He quickly dipped his hand inside and removed the precious, sensitive documents, then slid the forged copies from his pocket and placed them within the box.
Using the hairpins, Gabe set to locking the box. He waited for theclickof the lock before he hastened to replace the strong box into its hidden spot inside the rare book’s pedestal.
* * *
Mary cursed her costume for the umpteenth time that performance. The vest had not been designed with much arm movement in mind, unfortunately. A collective gasp rose out about the room—the men, out of desire, and the women likely out of outrage—for every time she raised her arms, her breasts were entirely exposed.
She entered her concluding set of movements. With each sway, dip, and flick of her hips she got closer to being able to find out if Gabriel had made the exchange successfully.
* * *
With the crucial documents safely hidden in the inner breast pocket of his waistcoat, Gabe took one last glance around the vacant study and placed himself quietly beside the door. He pressed his ear to the seam, listening for any footfalls without. Everyone must still be in the drawing room watching Mary.
He pressed the latch and pulled, very slowly and very carefully opening the door. As no one came at him guns drawn, Gabe exited, ensuring he left the door ajar just as he had found it.
“Mr. Spencer!”
Despite himself, Gabe jumped at the sound of Lady Kerr’s voice.Fool!
He forced a laugh and bowed. “My lady, you quite startled me. How do you do?”
She grinned broadly. “I am well now that I have foundyou. I confess I had been looking for you.”
“Indeed?”
She looked up at him from beneath her lashes. “Mmm. Yes, I had thought perhaps that we might…have ago,” she licked her upper lip in a suggestive manner, leaving no question in his mind as to what she referred.
He affected an unnatural expression of desire. “I would love to, your ladyship, but I am afraid that I must decline. Perhaps later this evening?”
Something flashed in her dark eyes, but it was gone before Gabe could interpret it.
“Call me Evelyn,” she purred, sidling closer to him. “But do come. I have need of your…services.”
According to Mary, Lady Kerr—er…Evelyn—had inquired several times about him. Mary’s assertion that Lady Kerr was possibly one of the traitors ran through his mind, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Could Mary have been right? Perhaps he ought to have listened when she’d expressed her concerns.Damn.
“As your hostess, I must insist that you join me for a nip,” she persisted. “You are so…virile and handsome and…” She pressed her body against his front and reached around to cup his buttocks. “Oh! You do have a fine bottom.”
If Gabe refused, he would appear suspicious. And if Mary was right, and Lady Kerr was a villain, he was certain that he could fend her off. If she wasn’t, however, he would have to find a way out of the situation before she attempted to disrobe him.
“Well,” he forced his grin to grow and his gaze to soften. “If you insist, my lady, I would be honoured to join you.”
“Mmm, excellent.”
* * *
“Encore!” Lord Sheffield called, a cloud of smoke billowing out from around the cigarillo held between his teeth.
Mary smiled and curtseyed with the appropriate amount of modesty. She pasted on a smile of sensuality and idiocy, allowing her gaze to glaze over as her audience clapped.
Where is Gabe?Heavens, he hadn’t arrived at the drawing room yet. Was he delayed? Detained? Or, heaven forefend,discovered?
She picked up her hairpins from the floor and hastily fashioned her hair in a tight, serviceable knot at the base of her neck.
“Mary, that was…superb.” Lord Boxton rose from his seat, a noticeable bulge in the front of his breeches, as he came to stand directly before her. He leaned in to press his lips to her ear and Mary suppressed a shiver of revulsion. “I am very much looking forward to myprivateperformance. Reddington and I will likely have to fight over who gets to have you first…unless the man sees sense and realizes what dreadful fate will befall him if he tries to have a go at you before I do.”
“I look forward to it, as well, Tony,” she lied with a wink. “If you will excuse me…”
“Just a moment, Mary.” He gripped her arm, halting her movement as she attempted to step away.
