Alexandra stood, walking around the deskwith slow deliberation. “Yes. I am Alexandra Reynolds.”
The odd eyes flicked over her, settled onher waistline, than ran back to her face. “Bloody idiot.”
Alexandra’s hands moved over herabdomen. She swallowed. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, I don’t mean you,” he rumbled.“You’re not the idiot. You’re the Badger.”
She swallowed, somewhat unsettled that heknew Sutton’s name for her.
“He doesn’t know does he?”
Alexandra gripped the front of thedesk. Her waist was still small. Her breasts were a bit fuller butnot overly so. How did he this man know –“
He waved away her look of shock. “Iam Nicholas Tremaine, Viscount Lindley.” His voice, deep and raspy,sounded as if he’d been drinking whiskey all afternoon. “You know who I am?”
“Besides being the Devil of Dunbar, youare my husband’s friend.”
“Oh yes, I’m damned and all that.”He waved the nickname away, chuckling as he did so. “It’s the eyes.” Hewatched her for any sign of discomfort.
Alexandra stood her ground. Hersenses told her this man would immediately dismiss her, should she show theslightest fear of him. “Did you come for tea or to frighten me? My husband isalso possessed of a ridiculous nickname, my lord.”
A great, dark chuckle bubbled out ofViscount Lindley’s mouth. He smiled at her, a wry grin that glinted ofpredatory male. Viscount Lindley possessed a dangerous allure that manywomen no doubt found appealing.
He held up a leather packet tied tightlywith twine.
Alexandra’s heart lurched. Thepacket bore the Cambourne coat of arms.
“Cam was right to choose you.” His eyesran over her hair. “He did say you had the most amazing hair. Pity it’s notdown. Would have liked to see it.” He shrugged. “Ah, well.”
Affronted by his casual assessment ofher, she replied crisply. “If you are quite finished with your…evaluation ofme, I would like to open the packet. I assume it’s from Sutton.”
“Tart little thing, aren’t you?”The full lips gave her a slow smile.
Alexandra stepped back from the look inhis eyes. Viscount Lindley could be described asbewitching.
He laughed again under his breath as hewatched her move away from him. “Oh, don’t fret. You’re quite safefrom me. I’m really quite harmless. I haven’t cast a spell in ages.”
Alexandra sucked in her breath. Howdid he know what she was thinking?
He nodded at the packet. “Open it.Don’t expect a personal letter, it’s simply full of legal documents.Things signed by solicitors. Cam’s on one of my ships bound forMacao. He’s likely just now settling down around the tip of Africa.”
Alexandra raised an eyebrow. “Youopened my packet?”
Viscount Tremaine ignored heroutrage. “If he wants to get a message to you he will. My shipsstop all over the world, exchanging cargo and information. I’m leaving onone myself tonight. Bermuda.” His large hand scratched at thewhiskers covering his chin.
Viscount Lindley’s valet had beenremiss. He needed a shave. A silver signet ring glinted on hishand, although the design did not look like any seal Alexandra had ever seen anobleman wear. Scars covered his knuckles.
Alexandra cleared her throat. Hadthe circumstances been different, and Sutton at her side, she would ply thisman with questions. Miranda had given her the history of the Tremaine familyone night over dinner.
He raised a brow.
Perhaps it was true – the thingsthey said about his family, for the man seemed able to guess her secrets.
“I must leave for Bermuda tonight, eventhough it now appears that I should not.” He pointedly looked at herstomach. “The storm season is approaching. If I do not leave now, I maynot have another chance for at least half a year. Things in Bermudarequire my immediate attention.” Viscount Lindley looked torn. “Camhas taken measures for your protection, as have I.”
“If Lord Reynolds truly cared for thesafety of his family, he should not have gone off to Macao to converse withmonkeys and traipse all over the Asian peninsula.”
“I have to agree with you.” Hemoved forward and took her hand, startling Alexandra. His hand, large andwarm, dwarfed her smaller, chilled one.
