“I am no stranger to hard work.”
He didn’t think she was. “But you work on your terms, in your way, and walk away from any who would disagree with you.” He held out his hand. “I am asking you to agree to work with me no matter what. I swear to discuss things with you until you are satisfied, if you swear to persevere with the discomfort to talk to me about your worries and give me the chance to allay them.” He stepped forward and turned his hand palm up before her. “Can you promise that, Lady Gwen?”
She took a moment, her gaze troubled as she looked at his hand and then his face. She seemed to study his expression in minute detail, and he had no idea what conclusion she drew. She gave nothing away while he did his best to remain strong beneath her heavy regard.
And what an odd feeling that was. He’d given that speech before. He’d had to gain others’ commitments any number of times while pursuing Isabelle’s business interests. He’d asked for trust, for work, for simple courtesy, and most had given it. Never before had he done such a thing with a woman. Nor had he ever waited so long for an answer.
“I want to trust you,” she whispered.
“I want to earn your trust,” he returned.
“You confuse me. I feel things when you are around that are unusual.”
His throat closed up, and his heart sped up. Was she confessing to an attraction? The very idea sent his thoughts down a very different road. One he’d best avoid if they meant to work together. And yet he couldn’t stop the hopeful note in his voice.
“Are these pleasant feelings?”
“Yes.”
“And I have very pleasant feelings toward you,” he admitted.
Her eyes searched his face. “Does that make this difficult for you? Does it make you question our business?”
“Absolutely not.” Then he winked at her. “I like working with someone who gives me pleasant feelings. Don’t you?”
She bit her lip. “Very well—”
Relief made his knees weak.
“—But do you truly mean to leave this afternoon?”
“And return in a week.” He didn’t want to tell her that he had no place to sleep tonight otherwise.
She blew out a breath. “Mama will be furious. And what shall I do about Lilah? I am to help her—”
“You cannot split your focus. Do you worry about your family or strive for your own independence?” Then because he saw her hesitate, he sweetened the offer. “Remember, once you are established with your own fortune, you can do a great deal for your half-sister. Perhaps next Season she will be the one wearing the flowers.”
She nodded, and he could tell that she understood what he was asking. “Lilah has always been pushed off until next time, next Season, next something. Never now.”
“You cannot help her until you are in a better position in society.”
“Yes, I know,” she said. “But I can still regret the necessity.”
He had no argument. He understood forcing someone to wait until he was in a better position to help. It was what he had been doing to his sisters for nearly a decade.
“This can work,” he said as much to himself as to Lady Gwen. “We will see to it.”
Lady Gwen didn’t speak. She merely slanted a glance his way as she took his arm. No hesitation, no barest tip of her fingers, but her whole hand and with it her commitment. The exhilaration of it was more drugging than the finest brandy.
Chapter Fourteen
To say thather mother was displeased was like saying that plants wilted when set on fire. Gwen’s mother was furious that she intended to abandon London at the beginning of the Season. Gwen could admit to herself that she had a secret thrill when she responded that a woman on the shelf could do as she pleased, even at the beginning of the Season. Less fun was telling Lilah that she was leaving. Her sister took the news as she took everything: with a calm understanding and a smile, even though she was being abandoned with Mama.
“But of course you must go. Lord Sayres sounds like he has a very exciting business idea. If it can restore his titular fortunes, you must help however you can.”
“The business was my idea,” Gwen complained. “And since when did you start using words like titular?”
Lilah grinned. “I have decided to broaden my education.”