“Masks,” he said very slowly, chewing on a very juicy grape. His eyes softened, focusing somewhere beyond Claire’s face and to a faraway memory of a young James entering the ballroom of his very first masquerade. His cover was a young graduate from Eton named Benjamin Black Keaton. He remembered it so well, how terrified he was and how close he was to throwing up on his shoes. Looking back, he realized how much he had grown in the trade he dedicated his life to. He was no longer the jumpy boy pretending to be a man, but was a man still pretending to be another man.

A ghost of a grin touched his face. “I like it,” he confessed then his lips twisted into a grin. “That way you won’t know if it is I who is flirting with the closest red head. Oh, yes. I do believe I will be better by then.” A short pause followed his words, but it was unlike the one before. As if Claire hadn’t pushed him into voicing his thoughts about Matthew and treason, Nick had a dreamy expression of a boy who had just seen his crush. “And do keep doing what you are doing with my hair.” Because it felt good, better even, than when he was lying on Caroline’s bed, listening to her endless chatter about the latest gossip in the pub.

[i]“Then, when the doctor permits you to ride, we can go together if you would like. Tell me about yourself, Nicholas. I know you enjoy work…are you in it just for the money, or do you honestly have a passion for it?”[/i] she added at the same time she fed him. [i] “I’ve spoken enough to last an entire day. I want to hear you.”[/i]

Funny how the events that usually led to marriage was mixed-up considering what happened to them. It was generally accepted that a gentleman would call on to the house of the lady he intended to court. The time they spent together would allow them to get to know each other, which would eventually lead them to the decision whether or not they would marry. Most of the time, they did marry. With Claire and Nick, on the other hand, everything started with the marriage, leaving the couple to pick up the pieces from there. They were husband and wife, but they barely knew each other.

“Me?” What should he tell her? “I enjoy riding at breakneck speed, but the crowded city will not let me ride as fast as I would have wanted. I like horses. Nightshade is my favorite and I miss riding on horseback to Hyde. I believe we have promised each other a match when I get better?“

“Now, if you are asking about business,” he sighed a deep heavy sigh. “I cannot possibly express how much relieved I am to be forced into vacation by this injury. If I can redo that night, I would still trace the steps that led me to that gunpoint if only to have a few days to myself. So to answer your question, no. No, I don’t enjoy working and I don’t have the passion for it.” Nick caught the hand that was stroking his hair and kissed her palm. “Money is a good motivation though. I am working for the money that will provide for me and my future family. How many children do you want?” He blurted the last question before he could stop the thoughts from spilling into his mouth. Blood rushed to his face. He let go of her hand then looked away. 

“You don’t have to answer that.”