“What do you want from me, Somerton?”
A small half smile lifted his lips upward. “What’s mine.”
Victoria swallowed the lump in her throat. He could not possibly know about the necklace. Oh God, what if he did? She was never one to let panic overtake her but suddenly her world spun around her. He must never discover where she’d put the necklace.
“I have no idea what you mean,” she said evenly.
He stepped close enough that she could inhale the scent of his sandalwood soap. “It was gold with rubies.”
She pushed away all her anxieties. She could lie her way out of this situation. “And why would I have such a thing? I am a poor woman who cares for orphans, nothing more.”
Why couldn’t she take her gaze off his lips?
“Indeed? So if I were to rummage through your home, I would find nothing that matched the item that I am looking for?”
She stared at him. “Go ahead and check my home, I do not have your necklace.”
Suddenly, he pushed her back against the bed and confined her with his body. She thrust at his shoulders until he seized her wrists and pinned them over her head with his hand. She felt his other hand reach down to her reticule and grab the contents.
She twisted under him trying to break free only to feel his erection pressing into her thigh. “Let me up!”
He chuckled softly near her ear. “Are you certain? There are just so many possible things we could do.”
“I do not have your necklace.”
“I never said it was a necklace.”
Chapter Five
Anthony watched the play of emotions on her face and tried not to laugh. She was, without a doubt, attempting to formulate a believable lie. He’d promised his mother that Genna would receive the necklace on Christmas morning so she could wear it on her wedding day planned for New Year’s Eve. That only gave him a few weeks to find it or have her return it to him.
“All right,” she said with a shrug. “You caught me. Now what?”
He blinked and shook his head slightly. Had she really just admitted her guilt that easily? He rolled off her to sit on the bed. “I beg your pardon?”
“Perhaps I did take a necklace from you. Do you plan on telling the constable?”
How had this slip of a woman turned the tables on him? He’d expected pleading, crying, perhaps even a suggestive bribe to keep him quiet. Not the goddamned truth.
“Should I?” he finally replied.
“Not if you want your necklace returned,” she said with a hint of a smile.
“You are holding my necklace for ransom?”
She slowly stood and walked a step away from him. “It’s a rather brilliant plan, don’t you think? After all, you have no idea where the necklace is. For all you know, I might have pawned it.”
Somehow, the chit had read him that quickly. She knew the necklace was important to him. Damn her. There was only one thing to do—bluff.
“The necklace is not that important. Still, you did commit a crime, so I think I shall take your advice and call a constable.”
She eyed him carefully with one blond eyebrow arched. “Then do it. And you will never find out where the necklace is because I would never be so foolish as to keep it in my home. Only I know who is storing it for me.”
He rose and took a step closer. “And what about your friends? What will they say when they discover you are a pickpocket? And that they don’t even know your real name, Anne Smith.”
She visibly swallowed and then retreated a step. “If they are truly my friends, they will understand.”
Anthony shook his head. “They are ladies of quality. Their husbands would never allow them to come near you or associate with you ever again.”
“Then it appears we are at an impasse.”
“I really don’t see it that way,” he commented.
“What do you really want, Lord Somerton? There is more here than just a necklace.” She crossed her slim arms over her chest.
Anthony sighed. If he ever wanted a mistress, she would be exactly his type. Shrewd, beautiful, and with the ability to keep him guessing. She was the perfect woman to take on this assignment with him. Except, the only way he could have her accompany him was as his mistress.
And that was a dangerous proposition.
Still, short of absconding with one of his mother’s ladies, he knew of no one who wouldn’t be looking for something more out of the situation. He only needed a woman to pretend to be his mistress. This little charlatan might be just the thing. She obviously needed money or she wouldn’t have pinched the pendant from him. Paying her would also absolve some of his guilt for what he’d done to her.
“Very well, take a seat.” He pointed to a chair near the window. For once, she did as he asked without a fight.
Once she sat, he started, “I have a proposition for you, Miss Seaton.”
“Oh, I’m sure you do,” she said softly.
“Not in that manner. Well, in a way it is in the manner you believe.”
She stood up as if thinking about walking out of the room.
“Sit down, Miss Seaton,” he ordered gruffly.
“What do you want from me?”
“I need some assistance with a slight problem I have. And I believe you are the solution to my issue.”
She tilted her head and a blond tendril fell across her face. She blew the hair out of her eyes. “What is your problem?”
“I need a mistress,” he admitted quietly.
She smirked. “Oh? And you think I will just fall into bed with you because you are a viscount and you made me an offer?”
A part of him wanted to throttle her while another part wanted to reach over and kiss her smart mouth. He did his best to ignore both urges. “In order for me to attend a party in the country, I need a mistress.”
“Well, I have to admit, I have never heard this excuse before.”
“I would like you to assist me.”
“And what do I get out of this?” she asked, staring over at him.
He arched a brow at her.
“Do not even think I will be your mistress in truth. What do I get out of this?”
“If you perform this job with me and return my necklace, I will give you my word not to speak of your criminal activity. Nor will I tell your friends your true identity.” As she started to object, he added, “And I shall give you five thousand pounds.”
Victoria’s mouth dropped. His offer was more than generous, it bordered on madness. She would have done this job for one hundred pounds. After being raised on the streets of London, she knew there was more to this than he presented. Five thousand pounds was a bloody fortune!
“Why so much money?” she demanded. “What else do you expect of me?”
“Think of it as an apology for my previous actions toward you,” he muttered.
Guilt. She might be able to use that if needed. “Very well. I would still like to know what you expect of me.”
He sat on the end of the bed. “All right,