Sweet Rogue of Mine (The Survivors #9) - Shana Galen Page 0,67

your visit to Blunley?” Pru asked Mr. Payne, before remembering he’d gone in search of a bedmate.

“Most productive.” He touched his eye gingerly. “And profitable.”

“Do you mind if I ask how you make your living, Mr. Payne?” Pru said. “I know it’s a bit gauche, but I can’t help but wonder if you are a gentleman or—”

“Probably best not to ask,” Nash said.

Pru raised her brows. “I see.” She tried not to keep staring at Nash, but it was difficult. It was more than just his handsome features that drew her attention. There was something else different. He was behaving differently.

Quite suddenly, she realized what it was. He hadn’t put his hand into the pocket where he kept his pistol once. She glanced at that pocket and took in a breath. It was flat and tight against his body. The pistol was not in the pocket, which meant he had either forgotten it or felt comfortable enough to be without it for the time being.

“Well,” Mr. Payne said, breaking the silence. Pru realized she hadn’t spoken for a moment and it must have been awkward to watch her watching Nash. “I should go dress for dinner.”

“You said you would not,” Pru reminded him. “In solidarity.”

“So I did. Then I won’t dress. In which case, pretend I gave some other acceptable reason for excusing myself right now. I can see you two would prefer to be alone.”

“Not at all,” Pru said at the same time Nash said, “Yes, we would.”

“Right then.” Mr. Payne walked through the parlor door, leaving it open in what was perhaps a not-so-subtle gesture for them to mind their manners.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Pru said, “Did you tell him?”

“Tell him?” Nash asked.

“About us!” she hissed. “About what happened in the informal garden.”

Nash made a face. “Give me some credit. I don’t kiss and tell.”

“Then why is he leaving us alone?”

“I may not be able to see,” Nash said, moving forward and reaching out to grasp the back of a chair. “But I can feel the way you were looking at me.”

“How was I looking at you?” Pru asked.

Nash moved to the front of the chair and paused. “Like you were hungry for more than Mrs. Blimkin’s cooking.”

She was glad he could not see because she could feel her cheeks flaming, and she rarely blushed.

“Are you seated?” he asked. “I can’t sit unless you do.”

Pru sat in the chair across from him. “I am now.”

Nash took his own seat, angling himself toward her. “Are you worried it will stop raining or worried it won’t?”

“What a question!”

“You’re quite safe from me,” he said. “Mr. Payne and I have rooms in the west wing. My room is all the way at the end of the corridor. The last door on the left with the tarnished handle.”

Pru narrowed her eyes. He was giving her a very specific description. “How do you know it’s tarnished?”

“Clopdon has remarked on it a half dozen times. I’m sure Mrs. Brown will put you in the east wing,” he said. “You and Mrs. Blimkin.”

“That would be wise, considering you gentlemen are in the west wing.”

“And it was wise to offer to allow Mrs. Blimkin to sleep with you. I can’t slip in bed beside you in the middle of the night.”

Pru shivered. Was this hypothetical or was he giving her instructions?

“No doubt she sleeps like a log,” he said. “Probably snores too. I hope she doesn’t keep you awake past midnight.”

Oh, he was definitely giving her instructions. The question was whether Pru would follow them.

“I needn’t worry about that if the rain stops,” she said. “I think it is already slowing.” This was not at all true. In fact, the thunder was so loud the moment after she spoke that the entire house seemed to rattle. She had to raise her voice to be heard over the roar of the rain on the roof. She hoped enough progress had been made on the kitchens that Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Blimkin were not getting wet.

“If it doesn’t,” Nash said. “You know you will be safe with me.”

Fourteen

Dinner was the best thing Nash had ever eaten. The food was simple and there were only two courses, but it was expertly prepared and flavored, and he was so happy to have something edible to eat that he had three helpings of both dishes.

The food had improved markedly since Mrs. Blimkin had stepped in to help, but she had outdone herself this evening. He sent his