“For the moment.” Delilah rose and joined them, her gaze roving over his face as if she touched him. “I can see whyDaguette is so happy to be here.” The woman turned to Lissa. “Page six, Daguette.” With that, she brushed by them. “I’d best see if Edward has need of me.”
Her tone made it sound as if pleasing her benefactor were a chore, not a pleasure, and he found himself looking over his shoulder as she exited.
Lissa’s hand turning his head back to face her startled him.
“Do not be lusting after women while we’re here. Remember, we’re here for another reason altogether.”
Surprised by her reprimand, he studied her for a moment, almost sure he saw jealousy in her dark eyes, but that couldn’t be. They were friends, despite his inappropriate kiss, and they had other matters than being bedmates to attend to. “I have not forgotten. Is she not happy to be with Lord Rothbury?”
Lissa let go of his head and returned to the settee, where she picked up the book and replaced it on a shelf. “Delilah was duped into believing an earl loved her. She gave him her body only to discover he’d already arranged a marriage contract with another.” She faced him. “This life was not her first choice, but she does what she must to live.”
His own anger surfaced to meet Lissa’s. “Did her family not protest?”
“They couldn’t. She is the one that gave in.” Lissa sat back down on the settee. “This is why I do not wish to be part of this peerage. It is cruel.”
He strode to the settee and sat next to her, giving her one of his charming smiles. “Surely not all of us?”
She wrinkled her nose and slapped his arm. “No, not all of you, Lord Baron.”
Inordinately pleased that she did not count him among the typical aristocracy, he forced himself to keep his gaze on her face. “What did Delilah mean by page six?”
Lissa shrugged. “Just a page in the book we were reading.” She waved her hand toward the bookcase. “It appears all these books are of young women being swept away by passion, though I had only looked at a handful before Delilah knocked.”
He rose and walked around the settee to view the titles.Lady Fancy’s Fall,Pamela’s Plight, andBea’s Journey to the Brotheldid sound rather salacious and repetitive. “Not much variety, I see.” He scanned a few more titles before one book caught his attention—Seven Ways to Pleasure Your Lord. He sincerely hoped Lissa hadn’t seen that one yet. He strolled away from the bookcase as if they were all rather boring, and noticed their trunks by the armoire. “I see the valet unpacked.”
“Hardly.”
At Lissa’s irritated tone, he faced her, again making every effort to only look at her face. “But the trunks are here.” He waved his hand toward them.
She rose and walked to hers. “Yes, they are, but only one is unpacked.” She lifted the lid of her trunk to show it was still full of clothes. “We women are to unpack ourselves, since we are not ladies.”
Though he could see how some men would view their mistresses in such a light, it still rankled. “Would you like me to help you unpack?”
Laughter filled the room. “Mon ami, I do not think that a good idea.” She reached into the trunk and pulled out a thin shift that could hardly be called such, as it was made of crepe and absolutely sheer.
He swallowed hard, forcing his mind from imagining Lissa in it. “I understand.”
She grinned before folding the garment and setting it back into the trunk. “I am not displeased by the notion of unpacking, as I’m sure you can understand. I was displeased with the attitude of the valet. I imagine he mimics his lord.”
At the mention of Leighhall, Anthony found his mind in a better position to concentrate. “Yes, the man’s attitude toward women is basically contempt, yet he is in so many beds. I’m curious how he does that.”
Lissa closed her trunk and faced him again. “No doubt he hides it well from the ladies. I’m more interested in what he hides within his secret room, if it exists. When can we begin the search?”
“We can do so now. We have three hours until we need be in the dining room. Leighhall gives his guests full access to the house, except to unused bedrooms. Some of the men have already gone to fetch their mistresses and bring them to a particular room. Our viscount doesn’t act like a man with something to hide.”
Lissa rolled her lips in as she thought, which had him waiting for her to release them.
Quickly, he moved to the fireplace to stop looking at her. “I suggest we begin with finding this secret room, if it exists, and searching for these old weapons. If they are well displayed, then he has no need to hide them.”
“Yes. And if we don’t see them, he must hide them.” Lissa strolled toward the bed and sat upon the maroon quilt, which made her stand out all the more in her blue dress. “If he has this secret room, it must be an inside room. If it had windows, it would be far too easy to find.”
He had to admit, she made a good point. “True, if Leighhall is that smart.”
She cocked her head. “I would not underestimate a man who acquires weapons secretly.”
He gave her a nod, wishing she would leave the bed. She was far too enticing in her gown. “If this supposed room is in between others, I would suggest the entrance to be in a place that would be highly unlikely.”
“Like from the kitchen?”
