“Oh? What trouble ails the Earl of Warrick?”
“A family curse.”
Her face went from amused to blank. “A... family curse?
Or perhaps everything was just wishful optimism on his part. “When you say it like that I sound like a madman.”
“I’m not sure how I can help you with such a unique quandary.”
Warrick furrowed his brows. Was she holding back a laugh? If so, she was doing it poorly. “Laugh if you must.”
She pursed her lips, shaking her head.
He sighed. Wishful optimism or not, he couldn’t retract it now. “This is my condition: find all the books you can rummage on family curses and summarize them for me. It should be simple enough.” And keep her out of trouble for a while.
Her lips drooped downward. “You want me toread upon family curses?”
“Gather information.”
“Are they different from each other? Do not tell me you believe in such superstitious things.”
“I don’t.”
“Then why go through all this trouble to collect information on family curses?”
“One can never be too careful.” He also treasured his head of hair. And in the case his family curse was real—which it absolutely was not—a man’s only defense could be found in knowledge. If such knowledge even existed. But what better way to keep a mischievous princess out of mischief?
“You seem reluctant,” Warrick said, studying her expression. “Surely this is not asking too much?”
“Just a touch, but I shall gather information for you.” Her gaze assessed him from top to bottom. “What exactly is your family curse about?”
“That’s a private matter.” She would just advise him to marry if she knew, like everyone else. And he refused to bow down to something as ludicrous as a curse.
Her brow tracked up, disturbingly intrigued. “Do you have a witch in your family ancestry?”
“Do not be absurd.”
“Then who would curse your family? Someone had to wave a wand of sage or something for there to be a curse, didn’t they?”
“I don’t care who waved what herb or chanted what chorus. Calamity has befallen me. I want it to end.”
“Calamity, you say.” More intrigue. “Do tell.”
“No.”
Her lips formed a pout. “So sour. Should I not know all about this curse if I am to do the research?”
“Aren’t I also helping you find a club I know nothing about? And do not forget to provide me a few hours of repose.” He looked forward to this most. And it seemed only fair in exchange for what he had to do.
“Speaking of which, whatdoyou consider a peaceful moment?”
Good question. “I suppose anything that is pleasing and helps me relax.”
“Elementary.” She held out the palm of her hand. “Do we have an agreement?”
He clasped her hand in his. Why did he suddenly feel like an animal that had willingly walked straight into a cage meant to trap him? “We have an agreement.”
“Splendid.”
