He jerked down on the door handle and pulled her into the darkened library, shutting it on Ivy’s gasp and Millie’s wicked chuckle.
‘I think your friends might challenge me to a duel after this.’ Killian murmured against Hannah’s soft hair.
She backed away from him. He couldn’t see her expression in the shadows, making it impossible to gauge her emotions.
‘You would lose.’ Hannah’s voice was strained. ‘But I did not come here to discuss my friends.’
‘Nor did I.’ Killian pulled her close, pressing his mouth against the soft hollow of her neck. When she melted into him, he sucked and nipped his way to her earlobe, nibbling on the delicate skin.
‘Stop. First, we must talk. There is information I have that you need to know. And you must tell me about your meeting with Billy Bright.’ Hannah pushed him away, and he reluctantly relented.
‘Of course. Forgive me. Being apart from you has ripped away my vestiges of propriety. I am raw and aching. But you are right. We should talk.’ He backed up, because it was impossible not to touch her when she was within his reach.
He used the burning coals from the library’s banked fire to light a taper. Walking back to the table, he fumbled for a lamp. When he adjusted the wick, he turned to appreciate Hannah in the soft light.
‘What did Billy tell you?’ Hannah’s eyes were luminous.
Killian smiled and shook his head. ‘I don’t think so, Miss Simmons. You first.’
A line formed between her brows as she harrumphed. Killian never thought such a sound could be sexy, but she managed to stoke his fires with minimal effort.
‘Fine. I found myself in Alfred Cavendale’s room.’
‘You just found yourself there? Like one might find a lost shoe or a misplaced ribbon?’ Killian raised a sceptical eyebrow.
‘Yes. Just like that. At any rate, I discovered a letter implicating Alfred in the murder.’
A jolt of adrenaline rushed through him. ‘Do you have this letter?’
‘Of course. I mean, not on me, but in my room.’
‘And it implicates him by name?’
Hannah bit her lip. Killian had to force his eyes away from her red mouth and white teeth. ‘Well, that’s the thing. It never mentions his name. But finding it in his room is pretty damning.’
‘Not enough to ensure conviction in the House of Lords.’
‘You forget, I’m not bound by the House of Lords. If the Queen is convinced, that’s good enough for me.’
Killian’s jaw dropped in shock. ‘The bloody Queen? Of fucking England? That’s who you work for?’
Hannah squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. ‘Perhaps.’
Killian noticed how the movement pressed her breasts against the neckline of her dress.
Get control, man.
But he didn’t want to be in control. He wanted to let his heart lead him and damn the consequences.
‘Fascinating woman!’ Before she could deny it, he continued. ‘You play a dangerous game, Miss Simmons. Letting one person make the ultimate decision about another person’s life.’
Hannah tsked. ‘Please. Men do it all the time. Besides, in this case, I agree with the Queen. As does Philippa, and I’m guessing as do you. That’s four people. Five if we included Major General Drake. Do you deny that he would agree to our deductions?’
Killian resisted the urge to smile. God, she was clever. And brave. And fearsome. And driving him mad with desire. ‘Five people hardly equal the entire House of Lords, or the justice system they have comprised.’ He couldn’t stop himself from arguing with her if only to see her eyes flash and her mind race to best him.
‘They place a title of justice on a corrupt system. It does not protect the innocent or uphold the truth. I trust our judgment over a group of men driven by greed and a need for power any day.’
Killian was charmed that she included himself and Drake in her small circle of formidable women that included theQueen. Drake would never believe him.
