.

could just as easily have said I was your sister.”

      “Ha, with all that red hair and mine black as night. Who would believe it? I was only thinking of your reputation. There is no need to be cross.”

      She forced a proper scowl and punched her fists into her hips. “I have no reputation, Mr. Lambert. I barely exist in the world outside The Company. Do not bother yourself about protecting me in any way. I am fully capable of doing all things for myself.”

      His smile was slow and devastating. Lillian kept her expression neutral in spite of the bubble of interest in her lower regions. She had work to do. Nothing, not even Dorian Lambert, was a distraction from her goals.

      “Cullum told me you might not like my company. I understand you and Reece Foxjohn were quite a close team. I assure you, my intentions are honorable.”

      “You think Reece and I are lovers? Is that what Cullum thinks as well? We were not the only partners of opposite sex. Is it your opinion, men and women cannot work together without a sexual relationship developing?”

      “I don’t know what Drake Cullum believes or knows. He keeps his own council unless the knowledge is of use to the cause. I am certain men and women are capable of working platonically together. But you must admit you and Foxjohn have a unique rapport.” Dorian sat on the only chair in the room. His long legs spread out in front of him, exaggerating the flex of muscles under his breeches. He looked far too relaxed.

      Her heart pounded loudly. She tried to stay on the subject, though she couldn’t help gazing upward and taking in the full length of him. It was perhaps two years earlier when she had first met the older brother of her instructor from her days as a student. Brice Lambert was dangerous and brilliant with all forms of combat. It had surprised her that Dorian was more intellectual, and even more shocking was that for a man who pushed a quill around and did Cullum’s bidding, he had a fine form and bulged with muscles.

      Now that she thought of it, Drake Cullum looked to be in fighting form as well.

      “If anyone is concerned with my nocturnal activities, they should not speculate. I am not ashamed of anything I have done since joining The Company. Men pop from bed to bed and think nothing of it. I am equally in need of relief from time to time.” Why had she said that? It was far too much information and not quite accurate.

      His dark brows lifted. “Indeed? Then you and Foxjohn are lovers.”

      “I did not say that.”

      “Nor did you refute it.”

      “I need not deny or confirm anything for the files of Drake Cullum or his assistant.”

      “I do not like the way you said ‘assistant.’ You make it sound as if I’m fetching the tea and running errands. I can tell you that who you do or do not engage in sexual congress with is not included in your records with The Company, at least not as far as I’m aware.”

      “Mr. Lambert, I do not care if you like it or not.” She turned and took a good look at the small room, with its one bed tucked up against the wall near the window. “Perhaps we could have a lover’s quarrel at supper and you could ask for another room.”

      He shook his head. Most of his longish hair had come loose from its queue during the day. His dark locks shook. “This is the only available room for the night. I think it might be best if you called me Dorian. I should be honored to call you Lillian, or do you prefer Lilly? I noticed several of your friends use that endearment.”

      Why did her name sound so dammed good from his lips? “Lillian will be fine.”

      “Drake Cullum always calls you Miss Dellacourt. I find it fascinating, since he generally refers to hunters by their Christian names.”

      “It is possible he does not care for me very much”

      “I don’t think that is it. From my conversation with Drake, he esteems you very highly, thinks you are an excellent soldier and quite intelligent.” His grin returned.

      She fidgeted as though she was a girl. It took an effort to still her feet and fingers. “That is very flattering.”

      “You say that with more than a little doubt.”

      “With only a few exceptions, as a rule, I do not trust people of noble birth.”

      Dorian stood and looked out the window. “Drake Cullum holds no title that I am aware of.”

      She matched his amused look, pushing down the urge to kiss that wide mouth of his. “I was speaking of you. You call yourself Mr. Lambert, but you have nobility written all over you. Even your brother, Brice, has moments where his breeding is most evident.”

      “You are very astute, Lillian. My father was the Marquis de Montalembert. He lost his title and lands when we were chased out of France many years ago. England was kind enough to give us sanctuary.”

      “You have no accent. You must have been very young.”

      “I was seventeen. I remember clearly the terror of running from my own country. However, England is home to us now.”

      “And does your father still live?” It was a rude question, but he had maneuvered her into sharing a room. He’d have to deal with her ill-bred ways.

      He faced her, his arms crossed over his broad chest. “Unfortunately, my father passed several years ago.”

      She bowed deeply as if she were the man in the room. “My Lord Marquis.”

      He narrowed his eyes on her. Was he close to losing his calm façade? The idea pleased her more than it should have. What kind of temper did he have? Would he try to strike her? No, she didn’t think so, nor did she think he was the type who yelled and raged. A shiver sparked down her back as she recognized danger. She stood up straight and couldn’t hide her amusement.

      He continued to eye her. “I do not accept that title, but I thank you for the bow and the lovely view of your assets.”

      She glanced down at the low cut line of her dress and wondered how much it had gaped and what he had actually seen. Another woman might have blushed. Lillian shrugged. “You cannot embarrass me, my lord, though you may give it your best attempt. The exercise might prove amusing.”

      Dorian strode across the small room, eating up the space between them in two long steps. Men had been trying to intimidate her all her life. Long ago, she had learned to defend herself. Curiosity kept her rooted to the spot on the floor. What might he do when he reached her? Her confidence in her ability never wavered.

      He was a head taller than her, impressive given her stature. It was rare for her to look up at anyone, but she met his stare. Stopping an inch away, he never touched her. Only his warm breath caressed her cheek. “At first you believed I would detain you, and now you think me ungentlemanly. I must work to improve your opinion of me, Lilly.”

      Her chest tightened at the sound of her familiar name coming from his lips. She shook off the fanciful emotion. “Perhaps we should go down and have supper.”

      He smiled, presumably at the sudden change of subject, before he took a step back. “I will go and make some inquiries and secure a table for our meal. Do you need anything?”

      To cover up her desire to kiss that grin off his face, she surveyed the room. Her trunk sat in the middle of the room, and a basin with clean water rested on the bureau. “No. Thank you. I will join you shortly.”

      With a short bow, he turned and left the room.

      Lillian flopped down on the bed. She flung her arm over her eyes with a dramatic flair. Why did Dorian Lambert have to be so attractive, and why couldn’t she ignore his good looks? She’d worked with Reece for years. Other than a brief error in both of their judgment years earlier, she was never distracted by his handsome face.

      An affair with a man who answered directly to the head of The Company would be a disastrous mistake. Even the notion was crazy. Wasn’t