He leaned close to her and she heard his subtle intake of breath. “You most decidedly do too.”
She scrunched her nose when she looked over at him. Warmth spread through her at his words but she would not allow that to dictate her actions. She would not be drawn in by this man. “Pish. Your charms are better suited to a woman like Lady Crawley.”
“Can I tell you a secret?” He smiled, his gaze warm.
She leaned in to hear him, unable to resist as his dark mysterious eyes met hers. It was impossible to focus. “You probably shouldn’t.”
He leaned down to whisper close to her ear, tickling the sensitive flesh along her neck. “I find women like Lady Crawley rather dull.”
Shivers of pleasure raced along her skin. Her eyebrows rose and she snapped her head around to look at him again. “She is considered a beauty by most.”
A devilish grin pulled at one corner of his lips. “I’m sure she is. I prefer a woman who is more…”
“More what?” she asking, leaning in closer though she probably shouldn’t, but her eagerness to hear his answer broke through her reserve. Her breathy question giving away her interest. Blast the man. She was supposed to remain aloof. But in her heart, Rose wanted to hear a man as handsome as him discuss her finer qualities.
“Intelligent,” he replied, his eyes dancing with merriment.
A little giggle escaped, though she didn’t mean for it to happen. He was making it difficult to remain distant. Rose had expected him to compliment her but that had been the last feature, she thought he would mention. He always seemed to take her by surprise. She’d have to remember to not engage in a conversation with only him in the future. “I can see how that would be an important trait for you. I consider myself to be reasonably astute and yet I am at a disadvantage every time we speak.”
His eyebrows lifted. “I quite disagree. You have taken me by surprise several times in the very short time I’ve known you. That is difficult to do.”
Pleasure rippled through her. She’d hoped to hear him say she was attractive but somehow, this was terribly satisfying. “Thank you.” She took a breath, trying to clear her increasingly muddled mind. He was addling her ability to focus. They turned a corner and Rose looked back. She didn’t see her father behind them. Now was the time to get answers. She attempted to focus again. “What were you and my father discussing when I came down the stairs?”
His eyes widened but then he grinned. “See, you caught me off guard again.”
Rose stopped. “Lord Addington, I appreciate you being so complimentary and kind. Considering how we met, it’s good of you.” She hadn’t forgotten that he was likely responsible for her mother’s missing jewels or that she’d planned to keep him at a distance. But since her mother had gone, she hadn’t felt a connection with anyone. Her friendships had become hollow relationships. Men seemed shallow and interested in her station only or perhaps her dowry. Hadn’t it been that way with Lord Dudley Appleton, her last suitor? Before her mother’s death, she’d been smitten with him, but he’d been irritated by her grief rather than supportive. When the jewels went missing, he’d outright told her she was a fool to search for them. Said she was grasping for feelings she’d never have again. That was when she’d known she couldn’t marry him. In her mother’s own way, she’d helped Rose to see the truth. If not for the grieving period, she’d be spending her life with a man who had little respect for her.
He’d made it abundantly clear when she hadn’t accepted his offer that she was making a mistake. It was within his power to have a real beauty and Rose should have grateful he’d given his attention to her.
“Will,” he answered.
She’d been so lost in thought, she didn’t understand what he meant. “Will I what?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.
He shook his head while he grinned. “My name is Will. When we’re together like this, I’d like for you to address me as such.”
She snapped her mouth closed, realizing it had fallen open. “I couldn’t—”
“Your father wants me to court you. Or pretend to seek your favor. It’s appropriate.”
Her gasp filled the space between them. It was one thing to admit that he was first person she’d felt an actual connection with in a long time but to be courted by a jewel thief? He must be lying. “That isn’t possible.”
“It is, though he doesn’t intend for us to marry.” Will began pulling her along. “I will explain it to you later. Can you sneak to my room this afternoon?”
“You’ve gone mad,” she answered looking up at him. Or, the other possibility was that he was brilliant as he once again completely caught her off guard.
Will shook his head. “We could discuss your father’s wishes in the library but then how will you search my room for your mother’s jewels?”
She stopped again, disbelief making her feet heavy and dull. How could he possibly have known what she’d been searching for last night? “What is happening?”
He started her moving once again. “Meet me after the noon meal.”
Shaking off her confusion, she looked over at him as he pulled her around a hedge of roses. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s dangerous enough under the cover of darkness. Besides, if you had anything valuable, you would have hidden it before you issued this invitation.”
“Clever girl,” he whispered close to her ear. “Do you like chess?”
“Of course I do.” She stamped her foot. “But I can not come to your room.”
“I have something you’ll want to see.” He crooned in a lilt that was almost a song.
Curse him, but she was tempted. She did want to search his room, and the promise in his voice made her tingle with anticipation. She liked being alone with him. But he was completely and thoroughly ruining her plan to watch from afar. He always had the upper hand. “Fine,” she whispered back “But you are to promise to keep your lips to yourself.”
He chuckled, low and deep, and it sent shivers racing all along her skin. “I swear it. But I’d like you to know, you are the first woman to ever make me promise such a thing.”
