Ah, because women were not important, no doubt. “Very well, thank you.”
Rather than discuss their lodging in the hall, he opened the door and stepped to the side, allowing Lissa to enter.
She strode into the room much like she did in trousers. “It’s well appointed, but not in the best taste.”
He closed the door then reviewed the room. He agreed with her assessment. The maroon wallpaper with gold quarter moons and burgundy curtains made it dark. The gold-accented chairs and table in one corner were a dark walnut wood. There was no dressing table, but a full-length mirror in one corner. A single settee, set before the unlit fireplace, had a deep-red cushion and gold accents as well.
Lissa opened the curtains, filling the room with light, which just made it look more like a brothel. “Well, this is interesting.” She lifted what looked like a manacle chained to the headpost of the bed.
Ballocks. She didn’t need to see that. Maybe she didn’t know what it was for. “I’m sure we will find many interesting items here.”
She didn’t answer, instead moving to the armoire to open it. Seeing it clearly empty, she closed it and moved on. He should also detail the room, but he felt a need to be close should she find anything untoward.
At the thought, he grimaced. The whole situation was untoward. When he’d agreed to let her play the role of his mistress, he hadn’t thought they’d be sharing a bedroom. Maybe there was a dressing room he could sleep in.
As she perused a narrow bookcase, which did indeed contain some books, he moved to the other side of the bed, relieved when he found another door. Opening it, he let his eyes adjust to the muted light before moving in and opening the curtain of the narrow window.
With light now streaming in, he turned and stilled. Though the room contained a bathtub, it contained other items for having sex, some of which even he was not familiar with. However, there were enough feathers, whips, ropes, chains, dildos, and clips for him to understand the sexual nature of the room. There was even a sling of sorts anchored to the ceiling that had him imagining many different positions a woman could get into for the pleasure of a man.
Hearing footsteps approaching, he spun and closed the heavy drapes before striding to the door.
“What’s in there?” Lissa lifted her hand in question.
He closed the door behind him. They never lied to each other, but there was no rule that they couldn’t withhold information. “More of the same.” He gestured toward the bed. “And the tub.”
She seemed satisfied with his answer. “This room has a very interesting library. I will say, though, I’m quite pleased there isn’t an embroidery loop to be seen.” She strolled to the bed. “Would you prefer this side or the side by the fireplace?”
As the realization they would need to share a bed filled his head, he swallowed hard. “I’d prefer this side.”
She twirled around and walked to the other side. “Good, as I imagine myself sitting about on the settee in my shift eating sweets.” She flounced upon the cushions and lay back. “No, this doesn’t work with my travel dress and pelisse.” She stood and unbuttoned the front, her back to him. “Would you?”
Having no choice, he strode across the room and lifted it from her back, careful not to look over her shoulder at her chest. Unfortunately, she spun around and took the garment from him.“Since there are no maids, I guess you’ll have to help me on occasion to dress and undress.”
At her words, his stomach tensed. How did his investigation become an assignation?
She opened the armoire then looked over her shoulder. “I wonder why there are no maids. Do you think Leighhall can’t find women to work here, or is he hoping we will all walk about nude?” She turned back to the armoire and hung her pelisse.
Now other parts of his anatomy were reacting to her words. Turning on his heel, he headed for the door. He’d just put his hand upon the knob when she must have seen him.
“Where are you going?”
He forced himself to turn and look at her. She looked like the most beautiful French courtesan a man could want, and hedidwant her. As if admitting that to himself were the worst of crimes, he stiffened. “I plan to explore before finding the billiard room.”
“What about the valet?”
He forced a shrug. “I’m sure he’ll take care of everything.” Then, without another word, he yanked open the door and closed it behind him. Standing outside the room, he took two deep breaths before heading down the hall away from the stairs. He needed to concentrate on the reason he was in such a predicament to begin with.
There was not much activity in his wing of the house yet, as he confirmed by opening every door. In the hall, he made note of each room, vase, and bust as he strode back to the grand staircase. At the top, he searched the shadows for anyone about. Seeing no movement, he proceeded to the opposite wing. As with the one he’d just left, there didn’t seem to be anyone occupying it at the moment. What he found curious was that every other room was quite typical of what was found on an estate, while the alternating rooms were decorated like theywere in a brothel. Was this how Leighhall kept his sex habit a secret from his relatives, by assigning them rooms that were typical?
He came to the last door on the end and turned the knob, but it didn’t open. Locked. Was this Leighhall’s? Stepping back, he paced off the distance between the door and the end of the hall then the length between the door and the next. It had to be.
Crossing the hall to the opposing door, he opened it and found it occupied. A woman with blonde hair lay asleep on a bed beneath the quilt. Two trunks were set on each side of the armoire, but he didn’t stay longer to investigate. Quietly, he backed out, careful to be sure the knob wouldn’t make a sound. He continued down the hall, listening at each door before opening it. He was just one away from the stairs when voices rose as people ascended.
Walking back the way he’d come, he stood before a door as if not sure it was his and waited for those arriving to make the top of the split in the staircase. When the maid moved down the opposite hall, he plastered himself against the wall until the three people entered a room a couple of doors down from where Lissa was. As soon as they were all out of sight, he strode for the stairs and quickly descended. If he were correct, there was only one other guest with Leighhall, and it was the perfect time to make himself known.
However, he made use of his freedom to find the parlor, library, dining room, and ballroom, before approaching the double doors where he’d heard men talking. A maid scurried by as he opened one of the doors. He stepped to the side, immediately taking in the entire room and the two men intent on the ball rolling across the billiard table. As the ball fell into the rope pocket, the shooter, Leighhall, straightened. “I’ll be happy to play you again.”
The other man, taller, thinner, and darker than their host, shook his head. “If I continue to play you, I won’t be able to afford Violet.”
