Read Online Too Dangerous to Desire by Cara Elliott - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cara Elliott
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trouble!” exclaimed Georgiana.
“There is,” conceded Sophie. “However, that is all I mean to say on the matter.”
Cameron lifted a questioning brow. “You think that wise? In my experience, such refusals often do more harm than good. The person who is kept in the dark may feel compelled to take reckless action in order to discover the truth.”
“If new information comes to light, I will reconsider the decision,” replied Sophie. Cameron didn’t yet know the full depths of Dudley and Morton’s depravity, and she hadn’t decided just how much of the tale to tell him. “But for now, that is all I will promise.”
“Fair enough,” he answered, earning an injured look from Georgiana.
“I thought you were on my side,” she groused. “When I was little, you always stood up for me.”
“Let there be one thing very clear between us, ladies.” His smile turned sharply sardonic. “Don’t look to me for noble idealism, for you will only be sadly disappointed. I serve just one interest—my own. If this strikes you as hard-hearted, so it is.”
Georgiana bit her lip. “But you just said that you were going to help Sophie.”
“No he didn’t,” intervened Sophie. “He said he was willing to accept a job. There is a big difference.”
Her sister had no answer, save for an aggrieved sniff. “And what did I just interrupt? A business discussion of what payment he wishes to receive for his services?”
“That’s quite enough, Georgie. You are acting like a child,” snapped Sophie. “Please return to Hatchards. I will join you as soon as Mr. Daggett and I have finished discussing our transaction.”
Tears beaded on Georgiana’s lashes as she fisted her skirts. “Very well.” Ducking under an overhanging branch, she brushed past Cameron. “But I, too, wish to make something clear. Hurt my sister again, and I shall have Anthony carve your liver into a thousand tiny pieces.”
Cameron waited until she had stalked out of earshot. “Who is Anthony?”
“Her fiancé,” answered Sophie. “He’s very skilled with a cavalry saber.”
“Ah.” He fingered the pearl-studded ebony hoop in his ear. “Luckily, so am I.”
“Does that mean you were a soldier?”
“I have been a great many things in my life, including a soldier.” A pause. “And a fool.”
“And what are you now? Your clothing is finely tailored…” She eyed his earring. “…and your baubles are expensive. So I assume you have come into some money.” A horrible thought suddenly occurred to her. “Perhaps you have married an heiress?”
His expression remained inscrutable. “No, I earn my own keep,” he said softly. “Though I daresay you would be shocked to know how.” Dead leaves crackled beneath his boots as he shifted his stance. “I steal into the fancy mansions and country estates of the aristocracy and purloin their valuables. Mostly jewels, but occasionally I take paintings and other objets d’art.”
“A thief?” she said softly, trying to read the undercurrents rippling in his eyes.
“Oh, I do have some scruples. I only take from those who can well afford the loss. But other than that, you are right to sound appalled. I am a hard-hearted bastard.”
Sophie flinched at the word “bastard.”
“Yes, a bastard,” he repeated. “We both know the ugly truth of my heritage.”
“You aren’t,” she whispered. “The truth is—”
He was quick to cut her off. “It doesn’t matter what the truth is. I can’t prove it, and who do you think Society will believe—me or my illustrious half brother?”
She looked away, knowing he didn’t expect an answer. Instead she asked a question of her own. “Is that why you have chosen to lead such a dishonorable life? To punish Society for being unfair to you?”
He let out a low laugh. “I’ve learned that honor exists only in storybooks. So, like a pirate, I live by my own rules. It has proven to be the perfect life for a devil-may-care fellow like
“There is,” conceded Sophie. “However, that is all I mean to say on the matter.”
Cameron lifted a questioning brow. “You think that wise? In my experience, such refusals often do more harm than good. The person who is kept in the dark may feel compelled to take reckless action in order to discover the truth.”
“If new information comes to light, I will reconsider the decision,” replied Sophie. Cameron didn’t yet know the full depths of Dudley and Morton’s depravity, and she hadn’t decided just how much of the tale to tell him. “But for now, that is all I will promise.”
“Fair enough,” he answered, earning an injured look from Georgiana.
“I thought you were on my side,” she groused. “When I was little, you always stood up for me.”
“Let there be one thing very clear between us, ladies.” His smile turned sharply sardonic. “Don’t look to me for noble idealism, for you will only be sadly disappointed. I serve just one interest—my own. If this strikes you as hard-hearted, so it is.”
Georgiana bit her lip. “But you just said that you were going to help Sophie.”
“No he didn’t,” intervened Sophie. “He said he was willing to accept a job. There is a big difference.”
Her sister had no answer, save for an aggrieved sniff. “And what did I just interrupt? A business discussion of what payment he wishes to receive for his services?”
“That’s quite enough, Georgie. You are acting like a child,” snapped Sophie. “Please return to Hatchards. I will join you as soon as Mr. Daggett and I have finished discussing our transaction.”
Tears beaded on Georgiana’s lashes as she fisted her skirts. “Very well.” Ducking under an overhanging branch, she brushed past Cameron. “But I, too, wish to make something clear. Hurt my sister again, and I shall have Anthony carve your liver into a thousand tiny pieces.”
Cameron waited until she had stalked out of earshot. “Who is Anthony?”
“Her fiancé,” answered Sophie. “He’s very skilled with a cavalry saber.”
“Ah.” He fingered the pearl-studded ebony hoop in his ear. “Luckily, so am I.”
“Does that mean you were a soldier?”
“I have been a great many things in my life, including a soldier.” A pause. “And a fool.”
“And what are you now? Your clothing is finely tailored…” She eyed his earring. “…and your baubles are expensive. So I assume you have come into some money.” A horrible thought suddenly occurred to her. “Perhaps you have married an heiress?”
His expression remained inscrutable. “No, I earn my own keep,” he said softly. “Though I daresay you would be shocked to know how.” Dead leaves crackled beneath his boots as he shifted his stance. “I steal into the fancy mansions and country estates of the aristocracy and purloin their valuables. Mostly jewels, but occasionally I take paintings and other objets d’art.”
“A thief?” she said softly, trying to read the undercurrents rippling in his eyes.
“Oh, I do have some scruples. I only take from those who can well afford the loss. But other than that, you are right to sound appalled. I am a hard-hearted bastard.”
Sophie flinched at the word “bastard.”
“Yes, a bastard,” he repeated. “We both know the ugly truth of my heritage.”
“You aren’t,” she whispered. “The truth is—”
He was quick to cut her off. “It doesn’t matter what the truth is. I can’t prove it, and who do you think Society will believe—me or my illustrious half brother?”
She looked away, knowing he didn’t expect an answer. Instead she asked a question of her own. “Is that why you have chosen to lead such a dishonorable life? To punish Society for being unfair to you?”
He let out a low laugh. “I’ve learned that honor exists only in storybooks. So, like a pirate, I live by my own rules. It has proven to be the perfect life for a devil-may-care fellow like
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