair back from his forehead. “Lydia, this has nothing to do with you. I don’t care what your feelings are.”
“If you don’t care, then perhaps you should go speak to someone else. I fail to see why you came to see me at this time of night.”
“I’m here because I want you to talk to Marks on my behalf.”
“I don’t know him that well. And what would he have to do with someone watching you?”
Did this have something to do with what had happened in the hotel? Even if it did, even if she had known Mr. Marks well, she was absolutely sure now that she wouldn’t do what Jason was asking anyway. His words were confusing and frightening. Nothing she wanted to become embroiled in.
He ignored her. “I want you to insist that he call off his watchdogs immediately. I am sure he is behind this.”
It was becoming obvious that Jason was a bit confused. Yes, Mr. Marks had come to her rescue, and yes, he had been angry about Jason’s behavior, but why would he care to have Jason followed? Mr. Marks lived in an expensive hotel and spent afternoons reading at her library. She was fairly certain he wouldn’t know the first thing about spying on men.
Whatever Jason feared from Mr. Marks, this was taking it too far.
“Jason, forgive me, but you’ve let your imagination run away with you. Mr. Marks doesn’t spy on people. Furthermore, he has no reason to do such things—not even after your despicable behavior at the hotel. Why would you think he would be behind this?”
A myriad of expressions—confusion, amusement, anger, despair—passed over Jason’s features. Now Lydia felt sure he was struggling with something dire. She wondered if he was hiding a secret about himself or about Mr. Marks.
Then again, she remembered how instantly angry Jason had become when he saw Mr. Marks at the hotel. Was his first instinct really that there was something between her and Mr. Marks, or was there something between the two men that made him so suspicious? Something Mr. Marks didn’t like but Jason actively feared.
It was time to uncover the truth, or at least move on. His pensive glares were becoming tiresome, and his accusations about Mr. Marks were giving her a headache. “Jason, I cannot help you if you are not honest with me,” she chided. “Please either tell me what is the cause of your worry about Mr. Marks or bid me good evening.”
“Honest? You want me to be honest?”
“Of course.” She was becoming impatient. “Please be honest, if you can. It means candid. Straightforward. Sincere.”
He scoffed. “You and your definitions. It’s enough to make one ache to press a hand to your mouth, just to silence your superior attitude.”
Remembering the way he’d gripped her wrist, she flinched. “Please leave.”
He didn’t budge. “Tell me, don’t you ever get tired of being the smartest person in the room?”
His words were caustic. Cool. She knew his question was rhetorical as well. However, his criticism was just painful enough that she decided to pretend ignorance. “Actually, no, I do not tire of it. I am usually the smartest person in the room. I certainly am this evening.”
His eyes turned cold. “One day you will wish you had minded your tongue.”
That felt as though he were threatening her, but he did not make a move toward her. He only seemed to want to make her do his bidding, and she would not. Standing up on shaking legs, she said, “I will see you to the door. I believe this conversation has run its course.”
Looking even more agitated, he got to
Similar Books
