“Agreed. I am the secret mistress. I like that. And what about you?”
He sat straighter. “I’m the younger son who wishes adventure, but I’m being pressured to marry, as I’m sure my brother mentioned in his letter to Leighhall. I have heard rumors of Leighhall’s prowess in bed and wish to learn how he is able to stave off his own family while enjoying his life.”
She could see Anthony sought to keep things as close to the truth as possible. “Does Leighhall have family?”
“He does. From what I understand, there is a married sister, a mother, and an aunt.”
“We know our story, so what are our primary and secondary goals?” She hoped his were in concert with hers, or most of hers.
He pondered her question, his gaze moving to the window where the tree-lined road had just given way to rolling fields. “Our primary goal must be to discover anything that may helpLord Harewood keep Leighhall away from Lady Harewood’s reputation. But to achieve that, we need to focus on those mysterious weapons, his secret room, if there is one, and the connection between the women he tups.”
She bit down on her smile. “Tups?” Having lived in Town all of last Season, she’d been exposed to the more common vernacular, but to hear it come from Anthony while he was dressed so smartly made it impossible not to tease him.
He sat back, stretching his long legs out in front of him. He seemed particularly interested in his boots. “It’s another term for ‘to bed.’”
She laughed, unable to hold it back. “Yes, I know, but it would behoove you not to use such language while at Leighhall’s, as it shows you are not the proper young baron you are pretending to be.”
His head lifted and he smiled at her. “But I am not there yet. I am here, with you, Lissa. I did not think I needed to watch my tongue.”
“True. I just thought to point it out.” Pleased with their old camaraderie, she also stretched her legs out next to his and crossed them at the ankle, though he couldn’t see her feet beneath her blue traveling dress. “I have not seen you in almost a fortnight. Have you discovered anything else about our profligate viscount?”
Anthony sighed as he crossed his arms. “More of the same. He spent a few nights each with Lady Bowmont, the actress Sarah Low, and a Mrs. Perry. I can find no connection between them. Lady Bowmont is a married countess who is known for her exquisite taste in décor. Sarah Low is unmarried and appeared inThe Cobler of Prestonon Drury Lane, though she is rumored to be the secret mistress of Lord Fitzlen. Mrs. Perry, also married, is known for her charity work with orphans.”
Lissa contemplated the women along with those he’d mentioned before. “So they are all of different classes and both married and unmarried. Is this true of all his assignations?”
“It is. I’m beginning to believe that he simply has nympholepsy.”
“That would be rather embarrassing. Is that not a feminine disease?”
He grimaced. “No, that is nymphomania, and those women with it are usually locked away. Nympholepsy is more of a frenzied passion for something, and in Leighhall’s case, it would be women.”
She didn’t actually see the difference, but it could be simply that the English interpreted words differently. “And would such a label be enough to bring the vigorous viscount under control?”
“Not likely. It would be deemed an envious prowess that he could satisfy so many women. But the odd, ancient weapons may be a clue.”
Though he had a point, that reasoning for the weapons could go the same way as the lord’s penchant for bedding women. “Or it could be that he simply enjoys collecting them.”
Anthony remained quiet for a long moment. Finally, he shook his head. “I would agree if it weren’t for the secretive way he obtains them.”
She pondered that. “If it’s a secret, would that be enough?” Though she hoped it wasn’t, or Anthony might turn the coach around.
“No. We need to discover why he collects them in secret. It is the obtainment of them which could tell us that they may be stolen.”
She jumped in, immediately understanding what he was thinking. “Or is it his ownership of them? If he has them on display at his estate, it means how he obtains them is his biggest worry. But if they are nowhere to be seen, then he either isdisplaying them somewhere else or simply having them in his possession is a danger to him as well.”
“Exactly.” He pulled his legs in and sat forward. “But I know he doesn’t have them displayed in his townhouse in Town, and with no other estates than the one we are traveling to, they would need to be there.”
Mimicking him, she pulled her own legs in and sat forward as well, getting a whiff of his pleasant clove scent. She held her hand out in question. “And how do you know they are not displayed in his townhouse?” She could guess, but loved hearing how Anthony went about his investigations.
He took her hand in his and pulled it toward him. “Why, my charming Mademoiselle Daguette, I entered his humble abode as a footman when he was not in residence. I charmed a lovely maid into showing me the home, as I was considering applying. There wasn’t a weapon to be seen anywhere, and I assure you, I was quite thorough.” He lowered his head and kissed the back of her bare hand.
She shivered at the shock of desire his light touch sent through her.
It must have surprised him as well, as he dropped her hand immediately and sat back against the seat cushions.
Swallowing down the titillating feeling, she remained where she was. “Then we may have one answer once we get to Woburn Manor.”
Anthony didn’t respond. Instead, he turned his head and kept his gaze on the scenery.
