Only a fool would underestimate the danger of Mr. Lucien Valin. And Jocelyn was no fool.
"If you say," she reluctantly conceded.
"Is there anything else?"
"There are my rules, of course," she swiftly countered, not at all surprised when his lips curled in open amusement.
"Of course."
"This is not a lodging house. I live very quietly. I will not countenance loud gatherings or drunken carousing."
A tawny brow flicked upward. "I am allowed no callers?"
"Only if they are discreet."
For some reason her cool response only deepened his amusement. "Ah."
That unwelcome shiver once again inched down her spine, and Jocelyn discovered herself battling back the words to order this Mr. Valin from her house.
She did not have the luxury of turning away a perfectly suitable tenant just because of some vague fear.
"And the arrangement will be of a temporary nature," she instead retorted in an effort to reassure her faltering nerve. "No longer than two months."
"That suits me well enough."
It appeared everything suited the devil.
Jocelyn narrowed her gaze. "I also must insist that you respect my privacy. You are welcome to eat in the kitchen with Meg, but the remainder of the house is not to be entered."
There was a brief pause as he studied her carefully bland countenance. Then he gave a vague nod of his head.
"As you wish. Is that all?"
It was, of course.
She was charging him an outrageous sum of money for cramped rooms and meals he would be forced to eat in the servants' quarters.
She had also made impossible rules that would annoy the most even-tempered of gentlemen.
The mere fact that he had so readily agreed made her even more suspicious.
"Why are you here?" she demanded in abrupt tones.
His hands lowered as he regarded her with a bemused smile.
"I beg your pardon?"
Jocelyn deliberately allowed her gaze to drop to the deep burgundy coat cut by an obvious expert and white waistcoat stitched with silver thread. Her gaze continued over the hard, muscular thrust of his legs to linger upon the glossy Hessians that cost more than many families could earn in a year.
At last she raised her head to discover him regarding her in a curious fashion. "It is obvious that you are a gentleman of means, Mr. Valin. Why would you desire to take inferior rooms in a neighborhood most consider fit only for cutthroats and whores?"
"Does it truly matter what my reason?" he demanded softly.
"I will not harbor a criminal."
He gave a sudden chuckle. "I assure you that I am not hiding from the gallows."
"Then, why?"
"Let us just say that there was a slight misunderstanding with my cousin."
The explanation was a trifle too smooth for her liking.
"You had a slight misunderstanding with your cousin and now you desire to hide in St. Giles?
\bu shall have to do better than that, Mr. Valin."
The devilish glint in the golden eyes became even more pronounced. "Perhaps it was more than a slight misunderstanding. Gideon can unfortunately be tiresomely unreasonable when he chooses, and I believe there was some mention of a nasty duel. It seemed best to avoid him for the next several weeks. Just until his temper is recovered."
"What is the nature of this misunderstanding?"
His features unexpectedly firmed to uncompromising lines. "That is a private matter."
A woman, Jocelyn silently concluded, caught off guard by a traitorous prick of disappointment.
What else could she expect from such a gentleman? He was, after all, born to break the heart of susceptible women.
Then she was severely chastising herself for her unworthy thoughts.
She knew nothing of this gentleman. Certainly not enough to brand him as a womanizing letch. And in truth, even if he were, she was in no position to judge another.
"I respect your privacy, but you must understand that I have no desire to discover an angry gentleman upon my doorstep with his dueling pistol."
The incorrigible humor swiftly returned to the bronze features. "He has no means of discovering I am here. Besides, Gideon would never harm a lady. He far prefers to charm them."
His smile became decidedly suggestive. "As do I."
Jocelyn carefully laid her hands upon her tidy desk. This flirtatious banter was precisely what she had feared from Mr. Valin. It was important that she put a swift end to any hopes he might harbor of a casual seduction.
"That is all very well, but do not imagine for a moment, Mr. Valin, that I am remotely interested in any charms you might claim to possess."
Far from wounded by her firm words, the gentleman stroked a slender finger down the length of his jaw.
"Surely you exaggerate, Miss Kingly? Not even remotely interested?"
"No."
He heaved a teasing sigh. "A hard woman."
"A sensible woman who has no time for foolish games," she corrected him firmly. "You would do well to remember my warning."
"Oh, I possess a most excellent memory," he drawled, reaching beneath his jacket to remove a small leather bag that he placed upon the desk. "Indeed, I even remembered this."
She eyed the bag warily. "What is it?"
"The two months' rent in advance, just as you requested."
Jocelyn made no effort to reach for the money. She knew the moment her fingers touched the coins she would be irrevocably committed to allowing this gentleman into her home.
And yet, what else could she do?
There was nothing particularly noble in bare cupboards and empty coal bins. And besides, she had Meg to consider.
Her old nurse was the only one to stand beside her when the scandal had broken. She was the only friend she had left in the world.
How could she possibly allow the older woman to suffer even further hardship?
The answer, of course, was she could not. This money would pay their most pressing creditors and put food on the table. At the moment that was all that mattered.
Grimly thrusting aside the warning voice that whispered in the back of her mind, Jocelyn gave a nod of her head.
"Thank you."
As if thoroughly aware of her inner struggle, the devil lifted his brows in a faintly mocking manner.
"Do you not wish to count it?"
"That will not be necessary."
"So trusting, my dove?"
"You will not be difficult to track down if I discover you have attempted to cheat me."
"There is that," he agreed with a chuckle. '"When may I take possession of the rooms?"
Although not always meticulously devoted to truth if a small bit of subterfuge was more practical, Jocelyn discovered herself unable to form the lie that would allow her a few days'
grace from Mr. Valin's presence.
Not that it truly mattered.
She would no doubt merely waste the days brooding upon what was to come. Surely this was like swallowing vile medicine. It was best to be done with quickly.
"The rooms have been cleaned and prepared," she forced herself to admit. "You may have them whenever you desire."
"Good. I will collect my belongings and be here later this afternoon."
This afternoon.
She absolutely refused to shiver again.
"What of your cousin?" she demanded. "Will he not shoot you when you return for your belongings?"
"I have it on excellent authority that he devoted the goodly portion of the evening to his current mistress. It will be several hours before he awakens."
She unconsciously grimaced. "I see."
An odd hint of satisfaction touched the handsome countenance. "You disapprove of such pleasurable pastimes, Miss Kingly?"
Jocelyn was swift to smooth her features to calm indifference. "I do not possess sufficient interest to disapprove, Mr. Valin."
His lips twisted wryly. "No, of course not."
Having strained her nerves quite far enough for one morning, Jocelyn rose to her feet.
"I believe we have covered everything, Mr. Valin."
Efficiently dismissed, the tawny-haired gentleman reluctantly pushed himself from his chair.
"I shall return in a few hours," he was swift to warn.
Jocelyn, however, was prepared on this occasion.
"If you have need of anything, please speak with Meg. She is quite capable and is in full control of the household."
The golden eyes narrowed as she easily maneuvered him firmly into the hands of her servant.
"More capable than you, Miss Kingly?" he demanded in those husky tones.
"Without a doubt." With a crisp nod of her head she regained her seat and reached for her ledger book. "Good-bye, Mr. Valin."
He remained standing beside the desk, but as she kept her gaze upon the pages of her accounts, he at last gave a low chuckle.
"Until later, my dear."
Jocelyn maintained her charade of distraction until she at last heard the sound of the door closing behind his retreating form. Only then did she lean back in her seat and close her eyes in an odd weariness.
