and precise, and reason governed her steps. Still, all she did whispered of kindness and compassion and the willingness to sacrifice in order to help.
“Why?”
Her lips thinned, and he could see her defenses were operational. “That is none of your concern.” Her voice was sharp, but not as harsh as he would have expected. She held his gaze before her own narrowed, her head cocked sideways in thought. “While we’re on the subject, what is your secret?”
Pierce tensed, and he could tell from the way the corners of her mouth curled upward that she’d noticed. “We’re not talking about me at pres—”
“But we could be,” his little mouse interrupted, her blue eyes sparkling with eagerness now as she squared her shoulders. “Yes, I believe we should. You’re so keen on unearthing my secret, I cannot help but wonder about your own.”
Pierce huffed out an annoyed breath. “Who says I have a secret?”
A look of utter incredulity came to her eyes before she threw her head back laughing. “I am no fool, my lord. A man called the Black Baron must have a secret and a most shocking one at that, perhaps even unlawful.” Pierce willed himself not to react. Still, his insides all but turned and twisted as she continued to poke at him. “Gambling?”
“You’re wasting your time,” Pierce told her with as much of a straight face as he could muster.
His little mouse put a finger to her lips. “You’re right. That wouldn’t be much of a secret.” Her lips pursed as she thought, and Pierce could not deny that he enjoyed their little game. “How about espionage? That would fulfill all the requirements, shocking as well as unlawful, and would make you utterly deserving of the moniker Black Baron.” She looked at him expectantly, and Pierce could not deny that he hated to disappoint her.
“I’m afraid your guess is not even close to the truth.”
A slow smile curled up the corners of her mouth. “You seem nervous,” she observed, clearly enjoying this little back-and-forth as much as he did. “You’d feel so much better if you’d unburdened yourself and simply told me the truth.”
Leaning forward, Pierce grinned at her. “Says the woman wearing a disguise every day of the week.” His brows rose, daring her to accept his challenge. “Perhaps you should take your own advice.”
“Oh, but my secret is not nearly as interesting as yours,” she told him, her blue gaze sharp as she looked into his eyes without even the slightest hint of trembling nerves. Right here, right now, his little mouse was in her element. She was herself. No pretense. No act. No deception.
“I doubt that,” Pierce whispered, all but forgetting that they were speaking about their respective secrets and not about themselves. To him, no one had ever been more interesting, fascinating and intriguing than her. “After all, your secret includes a disguise, a well-crafted one at that, for no one even recognizes it as a disguise.” His gaze traveled over her soft features before returning to those dark blue eyes that blazed with an iron will. “Why do you hide yourself?” he whispered, feeling an almost unbearable need to know.
Sighing, his little mouse shrugged, then set the spectacles back onto her nose. “That is my secret, and I’m not certain I can trust you with it.”
Inhaling a deep breath, Pierce nodded, feeling a sudden longing grow in his chest to earn that trust, to have her turn to him in a time of need, to know that she thought of him as her ally. “You’re right,” he told her, taking a step back, a peace offering, a first step. “I shall endeavor to change that.”
Her gaze narrowed in surprise as she looked at him. “Why?”
Pierce chuckled. “That is my secret.”
Chapter Sixteen
Someone
As expected, Mr. Wolsey’s change of attitude was not of a permanent nature.
Sitting in Lady Brockton’s drawing room, Caroline could barely keep from tapping her foot, eagerly awaiting the moment she could feign a headache and excuse herself. When she finally stepped out into the crisp air, Sarah had trouble keeping up with her as she all but rushed down the pavement.
“Perhaps we ought to hail a coach,” her friend suggested, picking up her pace.
Caroline shook her head. “No, I need this.” Her breath came fast, and her legs began to ache and, yet, energy hummed in her muscles, giving her strength and determination to face that horrible man yet again.
According to Mary’s note, he’d broken into his own office and all but