Unfortunately, the pouring rain halted her at the door.
“I wasn’t implying you were under anyone’s thrall,” Ian rumbled from behind her.
The scent of the rain and wet leaves mingled with the soft fragrance of his soap. Despite her temptation to lean into his warmth, she refused to turn around. “I’m not under anyone’s thumb. I’m a cog in the wheel of a much bigger machine, and I’m trying with all my strength to protect those we serve.”
“Who are you working for?”
She shook her head; he hadn’t earned those secrets from her yet.
“Diana. In this moment, it may seem impossible for you to believe me, but I don’t want us to be at odds.”
The gentle assurance in his voice made her relent. When she turned around, concern pulled at his brow.
“The men who followed us to the shipping office the night you left London were after the emeralds,” Ian said. “There are dangerous factions hunting them.”
“I know,” she whispered. “My orders were to take the necklace and leave London. Amelia and I believe there’s a traitor within our organization who wantsthem for some other agenda beyond our mission. The dangerous game you won’t tell me about.”
She swallowed the knot rising in her throat. “Ian, whoever asked me to steal the emeralds wants you to risk your life to win them back. They want you dead. That’s why I took them, and why I can never return them to you.”
Chapter Twelve
Ianbelievedherwithoutreservation.
Her wide eyes and pinched brow revealed the emotion she’d ceased hiding behind her beautiful mask.
Diana was terrified.
Forhim.
She hadn’t stolen the emeralds to taunt him, or as some cocky attempt to win a competition she thought she could best, like everything else in her life.
It had been a way to lure him on her journey, so she could protect him.
The only man who’s compelling my actions is you.
It didn’t lessen the sting of her deception. Or make him want to hand over his trust completely.
But God, if it didn’t make his heart swell.
With a little time, she’d tell him who she was working with. She’d need his help to ferret out the traitor, and once they identified them, it would clear her from Sunderland’s suspicions.
Eventually, he’d have to tell her who he was working with, too. She’d risked a great deal trying to save his hide.
“Evenin’, ma’am.”
Birdie materialized before them and handed Diana an umbrella. “Came to find you when one of the hands didn’t return. But I see you’ve found ’em.”
Here, her suspicious glance saidto Ian.
“Thank you. Mr. Holt and I were discussing a proposal,” Diana clipped. “We’ll be right along. Please tell Virgil I have the coordinates.”
“I can relay them—”
“Thank you, Birdie.” Diana’s voice rose as she gave a curt nod.
Birdie took the abrupt dismissal rather too calmly for Ian’s liking. She summoned her hands with a sharp whistle and melted into the misty evening.
Ian took the umbrella from Diana, opened it, and offered her his arm. “Shall we?”