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Courtney sed, staring at his white linen shirt front “A service? That sounds more like a cloaked offer of charity After all, your sister is hardly of an age where she needs a governess No, Lord Peh I thank you froh for me to lie here and permit your staff to wait upon me while I’h, I’ll be on e of your kindness, availto repay you”

“Trust iven Aurora’s nature, ’tis I ill be in your debt, not the other way around” Roughly, Slayde cleared his throat “Courtney, I’ to be frank You and I have just deter those involved in feigning Aurora’s kidnapping andyour father Answer me this: if you were to leave Pembourne tomorroould it not be to hunt down that pirate?”

A small nod

“Well, I intend to i by investigating a ht to your father’s killer; na as it takes to determine Morland’s involvement”

“And if the duke is not involved?”

“Then I’ll find out who is Further, my resources are far more vast than yours So why strike out on your ohen by res?”

“While contributing what in return?” Courtney asked with quiet dignity, “I won’t accept charity”

“I don’t think you realize just howAurora distracted and entertained Translated, thatmy vast array of servants see fro out of Pembourne twice in three —a record even for my sister And that doesn’t take into account the six or seven unsuccessful atte, blackmail, or trick her way past the staff”

“Where is it she wishes to go?”

“I shudder to think Fortunately, she’s ofttihthouse as a destination She’s enthralled by Mr Scollard, its keeper I have no idea why, nor do I care to find out All I know is that she dashes off to see hiets And, eventually, one of s her home”

Spontaneous laughter bubbled up inside Courtney, her first real laughter in nearly a week “My lord, if you don’tso, you land And the ine one wo a houseful of people to oversee her”

“Iine it You’ve never met Aurora”

“Evidently not In which case, suppose I accept your terms Has it occurred to you that if your sister is as headstrong as you say, she ement?”

“She’s more than amenable; she’s elated She told me so herself You have no worry on that score When I left Aurora, she was nearly pacing the halls, waiting to meet you”

Courtney felt strangely touched by that notion “Very well, then Your logic is sound, though I still question the fairness of our arrange—and act the part of Lady Aurora’s coh how in the name of heaven I can counter the allure of the outside world, I haven’t a clue But I’ll try, my lord”