“Do you think it would be a good idea to interview them?”
“It certainly cannot hurt. But the Banks household staff is large. It will take hours to talk to all of them. I believe that I shall set Anthony to the task. It will be fine training for him.”
“Emeline can accompany him. As I told you, she has a certain talent for charming answers out of people.”
“As does Anthony. I believe they will make an excellent team. If nothing else, the business is bound to be exceedingly boring. Perhaps it will discourage both of them from pressing on with careers in this line.”
Lavinia sighed. “Do not pin your hopes on that strategy, sir.”
He turned around slowly and gave her a wry smile. “You are right. One long morning of dull interviews is not likely to put either of them off, is it?”
“No. Meanwhile, what shall I tell Howard? To be honest, I am worried about his state of mind, Tobias. He is quite distraught.”
“Why don’t you advise him to seek treatment for his weak nerves?”
“That is not at all amusing, sir.”
“Wasn’t meant to be.”
She eyed him closely. “You really do not care overmuch for Howard, do you?”
“I think the man very likely murdered his wife in a fit of jealous rage,” Tobias said shortly. “No, I cannot say that I am fond of him.”
“I would remind you that you are quite free to quit this case.”
“That is impossible and well you know it.” He came to stand over her, gripped the arms of her chair, and leaned down to put his face very close to hers. “I cannot walk away from it as long as you insist upon being involved in the affair.”
The cold, grim determination in his eyes sent an unaccountable shiver through her. “Why are you so suspicious of Howard? You have no evidence to indicate that he murdered Celeste.”
“I may lack the evidence to support my belief, but I am very sure that your old family friend has ulterior motives in this affair. I am certain that he has no interest in avenging his dead wife. He is using you to help him find that damned bracelet.”
“Rubbish. You took a strong dislike to Howard even before Celeste was murdered. Admit it.”
“Very well, I admit it. I did not like the man one damned bit before his wife turned up dead, and I trust him even less now.”
“I knew it. I could see it in your eyes that first day when I walked into the parlor and found you with him. But for the life of me, I cannot comprehend such instant dislike on your part. What on earth set you so strongly against him right from the start?”
For an instant she thought he would not answer. She was aware of his powerful hands tightening around the arms of her chair. The fierce planes and angles of his face looked as if they had been hewn from stone. There was an implacable, immovable, unalterable quality about him that, in another man, would have sent a shock of dread through her.
But this was Tobias. She knew that he could be dangerous, but never toward her. The only threat he represented to her was the one aimed at her heart.
“Hudson wants you,” Tobias said.
She stared at him in disbelief. “I beg your pardon?”
“He wants you.”
“Are you mad? Good heavens, sir, the man is an old family friend. I grew up thinking of him as a… a sort of uncle. I’m sure he thinks of me as a niece.”
“None of that changes the fact that he wants you.”
“But he never… I never… I mean, there was nothing-” She broke off, sputtering, and made a bid to collect herself. “I assure you, Howard never gave any indication that he was interested in me in that way. He never said a word to me. As a matter of fact he attended my wedding and wished me happiness. I have no reason to doubt that he meant it.”
“Perhaps he did at the time. Perhaps something changed when he saw you again.”
“Tobias-”
“Between men, some things do not need explanation or interpretation. Hudson wants you.”
“Really, sir.”
“Yes, really.” Tobias undamped his hands from around the chair arms and straightened. He went back to the window and returned his attention to the garden. “He desires you intensely.”
Now that he was no longer bending over her, she was finally able to catch her breath. But his absolute assurance on the point he was attempting to drive home had rattled her.
“You say that between men some things do not require explanation or interpretation,” she said very steadily. “The same is true between men and women.”
“What the devil do you mean by that?”
She drummed her fingers on the arm of the chair and tried to find the right words. “A woman usually knows when a man is attracted to her. She may not know his heart, let alone whether or not he is in love with her, but she knows when he feels a physical passion for her. Such things are not easy to hide.”
“Your point, madam?”
“If Howard wants me, it is not because he has conceived an overwhelming romantical passion for my person,” she said dryly. “I would know if that were the case.”
Tobias turned back to face her, his mouth quirked in cold amusement. “You are sure of that?”
“Absolutely certain.”
“I do not share your certainty. But say for the sake of argument that you are correct. That leaves us with a very interesting question.”
“What question is that?”
“If he does not desire to have you in his bed, why does he want you?”
“Tobias, you are the most incredibly stubborn man I have ever met.”
He ignored that. “Because I assure you, madam, Hudson most definitely wants you.”
Chapter Fifteen
Tobias walked into the cheerful little breakfast room with what had lately become a familiar sense of satisfaction and anticipation. Outside, a light, misty rain was falling, but in here all was warm and cozy. The enticing aromas of hot coffee, eggs, and freshly baked muffins swirled in the air.
Emeline gave him her warm, gracious smile. “Good morning, sir. How nice to see you.”
“Miss Emeline.”
Her smile dimmed only slightly when she looked past him into the empty hall. “Oh, I see Mr. Sinclair did not accompany you.”
“He will be along in an hour to fetch you so that the two of you may start your inquiries at the Banks mansion.” He turned to Lavinia. “Good morning, madam.”
Lavinia looked up from the morning paper, a decidedly frosty expression in her vivid eyes. She was dressed in a rich, dark purple-red gown that framed her elegant neck in a dainty little ruff. Her red hair was bound up in a stylish knot at the back of her nicely shaped head and set off with a lacy cap. He thought about making love to her in the Stillwaters’ conservatory and how it had felt when she had come undone in his arms. The memories heated his blood. He wondered if he would ever grow accustomed to the effect she had on him.
He smiled. “I vow, your eyes resemble emerald seas in the morning sun.”
“It is raining, in case you had not noticed, sir.”
Emeline gave Lavinia a troubled frown. “Aunt Lavinia, there’s no need to be rude. Mr. March paid you a very pretty compliment.”
“No, he did not.” Lavinia turned the page in her paper. “The remark about my eyes was just another part of a diabolical experiment he is attempting to perform on me.”
Emeline was clearly baffled. “An experiment}”
“Mr. March thinks to employ charm in an effort to influence me so that I will take his instructions and orders in regard to my business affairs.”
Emeline switched her bemused eyes to Tobias, silently seeking clarification.
He pulled out a chair and winked at her. “As you can see from her gracious, welcoming manner, my cunning plan is working. She is soft clay in my hands.” He reached for the coffeepot.