Thomas snorted. “Probably our last.”
She shook her head. “No, our first of many. Thomas and Lisbeth, the next famous explorers!”
He smiled at her. “I like the sound of that.”
Lisbeth grabbed the spear and shoved it in her skirt pocket, racing away. Thomas chased after her. “You have to store it in a safe spot, not in your pocket, Lizzie.”
*
“Mother?” Alice prodded.
She smiled. “It is the one we found. It was mine and Thomas’s first discovery.”
It was one of her favorite memories of them. Lisbeth sensed he’d been remembering the exact moment, too. They smiled softly at each other. Jeremy gasped, his eyes going wide. “Did you find it at Uncle Justin’s home? Can we go there?”
Thomas grimaced. Lisbeth suspected it was because the bruise on his jaw was starting to fade. Lisbeth glanced up at the blue sky before turning back. “Why don’t we take a walk in Hyde Park? Maybe we can explore there.”
Both Alice and Jeremy bounced on their heels, excited. Lisbeth laughed. “Go ask your governess if she wants to join.”
They raced off, and Thomas joined her. “You kept our spearhead, Lizzie.”
She smiled at him. “Our first find.”
Thomas brushed a loose curl off her cheek, and his innocent touch made warmth flare within her. She didn’t step away. His gaze drifted to her lips, and she ran her tongue along the bottom one. His eyes flared with desire. “Are you trying to tempt me?”
She wasn’t sure, but it felt so lovely to be standing next to him and gazing at him this way. Thomas leaned closer to her, and he nuzzled her neck. She lifted her hand and almost grabbed his jacket, but remembered herself, stepping back. She smiled tentatively. “We should wait in the foyer.”
Lisbeth headed towards the terrace doors. He called out, “Lizzie.”
She turned. His eyes still glowed with want. “I’m here when you are ready. You are the only woman I want. The only one since the moment you walked into the café in Latakia.”
“I just need a little more time.”
She made her way through the terrace doors and into the foyer. A floral letter rested on a plate where mail was kept. Lisbeth picked it up and wrinkled her nose. It smelled of toomuch perfume. Tearing the top, Lisbeth pulled a paper out, and another one tumbled to the floor. She picked it up.
Her eyes widened, and she gasped. It was a caricature of her and Thomas from a gossip sheet after their wedding was announced. Her face was blacked out, and large cross-out marks were scribbled over her body.
Thomas joined her, concerned. “What is it?”
She handed it to him and opened the letter.
Your Grace,
Leave my husband alone. Thomas Easton is mine.
C
He cursed, and she turned to him, lifting a brow. “Do you have a wife I don’t know about?”
He shot her an incredulous look. “No, it is one of my admirers.”
“Do you know their name?”
Thomas shook his head. “I only know who it is because it always has the same floral drawing and has an overwhelming sense of perfume.”
An uneasiness filled Lisbeth. “Should I be alarmed?”
He frowned. “I will see if Devons can help me hire some investigators. Hopefully, it is some young girl who doesn’t know any better.”
