Tamping down on the nerves that fluttered in her stomach, Mary removed the costume from the outer hook of the wardrobe and placed it inside among her gowns.
Should she change for luncheon or wait until the evening meal? She was uncertain. She turned her gaze down to what she wore; it was not terribly rumpled. As a woman of modest means, Mary often wore the same dress throughout the day, excepting her costumes. She was knowledgeable on many of the traditions of the gentry, but entirely uncertain on how frequently ladies changed.
She sighed, closing the wardrobe doors. The same gown should be acceptable for luncheon. She was playing an actress, after all, hardly one that would be held to high society’s standards.
Moving to sit at her dressing table, the mirror showing her the true, sad state of her hair.Oh dear. Poor Eleanor had gone to such trouble to put it up, only for Mary to take it down. She began removing the pins, one by one.
* * *
Gabe scrubbed the soap against the wet rag until it formed a foamy lather. Damn Mary and her alluring scent. He scrubbed the soapy cloth over his neck and face. Hemustget the smell of her off of him and out of his nose or he would be walking around with a cockstand in his breeches for the remainder of the day.That smell…
Damn. He scrubbed harder, the rough cloth abrading his skin with each stroke.
Mary was trouble. She did something to him that no other woman had. She made him feel… Well, she made himfeel. She clearly did not reciprocate his amorous feelings, for theirs was abusiness association, as she had reminded him.
He dropped the washcloth beside the washbasin and scooped some water into his hands. The cool water was refreshing on his face and neck as he sloshed it onto his skin. Without straightening, Gabe reached for a nearby towel to wipe at the droplets.
But that kiss… He sighed into the towel, his breath warming the coarse, damp material. Even the memory of it was enough to excite him all over again. Mary was skilled, that was for certain. For those moments before Lords Kerr and Hale entered, Gabe had entirely forgotten his purpose. Forgotten where they were. Forgotten himself.
Yes, Mary was indeed dangerous. He could see, now, how Mary was able to gain such vital information from traitors to the Crown. She had the ability to take a man out of himself, to want to get more from her at any cost, to do whatever it took to have her. With any leading question, Mary would certainly be able to learn whatever she wished. Hell, it likely took no question at all, for if what Gabe felt while she was in his arms was any indication, men would simply volunteer information purely for having her a moment longer.
He shook his head, agitatedly tossing the towel beside the washbasin.Those feelings weren’t real, Gabe old boy, simply a product of this assignment and Mary’s considerable talents.Best he focus on their plans.
“We need to open that strongbox,” Gabe said, turning toward Mary where she sat fixing her hair.
She placed a small hairpin between her lips as she pushed another into the knot she had created at the base of her neck. “When do you propose we do that?” she asked around the hairpin. “If Lord Kerr discovers us in his study once more, he will most assuredly be suspicious.”
“We will return this evening after everyone has retired to their beds.”
Mary nodded and put the remaining pin in her hair, gazing at his reflection in the mirror. “It will have to be very late. I expect the gentlemen will wish to play cards or drink after my performance.”
Gabe’s jaw clenched. He had forgotten about the performance. Briefly. “Very well, then.”
A wide smile graced her lips as she spun on her seat to face him. “Excellent. I shall bring the hairpins and you bring your lock-picking skill. Now. What shall we do once we’ve opened the strongbox? Surely we cannot simply remove the documents—if they are indeed within—without anyone noticing. We are the odd couple out, they will likely guess correctly that we removed them.”
“Damn.”
“We have several options.” Mary tapped her chin. “But the only plausible course of action would be to switch the documents with forgeries and make our escape before anyone notices the exchange.”
Gabe felt like rolling his eyes, but resisted the urge. “You’re right, Mary, that is an excellent course of action, but as sound as that plan is, where in God’s name do you suppose we could find a forger while at a house party in Eastbourne?” Mary opened her mouth, but Gabe shook his head, halting her speech. “No, we must think of something else.” He began to pace.
“If I might point out—I have some experience with forging.”
Gabe stopped his pacing to gaze at Mary, startled. “I beg your pardon?”
“I know how to create forgeries. Granted, I am not as skilled as someone more experienced than I, but while at the school, Samuels taught me about forging and cryptology, among other things.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I chose to focus my attentions on infiltration and the acquisition of information over the other skills, but I still have knowledge on the base skill. All I need is to know what the documents look like.”
Gabe was dumbfounded. Mary knew how to forge documents? Why hadhenot been given the opportunity to learn from Samuels?
“Once I manage to replicate the documents with planted false information, however, we will have to take our leave immediately upon making the switch.”
He nodded. “Yes. Yes, this could work.” A smile began to grow upon his lips as optimism blossomed in his chest. He could have Mary out of this den of wolves by the morrow! “It would appear that we have ourselves a course of action. Now, we simply wait until this evening to set it into motion.”
* * *
The hot, soapy water lapped at Mary’s neck as she sank deeper into her bath later that evening. Her hair was piled high in an unruly knot atop her head to ensure that it did not reach the water, though several rebellious auburn strands still managed. The room was dim, the flickering light of the fire wavering against the ceiling, and the steam from the rose-scented water filled the air. Having already completed her wash, Mary was now simply enjoying the warmth of the water. She closed her eyes.
Her performance would begin in just under two hours, which gave her plenty of time to bathe and prepare. Her costume, while voluminous in layers, was rather simple to put on.
