What a breathlessly dangerous question. “And if there is, you shall give it to me, no matter what?”
“If it’s within my power, yes.”
Power... mmm. She felt the slight shift of it... straight onto her lap. “Really? Since there are only a few minutes left of my birthday, what do you imagine you can give me?”
“Indeed.” A small line appeared between his brows. “I only have coins on me.”
“Coins? I have enough of those myself.”
His gaze bore into hers. “Then, if you don’t mind if it’s a day or so late, I shall give you something else.”
“Why give me anything at all?” she shot back.
He paused. “It seems like the right thing to do.”
The right thing to do... The idea startled her. Why give her anything at all and why ask for anything? But Louisa could not deny she’d become exceedingly curious about the man. What would he think she should have for her birthday?
“I wouldn’t say that we’ve been doing much of the right thing lately.” She smiled, averting her gaze. “Not in the eyes of the very society we hail from, at any rate.”
“There is more to life than where we hail from.”
She glanced back at him. “Is that why you are acting as though you’re employed by Bow Street?”
A faint smile. “Something like that.”
From all the rumors she’d heard, and from all the glimpses she’d caught of the man over time, she still couldn’t help but be captivated by even the slightest of smiles. She felt... if she could...Louisa...just reach out to touch...
“What are you doing?” a low voice breathed.
She blinked, snatching her hand back, only then becoming aware she’d actually traced her thumb across her lower lip, where his had pressed earlier.
The tip of her thumb tingled. She rubbed it against her skirts, her gaze drawing to her dress. Black. Like night. Like sin.
No.
Abitof sin.
“There is something I want,” Louisa suddenly said, inhaling deeply. “Something within yourpower togive me before my birthday ends.”
A brow arched, and one crinkle appeared between the two. “What is it?”
Should she say it?
Could she say it?
It’s your birthday, Louisa.
She could enjoy it, even if just for one moment.
A hundred objections entered her mind. She’d never cared for powerful men, and then there was the family feud, though she didn’t waste much thought on that. But for all the objections, and the fact that it may seem rather shallow, they had accomplished a mission, and she had a handsome man before her, and she was tempted...
She pushed back from her seat and half-rose, leaning toward him, placing her hands on each side of his face, locking him in.
“Louisa.”
“You saying my name like that isn’t helping. Indeed, it seems rather thrilling, even forbidden—my name on your lips.”
“What are you doing?” he asked hoarsely.
