There was enough sensual weight in the words to temporarily freeze her wits-capture them and hold them in fascinated speculation-just long enough for him to grab a scarf from the pile of mending left in the basket by the daybed, thread it through the holes in the swirls of the ornate back and cinch it tight about her waist.
'What…?' Patience looked down as his hand disappeared and the scarf drew tight. Then she glared. 'This is ridiculous.' She tugged at the scarf and tried to shift forward, but he'd already secured the knot. The silk gave just so far, then held. Vane strolled around to face her; Patience shot him a dagger glance-she didn't want to know about the smile on his lips. Compressing her own, she lifted her arms and reached over the back of the bed. The ornately worked railing reached halfway up her back-while she could lift her arms over it, she couldn't reach very far down. She couldn't touch his knot, let alone untie it.
Eyes narrowed, Patience looked up; Vane was watching her, a cool smile of ineffable male superiority etched on his too-fascinating lips. She narrowed her eyes to slits. 'You will never live this down.'
The curve of his lips deepened. 'You're not uncomfortable. Just sit still for the next hour.' His gaze sharpened. 'It'll do your knee good.'
Patience gritted her teeth. 'I'm not some infant who needs to be restrained!'
'On the contrary it's clear you need someone to exercise some control over you. You heard Mrs. Henderson-four full days. Your four days is up tomorrow.'
Astounded, Patience stared at him. 'And just who appointed you my keeper?'
She caught his gaze, held the contact defiantly-and waited. His eyes narrowed. 'I feel guilty. I should have sent you back to the house as soon as I found you in the ruins.'
All expression drained from Patience's face. 'You wish you'd sent me back to the house?'
Vane frowned. 'I feel guilty because you were following me when you got hurt.'
Patience humphed and crossed her arms beneath her breasts. 'You told me it was
Vane looked down at her; Patience felt sure she'd won her point. Then he raised an arrogant brow. '
Patience refused to surrender. 'My ankle's fine.' She put her nose in the air. 'And my knee's just a bit stiff. If I could test it-'
'You can test it tomorrow. Who knows?' Vane's expression hardened. 'You might need an extra day or two's rest after today's excitement.'
Patience narrowed her eyes. 'Don't,' she advised, 'even suggest it.'
Vane raised both brows, then, turning away, prowled to the window. Patience watched him, and tried to locate the anger she felt sure she should feel. It simply wasn't to be found. Stifling a disaffected humph, she settled more comfortably. 'So what did you discover in Northampton?'
He glanced back, then fell to prowling back and forth between the windows. 'Gerrard and I made the acquaintance of a very helpful individual-the Northampton Guild-master, so to speak.'
Patience frowned. 'Of which guild?'
'The guild of moneylenders, thieves, and rogues-assuming there is one. He was intrigued with our investigations and amused enough to be helpful. His contacts are extensive. After two hours of consuming the best French brandy-at my expense, of course-he assured us no one had recently attempted to sell any items of the sort we're seeking.'
'Do you think he's reliable?'
Vane nodded. 'There was no reason for him to lie. The items, as he so succinctly put it, are of insufficient quality to attract his personal interest. He's also well-known as'the man to contact.''
Patience grimaced. 'You'll check Kettering?'
Still pacing, Vane nodded.
Watching him, Patience conjured her most innocent expression. 'And what did Mrs. Chadwick and Angela do while you and Gerrard met with this Guildmaster?'
Vane stopped pacing. He looked at Patience-studied her. His expression was unreadable. Eventually, he said, 'I haven't the faintest idea.'
His voice had altered, a subtle undercurrent of awakened interest sliding beneath the suave tones. Patience opened her eyes wide. 'You mean Angela didn't tell you every last detail on the drive back?'
With long, languid strides, Vane came toward her. 'She traveled-both ways-in the carriage.'
Vane reached the edge of the daybed. His eyes gleamed with a predator's satisfaction. He leaned nearer-
'Patience? Are you awake?'
A peremptory knock was followed immediately by the sound of the latch lifting.
Patience swung around-as far as she could. Vane straightened; as the door opened, he reached the back of the daybed. Before he could tug the knotted scarf loose, Angela breezed in.
'Oh!' Angela stopped, eyes widening with delight. 'Mr. Cynster!
Eyeing the bandbox dangling from Angela's fingers with distinct disapprobation, Vane nodded a noncommittal greeting. As Angela eagerly made for the chair^ facing the day-bed, he stooped slightly, fingers reaching for the knot in the scarf, screened from view by his legs-only to have to straighten quickly as the door swung wider and Mrs. Chadwick entered.
Angela, settling in a chair, looked up. 'See here, Mama-Mr. Cynster can tell us if the ribbons that I bought aren't just the right shade.'
With a calm nod for Vane and a smile for Patience, Mrs. Chadwick headed for the second chair. 'Now, Angela, I'm sure Mr. Cynster has other engagements…'
'No, how can he have? There's no one else here. Besides,'-Angela threw Vane a sweet, truly ingenuous smile-'that's how
The sigh of relief Patience had heard behind her was abruptly cut off. For one fractured instant, she was sorely tempted to twist about, look up-and inquire if Angela's foppish notion of his character found greater favor with him than her earlier, overly rakish one. Then again, both notions were partly right. Vane, she felt sure, when he commented on ladies' fashions, would do so while divesting the subject of his interest of them.
Mrs. Chadwick heaved a motherly sigh. 'Actually, my dear, that's not quite right.' She sent Vane an apologetic glance. 'Not all gentlemen…' For Angela's edification, Mrs. Chadwick embarked on a careful explanation of the distinctions prevailing amongst
Leaning forward, ostensibly to straighten the wrap over Patience's legs, Vane murmured, 'That's my cue to retreat.'
Patience's gaze remained glued to Mrs. Chadwick. 'I'm still tied,' she murmured back. 'You can't leave me like this.'
Fleetingly, her eyes met Vane's. He hesitated, then his face hardened. 'I'll release you on condition that you wait here until I return to carry you to your room.'
Reaching farther over her, he flicked out the edge of the wrap. Patience glared at his profile. 'This is all your fault,' she informed him in a whisper. 'If I'd made it to the back parlor, I'd have been safe.
Straightening, Vane met her gaze. 'Safe from what? There's a day bed there, too.'
Her gaze trapped in his, Patience tried hard not to let the likely outcomes take shape in her mind. Determinedly, she blotted out all thought of what might have transpired had Angela not arrived as she had. If she thought too much of that, she'd very likely throttle Angela, too. The ranks of her potential victims were growing by the hour.
'Anyway…'-Vane's gaze flicked to Angela and Mrs. Chadwick. He stooped slightly; Patience felt the tug as he worked the knotted scarf free-'you said you were bored.' The knot gave, and he straightened. Patience looked up and back-and met his eyes. His lips curved, too knowingly. One brown brow arched, subtlely wicked. 'Isn't this what usually distracts ladies?'
He knew very well what ladies found most distracting-the look in his eyes, the sensual curve of his lips said as much, screamed as much. Patience narrowed her eyes at him, then, folding her arms, looked back at Mrs.
