A Most Dangerous Profession (31 page)

He watched as she worked her magic now. In just a few moments they were talking animatedly about marriages and children and other frivolous topics that Michael knew Jane cared nothing for.

She must have read his thoughts, for though she continued to chat with his sister, Jane sent him a laughing look beneath her lashes. He answered it with faintly raised brows and a mocking smile. He liked how she controlled a room without seeming to. It made his life so much easier.

After several more moments of female chatter, Michael yawned.

Jane halted in mid-sentence. “Mr. Hurst, do you wish to leave?”

“He can’t leave,” Mary exclaimed. “He hasn’t spoken to a single potential sponsor yet.”

“I’m not going to, either,” he said. “This damned neckcloth is too tight and I wish to go home.”

Jane tsked. “Mr. Hurst, you must speak to at least
one
potential sponsor. If you don’t, you will have
wasted the time you have spent wearing such an atrocious neckcloth and will just have to don it again.”

He’d been yanking at the damned thing again, but now stopped. “Atrocious?”

“Oh, yes. Especially now that you’ve been tugging on it.”

“Oh, look!” Mary gestured to the crowd. “There’s Devonshire! He expressly asked to meet you. The duke is one of the wealthiest men in the kingdom.”

“He might support more than one expedition,” Jane said, looking thoughtful.

“So?”

“So if you speak nicely to him, he might be the
only
sponsor you’ll need for the next year or two, and you can get out of that neckcloth for a long, long time.”

“Fine,” he growled. “Let’s get this over with. Which asinine fop is he? Please tell me he’s not the man in puce who and—Bloody hell, are those diamonds on his shoe buckles?”

“He may be a fop, but he’s very interested in sponsoring the great Michael Hurst,” Mary said. “He told me that he’s an avid follower of the newspaper serial.”

Michael sighed. “Which means he thinks I wrestle crocodiles by the dozen.”

Jane burst into laughter.

Michael eyed her sourly, even more unhappy when Mary grinned. “Blast you both! I wish these fools would just mail me a checque and leave me the hell alone.”

“So do I,” Jane said in a soothing tone. She deftly
smoothed his lapels and tucked a corner of his cravat back into his coat front. “But fools that they are, they seem to wish to speak to you first. If they knew you better they’d never wish for such a thing, for you’re by far the rudest man I’ve ever met.”

“Thank you,” he snapped.

“You’re welcome. Unfortunately, that’s what happens when you allow a nice person to write your newspaper serial—now the world thinks
you’re
nice. It’s a burden, but one that you must bear.”

“If I have to speak to that fool, you do, too.”

“No, I don’t. I’ve realized that though I’m wearing my best gown and my favorite hat, I’m woefully underdressed. So I must leave before I undermine your efforts.”

Michael was about to answer with a strong “Nonsense!” when Mary nodded. “Miss Smythe-Haughton, since you’re leaving, I’ll be glad to escort my brother to meet with the duke.”

“A perfect plan.” Jane’s eyes shimmered with mockery. “You’re such a fortunate man.”

“And you’re such a pain in the rear.”

Mary looked shocked. “Michael!”

Jane just twinkled up at him. “Mr. Hurst, I won’t work for you if you cannot pay me, so you’d best find a sponsor soon. For if I don’t work for you, then who will make certain your favorite pillow is there when you climb into your tent at night?”

“I don’t have a favorite pillow.”

“You do; you just don’t know it. You also like your
meals on time, your notebooks stowed in a particular order, and clean socks at every stage of the journey. If you wish those things to continue, then you’d best set about earning my very respectable wage.” She turned to Mary and held out her hand. “Lady Erroll, it was lovely finally meeting you.”

Mary clasped Jane’s hand warmly. “It’s lovely finally meeting you, as well. I can see that Michael is in good hands when he’s on expedition.”

“Thank you, I do my best. Good-bye.”

She turned and went back into the crowd, her large hat wreaking havoc as she made her way to the door.

Michael grinned until he noticed that the bumpkin who’d so eagerly spoken to Jane was pressing through the crush, trying to reach her. But Jane was too swift and she managed to slip out of the room, her yellow hat disappearing from sight.

Michael turned to his sister. “Now, where’s this duke of yours? I’ll be damned if I wash my own socks on my next expedition.”

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