circumstances.”
She examined him for a few moments without cracking a smile. “Do you really want to know my opinion?”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.” His brow creased into neat little lines.
“I don’t give praise easily, you understand,” she teased.
His face fell a little.
“But I think it went very well, indeed.” She smiled, and a matching one appeared on his face in return.
“I can’t tell you how relieved I am.” He paused, then looked around the barren room. “I take it you haven’t had a chance to decorate this room?”
“No. I didn’t want to waste the funds. I need it for my shop.” She shrugged. “Besides, Willa and I don’t play any instruments.”
His gaze swept across the room again until it landed on hers. “I have a proposition for you.”
Kat clasped her hands in front of her. “What kind?”
“I want to start a charity of sorts, but I want it to make a profit,” he answered. “I’ll pay you double your dowry amount if you’ll help me.”
“Why do you need one?” Now, she was intrigued.
“I want to start a business for the soldiers in my regiment who’ve come home. Most have lost their jobs, many have lost their families, not to mention their pride. Some are homeless.”
“I don’t have much experience with soldiers.” Yet she’d seen the homeless men roaming the streets during the day. The sight never ceased to pull at her heartstrings. Anytime one had approached her, she’d given them a coin or two. It always reminded her of when she’d been in the same position, standing on a corner, scared but hungry, struggling to raise her hand to ask for a pence.
Never should anyone have to do that to survive.
“I’ve heard you’re excellent in creating a thriving business. That’s what I want.” Christian’s brown eyes swept over her face as if memorizing her features. “And you’re the person I want.”
Her body stood at attention while little sparks of something exploded inside her at the rumble in his whisky-dark voice. Much like she’d experienced when a fireworks display ignited over Vauxhall. When he lowered his voice like that, it sounded like a man telling secrets to his lover.
She shook her head slightly to lift the sensual fog surrounding her. He wanted her for her commercial acumen, not kisses.
He frowned slightly. “I beg of you, don’t say no, yet. They’re good men who deserve a new beginning. You can help provide that. You’re the person I need,” he whispered. “If you’ll say yes right now, I’ll pay you triple.”
Now, he was using his Poison Blossom voice on her. She had to put a stop to this immediately.
“I can’t answer now. You have to let me think about the offer.” This was madness to even consider such a thing. She was inundated with orders and had to prepare for the Secretary of the First Lady of the Bedchamber’s visit. He would be the one to recommend the linen supplier to the Prince Regent’s Royal Pavilion. But four hundred pounds would ease the business’s financial strain. “I have a lot of work ahead of me in the next several weeks.” She paused for a moment. “I don’t help just anyone.”
“Good thing I’m not just anybody.” His smile sent her pulse racing. Then the crafty, dastardly, not to mention charming, man laughed aloud, the rich sound bringing a vibrancy to the room. “Will you at least give it serious thought?”
“When do you need an answer?” Her voice was steady in contrast to the millions of butterflies flittering around in her stomach.
He took her hand and pressed his warm lips against her knuckles, never letting his gaze stray from hers.
She bunched her other hand by her side into a fist to keep some semblance of control.
“When you’re ready.” He bowed deeply. “Madame, your servant.” He turned for the door, then stopped. “I consider it a good sign that you haven’t said no. But I beg of you, don’t keep me in suspense.”
When the coast was clear, Kat let out a sigh. Whether in relief or disappointment, she couldn’t determine. If this was the real Duke of Randford, then he had nothing whatsoever in common with a rat.
And that made him all the more treacherous.
Chapter Seven
Katherine never felt so alive as when she was at work. It was what she loved best. Looking around the elegant floor of her shop made her giddy.
Greer’s Emporium offered luxury home furnishings from draperies, pillows, and china to her own extensive collection of linens. Everything needed to outfit