Beatrix’s feet would’ve been wise to remain planted where they were.
Or better yet, return to her protective stretch of wall.
What she shouldn’t do was give chase.
And very, very wrongly, she did.
Her pursuit was neither swift nor nimble, but rather dogged—as she did all things in life, it seemed.
She entered a dimly lit corridor with all manner of paired-up couples—none the couple she sought. A door leading outside stood at the end, and she pushed it open only wide enough to cock an ear for the sound of voices.
On the verge of retreat, she heard it—the low murmuration of quiet conversation between a man and a woman.
Without conscious thought, her body followed her ear, and she was silently easing along the stone wall, toward those voices. Deverill and Lady Standish stood below the terrace, which left Beatrix lucky. She could crouch in the corner and listen.
The first words she’d caught with any sort of clarity were those from a giggly Lady Standish. “Or even here, if you like.”
Beatrix’s brow crinkled. What could that mean?
A raspy groan escaped Deverill. “If you keep that up, I might just have to.”
Oh.
Heat crawled through Beatrix, and suddenly her dress felt too confining. Really, she could hardly draw breath.
“That’s the idea.” Lady Standish’s voice had gone a few octaves lower.
“Meet me in Mivart’s in one hour.”
“That long?” No mistaking the pout in the woman’s voice.
“I’m worth the wait.”
He would say that.
“And your room number?” asked Lady Standish, undeterred by his arrogance—possibly further intrigued by it.
“The entire top floor is mine. Tell the concierge you’re my new amanuensis.”
An incredulous scoff carried on the air. “Do I look like a servant?”
A masculine chuckle followed. “He’ll know what it means.”
Beatrix only just didn’t snort.
Even she knew what it meant.
It meant Lady Standish was one lady of many.
Not that the lady in question would care.
After all, Lord Devil was one in many.
“But it’s gone midnight.” The lady’s protest was weak.
“I workallhours, my lady,” rumbled from his chest. “And Ialwaysdeliver on time.”
Beatrix knew what that meant, too. The blush burned the tips of her ears.
