Chapter 17
He had seen it in her eyes. He knew he had. That nervous flicker. She was either hiding something, or she was so complicated, had so many hidden levels, that there really was no core to her – merely onion-skin layer after onion-skin layer.
He had seen it at the mention of Barrington. How the devil was he involved? Avebury could not imagine that Barrington had hatched this scheme with Lady Catherine in order to save him and send him back to sea. It was ridiculous – and Barrington, for all his sneaky demeanour, appeared to be a gentleman, indeed, was a gentleman if he heard her correctly. It would be grossly improper for him to counsel her on marriage—
Unless, of course, she loved Barrington but, for some reason, could not marry him. But what might such a reason be?
Not my con
