lift on the back of his neck. The man was dangerous, to the countess especially.
“Yes, I believe I have. You’ve been warned, Durant. Maybe I should volunteer to assist you in your task to speed the process up and protect my interests.”
“No!” Maris cried.
“That won’t be necessary. The work is tedious, Kelby. I doubt a man like you would enjoy it.” Reyn certainly wasn’t, except for the time it afforded him with the countess.
“You’re probably right. I understand you’ve already got a willing worker anyway. My aunt is such a ferocious bluestocking, she must be in transports rummaging through the attic alone with you.”
Damn. Kelby made it sound like they were doing exactly what they were doing. Reyn pretended not to understand. “Lady Kelby has been an enormous help so far. For a mere woman, she is very knowledgeable.” Reyn prayed she wouldn’t elbow him in the gut.
“I’ll be back soon to check on your progress. Maris, a word.”
Reyn was dismissed. What he really wanted to do was drag Maris upstairs to get her out of Kelby’s clutches. However, she would have to fight this battle without him if they were to maintain their ruse.
But when she did come upstairs, he wanted a word with her, too.
Chapter 15
“Who is he? I don’t like him.” David was sprawled in the chair again. His informality was insolent, deliberately so.
Maris would not let him rattle her again. One word could summon a fleet of footmen to remove him from the premises, but first she wanted to know how he came to be there.
“Henry’s f-friend in London found him.” David didn’t have to know about Mr. Ramsey and The London List.
“He doesn’t look much like a spindly scholar, long nose buried in some book. All those muscles. And he’s young, too.”
“I haven’t noticed his appearance,” Maris lied. “We’ve been much too busy. There’s a great deal of lifting involved, you know. Some of the boxes are very heavy.”
“Found any treasure yet?”
“Nothing that would interest you. You’ve made your opinion known about the family’s artifacts, haven’t you?” She would never give up the emerald to him. Never.
“Don’t hold out on me, Maris. As heir, I have a right to know what’s going on here.”
“A miracle could happen to prevent that,” Maris retorted.
A mistake. David’s bronze eyebrows lifted. “Are you enceinte, Aunt Maris? It was my understanding that you and Uncle Henry no longer shared a room.”
“One doesn’t need to share a room for intercourse, as you well know, David. Where are you getting this information anyway? It is incorrect. Your informant is leading you on.”
“I don’t think so.” He smirked. “Here I am in your boudoir. It’s as devoid of passion as a nun’s cell. Look at you, all dull in that brown sack. No wonder you don’t entice my uncle.”
Maris reminded herself that David was out to hurt her, to trip her up, to poison her life. How could she once have found him attractive? Oh, physically, he was handsome enough, but his tongue was vicious. When he’d used it spin tales about the ton, she’d found him amusing, shut away at Kelby Hall far from society as she was. Maris was no longer amused.
“And like a nun, I’m on my knees in prayer thanking God you no longer have an interest in me,” she said stiffly.
“I didn’t say that. I wouldn’t mind picking up where we left off, my dear. Before you got that inconvenient conscience. There’s a great deal more I could teach you.”
“I would rather die than let you touch me again.” Maris would never repeat her foolishness with him, especially now that she knew what could be between a man and a woman. She’d jump from the attic window if she had to.
“Brave words, but you’ll change your tune if I decide to tell your husband about our little affair.”
Once his threat would have struck her with terror. She’d heard it often enough, but today it was robbed of some of its power. “Oh, David. You disappoint me. Again. You are so predictable. How much money do you want this time?”
He smiled with no warmth. “Do you doubt I’d tell Uncle Henry? You shouldn’t, you know. I have nothing to lose by doing so, He can’t do anything about the entail, and before you start telling me he’ll get a baby on you at this late date, spare me. You’ve been married ten long years, Maris.”
Thank God he did not know he’d taken her virginity. That would have been the