“Pish,” she replied back, though she believed him. It was taking all of her energy to resist him. It left so little ability to remember her actual goals. “You’re are not nearly as irresistible as you think.”
His lips, which had been close to her ear, placed a soft kiss on the sensitive flesh of her neck. She caught her breath. “Is that a challenge?”
She brought her hands up to his chest, intent on pushing him away. When there was distance between them, she could make rational decisions, but with him this close, her mind simply refused to work. Instead of creating distance, she found her palms exploring the hard ridges of muscles underneath them. “It isn’t,” she said in a breathy voice that she barely recognized. He started kissing a trail down her neck. Tingling spread through her body and seemed to center at the apex of her legs. “Why can’t you leave me be?”
His lips stilled for a moment. “That is no fun at all.” Then he skimmed them back up her neck. She nearly moaned aloud. “And in my defense, it was you who picked the lock in my room. But this afternoon, I will do my duty as a gentleman.”
She stilled, sure it was unwise to trust him. But footsteps on the gravel path interrupted the moment, and Will’s head snapped up. “Who?” She blinked, trying to clear the haze.
“Your father,” he whispered before he stepped back.
Disappointment made her ache as he tucked her hand into his elbow and started them down the path again. She’d told him to leave her alone so why did she want his touch again?
As they began walking, he leaned down and whispered again. “After lunch.”
It was a terrible idea. She shouldn’t go, but as his hip brushed hers, she knew that she would. He was too tempting by half and she couldn’t stay away.
* * *
Will waited just outside the door of his room, pretending to fumble to find the key. A ploy he’d perfected over the years. H
e heard the muted footsteps of slippers and without looking up, spotted Rose in his peripheral vision.
His heart thrummed faster. It was strange. As a spy, he’d never considered marriage. He was in too much danger, he was always moving about, and he pretended to be destitute often. The whole of the ton currently believed him penniless. Not easy to do and, if undone, he’d ruin his cover. But pretending to be destitute was not suited to matrimony.
When Prinny had told him he ought to lay low for a while, even consider retirement, he’d dismissed it. Sure, he could allow the entire scandal to pass. And, after a fashion, return to spying, his tarnished reputation only adding to his cover story as a man willing to participate in less-than-noble pursuits.
And though it might be nice join the ranks of his peers as an equal, rather than always appearing the fool, he’d wondered what he might actually do when he was no longer committing espionage. As he looked up to see Rose walking toward him, a few ideas of how he might fill his time came to mind.
Of course, they all involved Rose wearing very little clothing, or none at all, but still. It was progress. And a man didn’t dally with a woman like her without considering marriage and a future. It was a far different life than he had previously seen for himself, but the idea sounded…desirable.
The blue ribbon about her waist accentuated its tininess; he wondered if he could wrap his hands around it. He thought he might and that made him regret his promise not to kiss her. Because not only did he want to test her waist but he longed to run his hand down the flare of her hip. He’d bet her derriere was delightfully soft and supple.
He nearly groaned aloud, trying to remember when a woman had dominated his thoughts so completely. It wasn’t just those luscious curves. It was her tenacity and intelligence.
She reached his side, and he silently opened the door, pulling her in and closing it behind him. “This was a terrible idea,” she said softly as she stood close him. Which she had to do. He was still holding her arm even though he’d already closed the door.
“I disagree,” he rumbled. “We’re going to learn a lot today.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Am I going to learn that you are a man who keeps his promises?”
Her fiery spirit set him ablaze but he released her arm and she took a few steps back. “Search away, my lady.” He had promised to behave like a gentleman while she searched his room. He already knew what she would find.
His pistol, a letter from the Prince Regent stating his innocence, and another from the Marquess of Highwater demanding that Will settle a substantial debt by employment for nonspecific services. He’d intentionally gone into debt to the marquess, then pretended he didn’t have the funds to pay it back.
Even his closest friends believed this story, which mystified him. He belonged to a secret club called the Wicked Earls’ Club. And granted, those men often landed in these types of scrapes, but he couldn’t believe none of them could see the truth. That he wasn’t actually poor, or inept. It had made him feel so isolated, when he chose to think about it, which was not very often at all. Until, Rose.
She seemed to see right past his veneer and it was refreshing. He wanted to be around her more, see himself through her eyes. He gave himself a shake. For some reason, he’d been thinking all kinds of strange things.
And she’d been absolutely correct that he’d time to remove what he didn’t want her to find. Like his rather large and very full coin purse. Or the more private letter from Prinny that urged him to cease his work as a spy.
Rose moved about the room, opened a desk drawer, and pulled out a folded sheet of paper, then held up Prinny’s letter of pardon. She gave him a questioning glance and he nodded for her to open it.
She quickly scanned the document, her mouth tightening as she did. The letter exonerated him of any wrongdoing or knowingly taking part in any illegal acts. Then she flipped to the second sheet. Rose didn’t look up as she scanned the rest.
