“I will.”
After they had tea and chocolate, Ben fed them ham and coddled eggs for breakfast.He bustled around the kitchen, whistling off-key.The man he had been speaking with was Mr.Gregory, Matthew’s expensive French chef.The man had greeted them with a charming smile and then left with one of the young men who had been peeling potatoes to go fetch ingredients for the day’s menu from the market.Elizabeth checked the watch fob pinned at her waist.It was nine o’clock, and she needed to get going.
“Alright, I must be off.”She kissed the top of Robert’s head.“You mind Mrs.Todd.I will be back later.”
He nodded, his upper lip still covered in hot chocolate.She picked up a napkin and wiped his face.“There, handsome boy.Be good.”
Ben followed her to the door.“Maybe you shouldn’t go out alone, Miz Harper.The boss wouldn’t like it.”
“Nonsense.I will be fine.And please call me Elizabeth.”She turned before he could argue further.She hurried back up to her room to grab her hat and satchel.Just as she emerged back into the hallway, a door diagonal to hers opened, and Matthew emerged.His hair stuck out at all angles, and he wore pajama pants and a satin banyan in midnight blue.The vee of the robe allowed her a peek at the dark chest hair that covered his smooth olive skin.She swallowed hard as a warm, syrupy desire to put her hands on him spread through her chest.
He blinked and scratched at his beard.“I thought I heard someone out here.”His gaze roamed over her from head to toe.“Where are you going?”
Trying to shake off the intimacy of seeing him fresh out of his bed, Elizabeth sucked in a deep breath.“To work.I have a paper to get ready.”
“It’s too dangerous for you to go out alone.”
“Nonsense.No one is going to attack me in broad daylight.I truly appreciate you letting us stay here for a few days.Strangely, I do feel safe here at the club.Mrs.Todd and Robert are downstairs in the kitchen with Ben.”She gave in to impulse and stepped closer to him.Her nose filled with his scent, spicy with the tobacco he smoked.“But I have a job to do.I would think you would understand that.Now be a good boy and go back to sleep.”
Quick as a cat, he snagged her wrist and tugged her against him.“I can sleep when I am dead.”His lips slid across hers in a languid kiss that had her knees turning to jelly.She slid a hand into his hair and held on as the kiss became more desperate.His lean, hard body pressed into her soft curves, setting her on fire.She wrenched her lips from his.Damn it, how did he manage to ignite her blood with just a kiss?
“I have to go.My staff will be waiting at the front door if I don’t get back to my house.”She couldn’t resist running her thumb across his bottom lip.A low growl rumbled in his chest, and she worried that he wasn’t going to let go of her, or even if she really wanted him to.But then, he released the grip he had around her waist.She stepped back and hurried down the corridor before he could change his mind and convince her to stay.
Two hours later, Elizabeth concluded her staff meeting.“Let’s finish the last pages.Anne, give the advert section a final proofread.I need to take everything over to the print shop by three.”
The metallic clang of a hammer sounded from the back of the house.She twisted around with a frown.
“What was that?”Nigel asked from behind her.
Another loud clang rang out.“I don’t know.But I will find out.Back to work, all of you.”
She strode through the house and, following the banging, down into the kitchen.The back door was open, and the cabinet that had held it closed was shoved to one side.A man crouched in front of the lock, prying it off with a hammer and a metal wedge.Behind him in the garden, she spotted Matthew, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched.
“What is going on?”she asked stupidly.
Matthew raised one eyebrow.“I would think it obvious.We are fixing the broken latch.”
“I was going to get someone to fix that.”She had planned to look at her budget and see where she could find the money to pay for the repairs.She just hadn’t had a chance to sit down yet.
Matthew held out a hand.“Come outside for a moment.”
The workman in the doorway stood with the bent latch in his hands.“Mornin’, ma’am,” he said, as she stepped around him.“I’ll have a new one put on in a jiff.”
“Thank you.”She followed Matthew over to the tree that Robert liked to climb.
“I realize you could have hired someone yourself, but I know Jacob over there, and he could get the job done immediately.”
“I will pay you back if you tell me how much he charges.”
Matthew waved a hand dismissively.“No need.I’ve handled it.”
“I must insist.”He was impossible.“It’s my house and my responsibility.”
“Truth is, Jacob owes me some quid, so he is happy to do the job for free as a way to settle the debt.”He shrugged.
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes to study his nonchalant demeanor.People all over town probably owed him money.She snorted softly.Then she noticed the top of a carriage parked outside the wall in the lane.
Matthew followed her gaze.“Oh, I brought the carriage to help bring more things you might need for the next little bit while you all are staying at the Angel.Have you gone back upstairs?”
