His dark-eyed scrutiny made her fingers clench around her thighs as though she suddenly needed to hold on to something. She had never found herself the subject of such intense examination.

“Malone? Jones?” His eyes remained fixed on her as he spoke to the footmen. “Could you leave us, please?”

The two footmen left without a word, nodding deferentially to Sinclair as they passed—the man who would one day be master of this place and all within it.

Sinclair closed the drawing room doors after them and advanced into the room. “What are you doing here, Miss Langley?”

She rose from the settee, not appreciating the disadvantage of sitting whilst he stood. She’d get a crick in her neck looking up at him. Circling the settee, she smoothed her hands along the back. “You came to me for help, so I am here to help.”

“I left you in Brambledon,” he corrected and from his hard tone it was clear that he had expected her to stay there. The man had much to learn about her if he thought her that easy to chase away.

“Well,” she said, fighting to keep her tone friendly. “I am not in Brambledon.”

“I see that. You followed me.”

She inclined her head. “Not immediately, but yes. I followed you here. As I said . . . to help.”

“And as I said before, I have little faith that you can help—”

“But you do have a little faith,” she pointed out playfully.

He scowled.

She took advantage of the pause and continued, “Is the duchess still ill?”

He crossed his arms. “She has her . . . spells. They come and go.”

“So I’m to assume she is still ill then.” His frown was answer enough. “It would be remiss of you not to explore every option for her.”

“And I’m to assume you consider yourself just such an option?”

“Actually I consider myself your solution, but you should at the very least consider me an option. Or perhaps your devotion to the duchess doesn’t run as deeply as you claim.” She arched an eyebrow.

He did not care for that suggestion. “You go too far—”

“You vowed to find the duchess some relief from her condition. That being the case, you should not cast out someone capable and willing to help. That seems shortsighted, does it not?”

“Are you capable, Miss Langley?” He angled his head. “Truly? The only thing I have to recommend you is your history of deceit.”

Ugh. He was going to hold that over her head forever. “If you had done research you would know of my capabilities, sir. Ask anyone in Brambledon.”

“I’m not presently in Brambledon, am I?”

“You were there. You didn’t even inquire about my credentials when you were there. I can offer you countless testimonials.”

“Admittedly, after discovering I had been duped for years, I was in no mood—”