Suspicion darkened Gavin’s gaze. He hadn’t trusted her from the start. Indeed, he’d seen through her charade from the moment she’d first looked into his eyes. Peculiar that he appeared shocked by the revelation. Surely, he did not prefer to believe she was merely a charlatan out to line her own pockets through others’ grief.
Of course, she’d deceived him into believing just that. Even his offer of protection was intended to shelter a woman who’d employed parlor tricks and blatant lies to put a roof over her head, a woman who lacked the means to escape the threat on her own. How it must set him back on his heels to realize she’d fooled him with her act.
And now, she needed to continue her performance. She could not reveal the true purpose of her investigation—she could not confide her service to the Crown.
If only the falsehoods and half-truths did not taste so bitter on her tongue. She longed to know Gavin, to learn his secrets and what drove his quests. Without honesty, she could never truly know the man behind the confident explorations.
She could never truly knowhim.
Deep within, her heart ached with a cruel reality. She’d tasted his passion. She’d drunk in his scent and luxuriated in the pleasure of his touch. But she’d never have more than that. Her duty would not allow it.
She’d never have him. It simply wasn’t meant to be.
He pinned her with his gaze. “You are a reporter— All of this…has been an act?”
Was that pain in his voice? Did he think she’d reveled in his touch as a mere ploy, inducing him to confide in her for the benefit of a blasted story?
“I write for theHerald.” She held her voice steady and proud. “Does that truly surprise you?”
He didn’t answer her question. “You’re a better actress than I’d credited you.”
“I wished to investigate a psychic’s dealings. Séances and the like make for good copy.”
“And your time spent as Trask’s assistant…that was all a ruse?”
“How better to learn the man’s ways?”
His eyes narrowed, piercing her with cold disgust. “You made fools of those people. Does that trouble you?”
“Yes,” she said. “But there was nothing to be done about it. I told them what they wanted to hear.”
“And a bastard like Adam McNaughton…did you consider you were playing a dangerous game with a man like him? He’s a criminal, a ruffian of the worst sort.”
She lifted her shoulders in a little shrug. “He came to Trask seeking what they all do, solace for a wounded soul.”
“If your charade induced him to loosen his tongue, he might well have second thoughts about letting you go about carrying tales.”
Sophie hiked her chin another notch. “A certain element of danger factors into most of my investigations. There’s nothing to be done about it.”
She nervously smoothed her skirts, even as the younger man’s gaze bore into her, piercing as a lance.
Gavin rubbed the back of his neck. “When were you going to tell me about this?”
The question cut through her, unleashing a sudden, unexpected pain. Had she even considered he would learn the truth of her identity? Now, a portion of her secret life had been revealed. It was imperative that he not discover the whole of the matter. If she were exposed as an agent of the Crown, the entire mission would be irreparably compromised.
“I had not planned to tell you.” She shot Henry a pointed glance. “Truth be told, the revelation is rather unfortunate. I’d looked forward to alerting my readers to the perils of Trask’s lucrative enterprise.”
Gavin glanced away for the briefest of moments. Clearly, she’d wounded him. Again.
Blast it, she hadn’t intended to hurt him. He’d gone to such lengths to prove himself a hedonistic cad, interested only in the delight two willing souls might find in each other’s arms. She’d wanted a taste of that pleasure, a delicious memory. It wasn’t as if they’d spoken words of love. There’d been no hint of anything of the sort. No vows. No promises. Nothing beyond the sweetness of those heady, stolen moments when all that had mattered was the flavor of his kiss.
“I must commend you on the caliber of your performance.” A subtle bitterness marked his tone. “You certainly had me going.”
She swallowed hard against the implication in his words. Surely he could not believe what had happened between them was part of her act.
“I did not wish to hurt anyone.” Why did her throat burn with unshed emotion? The truth seemed nearly as difficult to speak as the lies.
It was his turn to shrug. “Only a fool would be wounded by your performance. As you said, you told them what they wanted to hear. All for the greater good, I suppose.”
