“If we find the treasure.”
“That when we find the treasure, you aren’t going to run off with it.”
Stephen didn’t have much of a temper, but now he felt his anger begin to simmer. He spoke softly, meeting her eyes. “Are you implying I’m the kind of man who cheats women? Are you questioning my honor, madam?”
“Now who is huffy?” she shot back. “I only want some assurances, not only that we split the treasure equally between us, but that you will not leave me behind.”
Stephen stood. “It’s an insult to be presented with these terms. I’m a man of honor.”
“But you are also a man. I have two brothers, Lord Westman. I know how overprotective and irrational men can be.”
Stephen snorted and then, angry all over again, turned away. He had to keep his temper below boiling because the amusing part was that, when he was angry, he could be rather irrational. Chalk up another point to the pixie.
But she did not know him. She didn’t know him at all, and who was she to question his integrity? He supposed he deserved this treatment. He had not behaved entirely admirably with her, but he did wish that for once in his life, he would be given the benefit of the doubt. “Since you seem to need it, you have my word,” he ground out finally. “We share the treasure.”
“Good, then—”
“But I also have terms.” He rounded on her. “We share all information. If you have any knowledge in addition to this map”—he patted his coat pocket again—“you will share it all.”
She bit her lip and looked away, considering. Finally, she nodded. “Very well.”
“And we share all the work. I’m not going to crawl about attics and sort through dusty papers alone only to have you sweep in at the last minute and take half the glory. You’ll work as hard as I.”
She raised one thin swallow’s brow at him. “You have a rather low opinion of women, don’t you?”
“No lower than yours of men, Miss Hale. Do you agree?”
She licked her lips, and Stephen had to shutter the bolt of arousal the action produced in him. She was an accomplished flirt; he would give her that and more. He wondered just how many men she had conquered. And he wondered if it was only for the treasure that she had chosen him to join their ranks.
“So you’re saying you want me to spend hours upon hours with you in small cramped spaces getting all dirty.” She rose and took a step toward him. Her tone made the whole plan sound lurid and licentious, and as Stephen’s thoughts were headed in that direction anyway, he decided he had better go.
He had what he wanted.
“I’m asking for your complete cooperation,” he said.
She cocked her head. “Oh, you’ll have it, my lord.”
Stephen nodded and moved toward her window. “One other thing, Miss Hale. This partnership is to be entirely business. Entirely impersonal. We will not become lovers. We’re business partners.”
Josephine Hale shook her head. “I cannot agree to those terms, my lord. I will share all my information and give you every spare moment of my time. I will do all that you ask and probably push you to do more, but I will not agree to keep our relationship impersonal. I rather fear we’ve gone beyond that point already.”
She was not making this easy. Here he was, trying to protect her virtue, and she wanted none of it. Little fool. If she only knew . . .
“Take it or leave it, Lord Westman,” she said when he didn’t answer. “You’ll have the bulk of what you want, but I won’t agree not to become your lover. Surely an experienced rake like you can resist one naive, inexperienced miss like me.”
He snorted. “Undoubtedly.”
“Then we have a deal. I’ll meet you tomorrow night.”
It was only after Stephen had climbed down the house and was back in his bedroom, thoughts of Josephine Hale creeping unbidden into his mind, that Stephen realized he had no idea where or when they were to meet.
He had a bad feeling that, as long as he had the map she wanted, the naive, inexperienced miss would not let him out of her sight.
JOSIE LAY IN BED THE next morning, pondering the long day and what to do with it. She could not possibly sneak over to Westman’s until her parents believed she was abed.
Unfortunately, she tended to keep late hours, so that meant she could conceivably retire no earlier than eleven, and even that might raise eyebrows. Perhaps if she feigned a headache?
It was quite likely that by the time she was done with Westman, she would have a headache in truth. The man was decidedly vexing. The more she knew of him, the less she liked him, and the more she wanted him.
