“I am aware of your reputation, or the one you present to English society.” Reagan lifted his brows to accentuate his point. “But I also know that you are drawing that chapter of your life to a close. To be seen with Rose could raise your social standing and your future prospects. You could make a match that would benefit you after this is done. Not with Rose, of course. But some other eligible lady who was fitting.”
He drew in a sharp breath. How did Reagan know this? “I don’t know what—”
“Save it, lad.” Reagan placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll make more progress if we don’t pretend. My information comes from the highest of sources so there is no need for you to lie.”
Bloody bullocks this was strange. And if the Prince Regent was sharing then it meant he truly thought Will was done as a spy. But if not a spy, what was he then? Just a lord? That wouldn’t do for him at all.
He should likely tell Reagan he had no interest in a match. If he did, he wouldn’t need Rose to make him attractive. Even if women thought him destitute, one of them would marry him and hand over her fortune. A woman like Lady Crawley for example. He hadn’t allowed her to finish but the offer was about to be on the table.
He ignored his niggle of irritation at Lord Reagan’s comment that he wasn’t suited to Rose. If the man knew he wasn’t actually a rake or financially ruined, why wouldn’t he be suitable? Never mind that he didn’t wish to marry.
Besides, the entire plan was ridiculous. He was here to suss out a thief. But Rose had the same end, and she’d likely get herself in real trouble when the actual thief arrived. If she’d been willing to sneak into his room, she’d be willing to take ridiculous risks again, only with actual criminals who might really hurt her. Will didn’t want to think about why that bothered him so much but if he were seen to be wooing her, he might be able to keep an eye on her. “Very well, I will do it.”
Reagan blinked as though surprised but then gave him a winning smile. “Splendid.”
“What are you doing, my lord?” Rose asked as she came down the steps. “What is splendid, Papa?”
Chapter Four
Rose looked at the two of them and narrowed her gaze. Their heads were bent together as they furiously whispered to one another. They were scheming. Her father was mostly a shrewd man, though her mother’s death had taken a lot of his fire from him. It surprised her still to think that he was befriending Lord Addington. Surely, he had heard the rumors.
“Nothing dear,” her father said as he turned to her. “You look lovely.”
She resisted the urge to smooth the folds of her muslin gown. It was perfect for walking as the day heated with a lovely blue sash at the high waist matching the ribbon on her straw bonnet. Not that she would keep her skin from taking on a golden hue. She’d never had the pale ivory skin that Lady Crawley had achieved. Though that was beside the point. Her father was deflecting. “Thank you, Papa.”
A quick glance at Lord Addington showed that he was studying her again. She watched his gaze sweep up and down her as he stepped forward and offered his elbow. “Shall we?”
She gave a curt nod and attempted not to sigh. She’d been cursing her father in her room. He was ruining her plan to put distance between herself and Lord Addington so that she might spy on him. She knew it was a ridiculous plan after last night but it was the only one she had. “Thank you.”
He led her out the front door and down a sweeping lawn to a set of gardens that spanned between the house and the river that flanked the property. They were in full bloom and as they entered, the smell of the flowers filled her nostrils. Her father had fallen back to a reasonable distance behind them, curse him. But after she breathed in again, she couldn’t help but comment. “They smell divine.”
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 con
nection 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. He 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 h
is. “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.
My Earl's Entrapment (Wicked Lords of London Book 3) Page 4