Rose said nothing as she folded them back up and neatly replaced them in the drawer. Softly, she pushed closed it, then she smoothed the folds of her gown. It was a nervous habit of hers and he wished he could follow her hands with his own.
Standing straighter, he finally asked, “Well?”
Her gaze drifted to his. “I don’t believe it.” It wasn’t a question. She wasn’t asking. It was as though she stated a fact.
He quirked an eyebrow. “What don’t you believe?”
“That you were the hapless victim of the Marquess of Highwater. I don’t believe it.”
It took every ounce of his control not to react. She was right. He’d never been the victim. He had laid a carefully crafted trap that the marquess had stepped into without a second thought. What was more, she might be the only person in all of England who saw that he would never be that man’s lackey. Although, instead of thinking he was a force of good, she thought him a criminal, but still. It was nice that someone thought him capable of more than just a fool. “Really? Why is that?”
She crossed the room again, her eyes on him. “I’ve been watching you. You don’t drink all that much, you don’t gamble, unless there is someone at the table you want to talk to. What you do is you study people.”
Shock made his chest ache. “You’ve learned all this since yesterday?” He tried to make his voice derisive. He had to throw her off the scent even if he didn’t want to.
“No, I’ve watched you for the past several days. You’re not the only one who’s been studying people at this gathering.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked him up and down. “My job, however, was easier because I only needed to watch you. Though I must admit, it was a fair sight simpler when you hadn’t noticed me.”
Damn this beautiful woman and her astute mind. She’d done it again. Caught him completely off guard. She was glorious. Absolutely wonderful. “You think you know something our sovereign leader does not?”
“How well does he know you?” Rose stepped closer and he resisted the urge to pull her into his arms. He’d made a promise. But he hadn’t realized how much she’d learned about him or how nice it was for someone to see him. Not the veneer he’d constructed. It was more intoxicating than those delightful lips and sumptuous curves.
“Very well,” he assured her, attempting to throw her off the scent. If Prinny believed it then why wouldn’t she?
Her hands rested on those lush hips as she cocked her head to one side and assessed him. “Why is the prince so well acquainted with a failing earl?”
He had to admit it was a valid question. Triumph lit in her eyes and he nearly grinned back. “I wasn’t always a failure.”
Chapter Five
Rose tried not to huff out a breath. She’d thought she had him. She’d backed him into a corner and victory had never tasted sweeter. Well, in fairness, he tasted sweeter last night when he’d kissed her. Like whisky and a hint of cigar, and something deep and masculine. Why was she thinking of that now?
He leaned in closer. She knew he was doing it on purpose. It distracted her and he knew it. Blast the man. “And, despite my recent lack of success, I still have many allies.”
“Allies who didn’t help you? Who allowed you to become a slave to a criminal?” She could barely think. If he touched her, she’d be done for. She tried to back up but his hand reached around her waist. “You promised,” she gasped, even as a ripple of pleasure made her knees weak.
“I did.” He pulled her closer. “There is more to the story, but I’m not at liberty to share it yet.” Her body came in contact with his and everything tightened. “But there is more I need to tell you today. I can find your mother’s diamonds.”
Tears sprang to her eyes and she found herself, once again, clutching at his shirt. Her physical response coupled with her intense desire to believe those words left her mind spinning. “What?”
“I was there the day they were auctioned and I have a pretty good recollection of who won them. I will get them back for you if you promise me two things.” He leaned fur
ther in with every word until they were so close, they could kiss if he’d only just tilt his head the slightest bit. Which should not have occurred to her. Because those jewels were all that were important. But her body didn’t agree and somehow the news he could find them made her want to be closer to him.
“You were there? You saw them?” She croaked out, her voice hoarse with tears.
He cupped her cheek with one of his hands. “I will get them back. But you have to promise me to stop investigating them yourself. Men are coming here who pose a real danger to you. I can’t have you getting caught up with them.”
That made her start in surprise. It cleared her mind of both the emotion and the attraction, though she still clung to him, his support somehow more important than lust. “Other men? The thieves?”
“Rose, stay out of it, remember?” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I know I already told you that your father has asked me to pretend to court you.”
She stepped back then, ripping away from him. “What does that have to do with anything?”
He reached out and gently pulled her back against him. She was acting like a skittish deer, and he was clearly trying to calm her. “He wants me to teach you the value of male companionship, and were I to guess, stir a little jealousy among some of the other eligible bachelors.” His lips were back at her ear, and she had to confess to be rather fond of the tickly feeling it created. “I don’t care his reasons, I want you to allow it so that I can make sure you stay out of trouble.”
Rose skimmed her hands up his chest, admittedly because she liked the way the ridges of muscle felt. “So you want me to allow a fake courtship that will not result in an engagement so that you may keep an eye on me? And you want me to stop pursuing the diamonds? And in return, you will find the diamonds and return them to me?”
He leaned back and gave a relieved smile. “That is correct.”
“But you’re not a thief?” she tried to keep her look innocent. “Just a destitute earl?”
Dashing Dukes and Romantic Rogues Page 73