Wha’ have I done?
* * *
“What do you suppose we should do?” Lord Hale leaned forward, his elbows on the round table in their small, hidden meeting space.
Evelyn rubbed a finger agitatedly across her eyebrows, smoothing each one into a delicate black arch, while she listened to the others talk. She had explained in detail what had occurred in the dungeons and now they thought of what course of action to take.
“We go after him, eh wot?” Cecil Piper said.
“Naturally,” Hale replied. “But who shall go? What direction shall we take? And what of our rendezvous?”
“We will send Lady Kerr’s giant and another loyal brute so we might enjoy the last days of this house party, eh wot?”
Hale raised an eyebrow. “You trust them to carry out the task after the failure in the dungeons?”
“Indeed.” Lord Reddington tapped the table with his index finger. “How do we know we can trust them?”
Piper rolled his eyes at the others. “They will be more than eager to prove themselves capable of carrying out the task.”
Hale nodded. “Excellent.”
“As for where they will go,” Cecil continued, “we will send them to London. It is the most obvious place for a rendezvous with whomever is higher up in the chain of command.”
“But what of Miss White?” Lord Boxton asked. “Is she a target, as well?”
“No,” Evelyn finally cut in. “She was just as she seemed, a harmless—albeit remarkably talented in seduction—actress. I’m certain that she thought it all a grand erotic game. We must find Mr. Spencer, however. And when we do, we must kill him.”
* * *
A bird chirping an early morning song somewhere in the distance slowly brought Mary awake. She stretched her arms languidly above her head, a satisfied smile pulling at her lips. She was, she would grant, a mite sore, particularly after their third bout of lovemaking in the night. But she was most certainly happy.
She opened her eyes. The curtains had been opened sometime in the morn—had they closed them last night?—and sunlight streamed in to brighten the small, threadbare room. It must be nearly eight of the morning, mayhap even later. Perhaps she had better rouse Gabriel so they might be on their way.
“Gabe—” She turned her head to wake him, but his pillow was bare. No Gabe.
Sitting up, she looked around the room. “Gabriel?”
His trunk sat, closed, upon the only chair in the room, but all other evidence of his presence, or of the events of last night, was gone.
She flung the coverlet aside and rose, nude, from the bed. The sun warmed her bared skin through the window, but a chill ran through her bones. Why had he left? Surely if he regretted being with her, he would not have made love to her twice more.
She internally shook herself. There was no sense in having such thoughts. Gabe was probably arranging equipage or requesting a meal or tea brought to their room…Ooh. In which case, she had better dress.
Quickly performing her morning ablutions, Mary set about preparing for the day. She washed her hair with the new soap she had specially bought before their assignment.
Something felt different within her. Her body veritably vibrated with joy in the aftermath of her night with Gabriel. He’d described the ways that he’d imagined having her, and they’d certainly explored some last night.
Her stomach quivered and her heart leapt at the memory as she quickly dried her hair with a towel then left it loose to dry further. She packed the dress of last evening and selected a front-fastening cerulean blue travelling frock with petticoats and stockings and put them on.
Gabriel had been nigh insatiable in their lovemaking. He’d given particular attention to every part of her body, kissing nearly every bit of skin. She’d attempted to do the same with him, but as most of his torso was covered in bandages, she’d settled for what was left exposed. He was truly marvellous.
Removing her brush and hairpins from her trunk, she sat at the aging dressing table and brushed the tangles from her hair. Within moments, she had a serviceable knot at the base of her neck, secured in place with several hairpins. She pulled a silver chain with a single sapphire pendant and she put it around her neck. It was simple and understated and she adored it. In fact, it was her favourite piece of jewellery, which was why she so seldom wore it.
With one final gaze in the mirror, she glanced at the door.Where is Gabe?He’d been gone for far longer than she would have imagined if he was merely acquiring a meal and a means for travel. Could something have gone awry?
Worry began to buzz in her stomach and she wrung her hands. “Where are you, Gabe?” she whispered.
* * *
