He plucked at the sheets; his eyebrows raised questioningly.
She laughed and shook her head. “No, I am not that simple-minded. That would be too obvious and—I fear—what they expect. No doubt they guard us by setting a chair before the parlor window below!”
“Such was my thought.Almostyou relieve my mind.”
“Poor Deveraux, wary of my machinations?”
"Terrified!”
“Good! All the more reason for me not to divulge my plans until we are ready!”
“You, Miss Leonard, have all the makings of a tease.”
“Why, thank you. I take that as a compliment.”
“If you don’t get some other clothes on soon, you may take it as more than that,” Deveraux drawled, rising to his feet in one fluid movement to drop the quilt he held about her shoulders.
Leona glanced self-consciously down at her state of dishabille, a blush suffusing her cheeks and rendering her adorably confused.
Deveraux grinned. “As your subordinate officer, might I suggest we fortify ourselves for our planned exploits? Forgive me for mentioning it, but you were a trifle weak yesterday.”
Leona grimaced. “And helpless.”
He spread his hands deprecatingly. She laughed. Drawing the quilt closely about her, she sat down opposite him to her bowl of lukewarm rabbit stew. The flavor was strong with an odd after-taste, but at least the stew satisfied the hollow cravings in the pit of Leona’s stomach.
Finishing quickly, she began to search Maria Sprockett’s cupboard for a suitable outfit to wear. Suddenly she found herself yawning. On her third yawn, it finally dawned on her. They were drugged! Too late, she remembered Chrissy’s complaint about how the Norths made her continually sleep. Her eyes were closing, and a strange heaviness lay in her chest. She fought to open her eyes.No!
Quickly Leona wheeled around and lurched toward the bed. Deveraux had already fallen back against the pillow. Leona was in the middle of swearing when unconsciousness finally overtook her, and she slumped down on the floor at the end of the bed, dragging a blanket off as she fell.
“Don’t worry. I put enough laudanum in that stew to knock them out until tomorrow morning.”
“So you say. I just want to check.”
Heavy boots clumped into the room. Deveraux felt something pushed up against his nose. He focused on lying still and breathing regularly. A hard hand repeatedly jabbed at his shoulder. It took all his fortitude to keep his muscles relaxed against the punches.
“He’s out all right.”
“I told you. Do you think they’ll pay?”
“Aye, and tonight if they want to see him alive. I’ll not make the same mistake of waiting as we did last time.”
Deveraux risked peering through slitted lashes to see Jewitt and North standing by the open bedroom door. Light from a candle Jewitt held threw their faces into ghoulish relief.
“It was a good plan. It would have worked if it hadn’t been for her,” Jewitt spat.
“But this one’s better, my pet. We can split the money, and you can go off to the continent to join your harridan mother and insipid sister.Faugh!To think that I put up with them for as long as I did.”
She looked momentarily annoyed at his words regarding her family but offered no comment. “Yes. This is a better plan. With the ransom money, I’ll travel to Switzerland and deal with Nevin myself!”
He shrugged. “Suit yourself. It’s none of my concern.”
“But, Harry,” Jewitt said in a wheedling voice as she reached out to stroke his arm. “Don’t you want to come with me?”
He shook off her hand as he turned to close the door. “Sally, my girl, the way our luck has run we’re best parted. Besides, I’ve . . .” His voice trailed off, indistinguishable, as the pair descended the stairs.
Deveraux lay still for a while longer to make sure they weren’t coming back. He heard the front door of the cottage open and close. Carefully he sat up. His head felt heavy, thick. Leaning against the wall for support, he made his way over to the window, glad he’d not donned his boots that morning. He opened the window a crack, breathing in the cold, damp air. He didn’t know how long he stood there before he realized the heavy lethargy was fading. He turned his head to look at Leona, wondering if he could rouse her. Hell. It wasn’t a matter of if—he had to.
He crossed over to her, picking her up off the floor. She moaned softly. Relief flooded him. She wasn’t out deeply. He carried her over to the window, setting her feet down on the floorwhile he held her up before the window. His teeth set on edge as his body instinctively reacted to the feel of her soft, pliant body against his. His hands holding her up wanted to slide around to cup her breasts. Fantasy images of her naked and writhing under his hands threatened to devour his sanity.
