Now that was different. “Peers don’t dig in the soil.”
He grinned, back to himself once again. “Our viscount does when he knows there will be a chakram wrapped in leather next to an old Roman road marker.”
Her mind spun with the possibilities. “Was the ground disturbed as if recently dug?”
“It was impossible to tell. There was much mud in the area, as it had rained in the evenings the three days prior to his traveling there.”
“And was it on a person’s property or along a road?”
“It was along a road between the Countess Bowmont’s estate and Mrs. Perry’s cottage.”
Obviously, the spot had been prearranged, but by whom? “Do you think one of the women sent him to that spot?”
He’d opened his mouth to answer when the waiter came in. The man set down the tea service then exited, allowing another to place a tray of sweets on the table. After they left, she uncrossed her arms and poured a cup for Anthony. “Do you still drink it black?”
When he didn’t immediately answer, she looked up to find his gaze on her chest once again. She twitched her nose. “Anthony?”
He blinked before looking at her. “Yes.”
“Yes, you take it black?”
He looked to the cup she held aloft but inches from the table. “Yes, black.”
She set the cup before him then reached past it to lift what looked to be a berry tart of some kind. As she did, she felther nipple slip past her dress. “Oh.” She pulled her hand back, setting the dress aright again with her movement. “I forgot my manners. Would you pass me a berry tart?”
He took a plate and filled it with not only the tart but a scone and a piece of pound cake, which she quite liked. Then he set the plate before her. “These are your favorites, are they not?”
That he remembered what she enjoyed touched her. “Indeed they are.Merci.” Not to be outdone by his thoughtfulness, she pointed to the Shrewsbury cakes. “Be sure to fill your plate. I will not have room in my belly for any.”
“If you insist.” Though he said it seriously, she noticed the quirking of his lips.
He really did have very nice lips, and when he’d kissed her, they were firm and commanding. She did like that in a lover.
As they ate, she contemplated Anthony, who continued to keep his gaze anywhere but on her. She’d always known he was handsome, especially now with a trim beard about his jawline that was far darker than his gold-tipped hair. It was her new awareness of his body that intrigued her. She’d always known him to be fit, based upon their many escapades back in France, but for the first time, she wondered how he would looksansclothing. The patch of chest she’d seen while they were dressed as servants was barely a glimpse, and she found her curiosity growing.
Would he be an attentive lover? Her instinct answered in the positive. Would he be an energetic lover? He certainly was capable. Would he be a creative lover? Now that was a question that could only be answered by experiencing him. Still, her imagination conjured up a scene involving a balustrade and steps like the grand staircase at Silver Meadows. Even as the scene took hold, her body heated.
“Daguette? Lissa?”
She snapped her head around to look at him. “Oui?”
“I asked if you would like me to order more sweets.”
She gave him a seductive smile. “No, I have all I need right here.”
His brow furrowed, but he didn’t ask her to explain. “Then I suggest we continue our journey. I would like us to be among the first to arrive, so I might make an impression on the viscount and perhaps have a chance to explore the house.”
At the reminder of their mission, she forced herself to refocus. “Then let us leave posthaste.” Rising, she stepped from behind the table.
He rose at her movement, and she wondered if gentlemen did that with their mistresses. It was something she would watch for. He immediately lifted her pelisse and helped her don it, though he left the buttoning to her. She would have been perfectly happy if he had wished to do that for her.
“Wait here while I make sure all is ready.”
Before she could answer, he slipped out. It was just as well, as she wanted to form a plan. She only had three days with which to accomplish all her goals, in addition to learning how mistresses acted. That was a lot to do in so short a time, but even if she couldn’t manage to slip enough valuables from the Leighhall home into her hidden pockets, she was quite sure she could manage a few that would constitute a substantial start on her freedom. But she wouldn’t forget Anthony’s investigation. She hoped that she could find the secret room. If it contained gold, she could satisfy two of her goals at once.
The door opened and Anthony held out his arm. “The coach awaits.”
She gave him a regal nod, practicing in case she was expected to act the lady despite her role as mistress, and placed her bare hand on his arm. When they arrived at the coach and he helped her in, she found a package on her seat. “What is this?”
