Her voice surprised him. Soft as a summer breeze, but threaded with steel. The sound of it lingered, stirring his imagination to travel in directions it shouldn't.
He shifted his cane to his other hand and accepted her greeting. "Miss Martin."
"I appreciate your courtesy in meeting with me. However, you are exactly what I feared you would be."
"Oh?" Taken aback by her direct approach, he found himself becoming more intrigued. "In what way?"
"In every way, sir. I contacted Mr. Lynd because we require a certain type of individual. I regret the need to say you are not he."
"Would you object to my request for elaboration?"
"The points are too numerous," she pronounced.
"Nevertheless, a man in my position seeks predictability in others but fears it in himself. Since you state I am the epitome of what you did not want, I feel I must request an accounting of the criteria upon which you based your judgment."
Miss Martin seemed to ponder his response a moment. In the brief time of introspection, Jasper collected what his instincts had recognized upon first sight: Eliza Martin was intensely aware of him. Without her cognizance, her baser senses were reacting to him much the way his were to her: her delicate nostrils flared, her breathing quickened, her body swayed with the undercurrent of agitation... A doe sensing the hunter nearby.
"Yes," she said, with a catch in her voice. "I can see why that would be true."
"Of course it's true. I never lie to clients." He never bedded them either, but that was about to change.
"You have not been engaged," she reminded, "so I am not a client."
The man with the frightening hair intruded. "Eliza, marry Montague and be done with this farce."
With the voicing of that one name, Jasper knew why he'd received the referral and how little chance Eliza Martin had of dismissing him.
"I will not be bullied, my lord," she said firmly.
"Invite Mr. Bond to sit, then."
"That won't be necessary."
Skirting her, Jasper settled into the pew behind the one they occupied.
"Mr. Bond..." Miss Martin gave a resigned exhalation. "My lord, may I present Mr. Jasper Bond? Mr. Bond, this is my uncle, the Earl of Melville."
"Lord Melville." Jasper greeted the earl with a slight bow of his head. He knew of Melville as the head of the Tremaine family, a lot renowned for their eccentricities. "I believe you will find me to be highly suitable for any task in want of a thief-taker to manage it."
Miss Martin's blue eyes narrowed on him in silent reproach for attempting to circumvent her. "Sir, I am certain you are capable in most circumstances. However--"
"About the many points...?" he interjected, circling back. He disliked proceeding when there were still matters left unaddressed.
"You are overly tenacious." She remained standing, as if prepared to show him out.
"An excellent trait to have in my profession."
"Yes, but that doesn't mitigate the rest."
"What rest?"
The earl's gaze darted back and forth between them.
She shook her head. "Can we not simply leave it at that, Mr. Bond?"
"I would rather we didn't." He set his hat on the seat beside him. "I have always taken pride in my ability to manage any situation put before me. How will I provide exemplary service if I can no longer make that claim?"
"Really, sir," Miss Martin protested. "I did not say you are unsuitable for your trade as a whole, only in regards to our situation--"
"Which is...?"
"A matter of some delicacy."
"I cannot assist you if I am ignorant of the details," he pointed out.
"I do not want your assistance, Mr. Bond. You fail to collect that."
"Because you refuse to explain yourself. Mr. Lynd thought I was suitable and you trusted his judgment enough to arrange this meeting." Jasper would pay Lynd handsomely for the referral. It had been far too long since he'd felt this level of interest in anything beyond his need for vengeance.
"Mr. Lynd does not have the same considerations I do."
"Which are...?"
"Sir, you are exasperating."
And she was fascinating. Her eyes sparkled with irritation, her right foot tapped against the floor, and her fisted hands moved often as if to rest on her hips. But she resisted the urge. He found her resistance most appealing. What would it take to break it and see her unrestrained? He couldn't wait to find out.
"I will compensate you for your time today," she said, "so all is not a complete loss to you. There is no need to continue this discussion."
"You overlook the possibility that I might have intended to assign a member of my crew to you, Miss Martin. I would, however, need to know what your situation is so I can determine whose skills would best suit your requirements." He intended to service her himself, but he wasn't above a little subterfuge when the prize was this delicious.
"Oh." She bit her lower lip again. "I hadn't considered that."
"So I noted."
Miss Martin finally sank back onto the pew in a movement of eminent grace. "Just so we are clear you won't do."
"It isn't clear." He set his cane between his legs and placed his hands atop it, one over the other. "At least, not to me."
She glanced at his lordship, then--reluctantly--back to Jasper. "You force me to say what I would rather not, Mr. Bond. Frankly, you are too handsome for the task."
He was stunned into momentary silence. Then, he relished an inner smile. How delightful she was, even when cross.
"Mr. Lynd was less conspicuous than you," she continued. "You are quite large and, as I said, far too comely."
Lynd was a score of years older and average in height, features, and build. Jasper looked to the earl and found the man staring at his niece with confusion. "I fail to see what bearing my face has on my investigate skills."
"In addition--" her voice grew stronger as she warmed to the topic of his faults, "--it would be impossible to disguise the air about you which distinguishes you."
"Pray tell me what that is." He was beginning to find it difficult to hide his growing enjoyment of the conversation.
"You are a predator, Mr. Bond. You have the appearance of one, and you carry yourself like one. To be blunt, you are clearly capable of being a dangerous man."