It was rather lonelier than she’d anticipated. She was, however, determined to complete her task.
She’d begun her search for evidence of either Francis’ forays into Jasper’s home or of Francis’ possible collusion with an old member of Jasper’s staff. But her mind endlessly wandered back to Jasper, and the view of his bared throat and collarbone. Despite the persistent eerie tingle down her spine, another flush crept up her throat and warmth swirled in her belly.
From what she’d seen of him in the study, the man, while lean, was soft and in possession of a thin layer of curling hair on his upper chest. It was decidedly arousing. She’d wanted to press her lips to his skin right then.
She scanned the dim room, ensuring that she’d searched the space entirely, when her attention caught on a partially opened book atop a little round table. It was a copy of Mr. Mystery’s latest adventure novel, and a pair of spectacles was trapped between the pages.
A small grin quirked the side of her lips. She’d been in this room on countless occasions, the cheerful pale-green wallpaper and cream wainscotting matching the cushions on the comfortable furniture. She had even seen Jasper wear his reading spectacles. But she’d never been given a hint of his preferred reading material. Of all readers, she’d have never guessed the duke?—
Creak. Maria spun around, following the sound with her gaze.
Nothing. Blimey, but Jasper’s home seemed in constant movement.
With every room she’d traversed, a part of her wanted to imagine her life as the lady of the house—the duchess!—or how she and Jasper might use each room. But, as tempting as those thoughts were, her body was too…alert.
With a shake of her head, she strode out of the sitting room and into the adjoining parlour. It was ordinarily a comfortable room of middling size with yellow-striped wallpaper and purple accents. Now, moonlight shone in through the large windows, lending the space a faint milky blue hue. Dark shadows crept around the room, every piece of furniture creating long, ghostly reaching figures that only added to Maria’s unease.
Creak. A shiver raced up her spine, and she turned toward the sound, the handle of her dagger digging deeply into her palm.
Something feltoff. Her focus was diverted by the gooseflesh spreading in repeating waves over her skin, and the eerie settling of the house.
Her hand tightened reflexively around her blade’s hilt.
With quick steps, she rounded the furniture and reached for the parlour’s main door. She wrenched it open, flooding the space with the faint glow of the hall’s sconces.
She left the parlour and strode down the corridor toward the next room, peering deeply into each shadow as she passed. She’d not encountered a single opened or unlatched window, nor any breeze. And yet she couldn’t dispel the feeling that she was being observed…taunted.
Thump-thump.
She spun around, her gaze locked on the opened doorway to the parlour she’d just left. The sound had unquestionably come from within.
Gooseflesh spread over her skin, and her stomach swooped unhappily. Swallowing down her disquiet, she retraced her steps toward the parlour. She walked slow, careful to keep each footfall silent on the hall’s runner, and steadied her breathing.
Coming to a stop before the parlour’s opened doorway, Maria paused to prepare herself.
Her pulse raced, and a wave of exhilaration rushed through her as she whirled around the corner to face…an empty room. At least itappearedto be an empty room. She strode further inside, nearly bumping her leg on a low table. The moonlight and dim light from the corridor offered little relief to the nerves dancing along her spine.
“Blast,” she said into the silence.
A slow, hoarse chuckle filled the room, and Maria felt the rancour within it through to her soul.Francis. She hadn’t been a surprise to him, after all.
She darted her gaze about the room, searching for any sign of him, still clutching her dagger. She was determined to have answers.
“This house is protected, Francis,” she said.
Another low chuckle surrounded her, and awareness tingled at the back of her neck.
A breeze ruffled the curtains, and Maria realized that one of the windows sat open. A chill raced through her. She hadjustbeen there…
“Where are you?” she asked. “How?—”
Thunk.
A trinket from atop a low table rolled along the floor and came to a gradual stop. Had he bumped the table? Her gaze swung around the room wildly, searching for any sign of the man but coming up short.
Shink. Darkness engulfed the room as the curtains were pulled closed. Her heart hiccoughed alarmingly and set her pulse to throbbing loudly in her ears.
“Jasper!” she called.
