Dark Angel: Gentlemen of the Order - Book 4
Page 24
He led her out into the hall and drew her into his arms. “Am I mistaken, or do your friends assume we intend to do something other than walk?”
“They know we’re in love, know we can barely keep our hands to ourselves.”
He bent his head and kissed her. Their first proper kiss as husband and wife had heat pooling in her belly.
“Tonight, we’ll have hours to indulge our passions, but let’s walk together. I feel like we’ve not spoken for days.”
His comment warmed her as much as his kisses. “Then let me run upstairs, fetch a pelisse and change my shoes. Vivienne said there’s a pretty spot by the lake. Perhaps we can walk there.”
He nodded. “I shall wait for you on the terrace.”
She hurried to their chamber and returned momentarily.
They strolled down to the row of mausoleums, the burial place of Mr Sloane’s ancestors. They talked about the ladies who were moving into Howland Street, about Mr Craddock’s trial. He revealed the conversation he’d had with Lucius Daventry.
“I’ve been assigned a new case.”
Her heart dropped as fast as a brick in a water barrel. “Dante, promise me you’ll be careful.”
“You haven’t asked what it is.”
“Tell me it’s not finding Mr Babington’s murderer.”
“No, love, that’s an impossible feat. There are too many suspects, Mable being one of them.” He paused. “She came to see Daventry three days ago, but he refused to let her speak.”
Good Lord!
“Did she come to confess?”
Dante shrugged. “Daventry told her that good people commit foolish acts in the name of duty. That the world was best rid of a man like Babington, and it was likely someone else with a gripe hired an assassin.”
Mr Daventry’s thoughts would have been for Dante, too. He’d been hurt enough and didn’t need society pointing the finger. Didn’t need his name involved in a scandal.
“Mable kissed his hand and thanked him,” Dante continued. “So, no. I doubt anyone will be hunting for Babington’s killer.”
Beatrice was both relieved and apprehensive. “Then what’s your new assignment?”
He laughed. “Lady Dalton’s maid was arrested for theft. The servant says she can prove her innocence.”
“What’s so funny about that?” she said, thankful it wasn’t a case of murder.
“Nothing, except she’s accused of stealing the lady’s dog.”
“Her dog?” It sounded like a case for one of the ladies at Howland Street. “Not a pug?”
“Indeed, but this pug was wearing a diamond collar.”
Beatrice started laughing and couldn’t stop. Dante laughed, too, laughed until tears streamed down his face.
“You may need my help,” she said, catching her breath. “Pugs can be pesky creatures.”
“My sparring practice at the Wild Boar will have prepared me sufficiently.”
They continued walking, both chuckling periodically, though a woman’s life hung in the balance, and Dante would most certainly save her.
He stopped suddenly and took hold of her hands. “There’s something I want to give you. A gift I hope you will accept.”
“A gift?” She couldn’t think what it might be.
“I know we said we’d stop looking to the past, but it’s the only thing I have of hers, and she would have wanted to give you something on your wedding day.”
Emotion bubbled to her throat when he removed Daphne’s brooch from his pocket. Tears filled her eyes when he placed it in her palm.
“It’s yours, Beatrice. Given to my mother by a man who loved her more than life itself. Given to you by a man who cannot believe his good fortune. A man you pulled from the darkness. A man who loves you to the depths of his soul.”
The lump in her throat made it hard to speak. “I shall treasure it always.”
They kissed, pressed their foreheads together and whispered words of love. When they parted, Dante chuckled again. “Perhaps we should play a trick on your new friends. Hide in the study, bang the desk and make amorous noises.”
She thought about Miss Keane and laughed. “There’s always the broom cupboard, but I’d rather you didn’t tell them you were inspecting my bristles.”
I hope you enjoyed reading Dark Angel.
It’s the end of the series but not the end of the Order.
Why does Lord Devereaux need to hire an agent?
How will he fare when he realises the woman who’s been assigned to help him is someone from his past?
The Devereaux Affair
Ladies of the Order - Book 1
Pre-order now!
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. All characters are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
No part of this book may be copied or reproduced in any manner without the author’s permission. Distributing electronic copies of this book constitutes copyright infringement.
Dark Angel
Copyright © 2021 Adele Clee
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-1-9162774-9-6
Cover by Dar Albert at Wicked Smart Designs
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