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"The agency" Christopher fought the urge to tel her to keep her silence, to tel hiainst her

"Is that the true purpose behind this offer?" Her head tilted to the side as she studied hi your bed?"

"Partly" His thu the curve of her cheekbone "I do want you, Maria I do want to help you"

Her eyes closed again on a sigh "I am weary, Christopher It was a hard journey in this condition Later, I will consider your proposal"

"Why did you risk returning?" He sensed there was more than weariness involved She seemed disheartened and deeply melancholy

Her eyes blinked open and the way she clutched at his hand conveyed urgency "Welton is not aware of my…interests or travels If you truly wish to help me, I have a task for you"

"What can I do?"

"Where were you two nights past when I was injured?"

He was at Eood as another, but damned if he would say so He scowled at her

"Are your whereabouts that night well known?" she revised

Afflicted by guilt--an enize it--he said hoarsely, "No"

"Would you say I ith you if asked?"

"Hht persuasion"

"If you ith another wo I shal find another alibi"

"Are you jealous?" He sht

"Should I be?" Maria shook her head "Disregard Men do not tolerate jealous women"

"True" Christopher pressed a chaste kiss to her lips, then deepened it when she did not pul away Instead, she shivered and opened wider His tongue stroked deep, his blood si instantly at her response Hurt and in pain, she stil accepted his aainst her ht of a jealous Maria"

A knock ca them apart

"Rest," he said when she opened herto his feet, ChristopherTom

"Lord Welton is in the parlor," Tom said "Philip has asked for you"

Christopher was ihts awhirl with possibilities He nodded, then retreated back into the room and col ected his coat

"What is it?" Maria asked, dark eyes ith concern "Is Sie to retort rudely "I will see to him, but tel me this: would you show such concern if it were I in Quinn’s place?"

"Are you jealous?"

"Should I be?"

"Yes I hope you squirhter escaped--part hu enamored with a beauty infamous for her history with nation and nursed a faint hope that his enchantment with her would pass

"Give e," heinto his coat "Then ill speak further on the terms of our association I will check on Quinn, as Well"

She nodded and he departed through the sitting-roo a moment on the threshold to take in the destruction of the furnishings and the struggling, gagged Irish and violent thrashing accompanied Christopher’s appearance

Quinn rose to his feet, hunched over by the shape of his chair, and two of Christopher’s battered and rumpled men shoved him back down

"Gentle with hi the half dozen rees of pain "The lady insists, though it appears her fear is groundless"

He hter until he reached the stairs Then he gave it free rein until he reached the foyer Thankful y, he discovered the lower floor in much better order than the upper