“With all due respect, Diana, you don’t actually know me.”

“I know you well enough.”

“No one knows me well enough. I’ve worked very hard to keep it that way, and if you continue to claim that you do, well, there will be no quicker way to ensure I never visit your office again.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You are bluffing.”

“I assure you I am not.”

Diana sighed, but she didn’t back away. “All right. You are a terrible person, but my offer to help still stands.”

“You can start by stepping away from me.”

She smiled but leaned closer to him. “I meant help with Lady Emily.”

Ah, Lady Emily. A safer topic. Everton slid to the side and brought some much-needed space between the two of them. Diana turned and looked at his desk. “Is this a letter from her?”

“No.” Everton jumped around Diana and grabbed the letter. His chair slid between the two of them. He folded the letter and tucked it in his breast pocket, his traitorous hands shaking slightly.

He didn’t like the way Diana’s eyes followed his movements. “That was a woman’s hand. You haven’t started another scandal already, have you?”

This was preposterous. If he told her yes, would she want to help with that one too? He had enough meddling women in his life. He didn’t need another. “No, I haven’t. And there is nothing to do for Lady Emily. She is content to marry that old man as long as it means she doesn’t have to attend any more balls.”

Diana gasped. “She can’t mean that.”

“I would tend to agree with you, but Mrs. Cuthbert and I have been essentially banned from the Falburton household. And if I’m not mistaken, you don’t exactly run in those circles, so we have no way to verify that this letter is true.”

Diana’s lips scrunched together. He could practically see the wheels turning in her head. Diana didn’t like being told something was out of her depth. “What of Lord and Lady Yolten?”

“Why would they help?”

“They owe you.”

“They owe me nothing.” Everton pulled at the fabric of his untied cravat. It slid off silently, and he threw it on his desk. Why couldn’t she understand? “I dallied about with the man’s future wife, for heaven’s sake.”

Diana put her fingers to her temples and massaged the sides of her head. She then threw her hands to her side and grabbed the chair between them, leaning forward. “That couple couldn’t say enough good things about you. Are you so accomplished at lying that you have managed to convince yourself of your devilry?”

Yes, yes he was. And he was comfortable that way. He didn’t need Diana barging in here, telling him he was some kind of deserving man.

“You should get home to your brother. Does he know you are here?”

Without releasing his eyes, she shook her head. “No.”

“Does anyone know you are here?”

“No.”

“Blasted fool woman.” His words were angry, but his voice was soft. Diana was lucky he was a gentleman. Not a proper gentleman, but a gentleman nevertheless.