The urge to pull her to him returned. He would wrap his arms around her waist and simply breathe in her strange scent.

He cleared his throat. Smelling her would not exactly make her continue to be comfortable around him.

“How did you meet Lady Emily?” Diana asked. “Were your families friends?”

He found his voice. “No. Mrs. Cuthbert introduced us.”

“And things are going well between the two of you?”

“Well enough, I suppose. She is quiet and doesn’t talk much.” He wasn’t certain why Diana was interested in Lady Emily.

“I remember meeting Miss Paynter in Hyde Park. She also seemed rather timid. Are most of the women you, um . . .”

“Dally with?” It seemed wrong to say it that way while holding a woman’s hand in a locked room.

“Yes, I suppose that sums it up. Are they all quiet and shy?”

Was that a hint of jealousy? Diana was a lot of things, but quiet and shy she was not. “Oh no, I do not discriminate. I have spent time with a few troublemakers. Miss Witham, Miss Thornell—now there was a lady who knew what she wanted in life. Lady Yolten . . .” He couldn’t help the smile that rose on his lips. Lady Yolten had been extremely entertaining.

“I understand your meaning,” Diana said with an edge to her voice. Everton held in a chuckle. It was nice to get under her skin for a change.

“Lady Emily is different, though. Like I said before, my relationship with her is a bit more complicated and delicate.” Lady Emily wasn’t in love with anyone. She had no real goals in life. It was much harder to help someone when he didn’t even know what she wanted. Harder, but perhaps even more important—at least to him.

“Well, I’m glad Mr. Broadcreek and I didn’t cause any problems.”

Problems? Like holding his hand and asking him personal questions he readily answered? She was causing problems.

“Miss Barton—”

“Diana. You always call me Diana.”

“Honestly, I don’t know what to call you. Half the time I’m not sure what is real and what is pretend. There is no one here to see us, and yet, I’m holding your hand.”

“I thought you were scared.”

He closed his eyes and inhaled her strange scent of ink and paper. “I am.” This time it was no lie.

The door behind them jangled loudly, and they both jumped. Diana’s hand tightened in his own. “I’m back. Are you two still in there?” Mrs. Oliver had returned. “Miss Barton?”

Neither of them answered.

“Miss Barton?” Mrs. Oliver asked again.

Diana leaned into him. “It would serve her right if we hid and gave her a bit of a fright.”

But the door opened before they had the chance. Not that Diana had been serious. Or at least, he didn’t think she had been. With her, it was always hard to tell. But the way she immediately dropped his hand made him think she couldn’t have been serious. At any rate, he was much too old to be playing hide-and-seek with a young lady and her matronly employee.