“That’s true.”
“Then you must look deeper. Think back on the women Leighhall has tupped.” She smirked, obviously enjoying using the word. “Did any of them haveindirectconnections to any royals?”
He stifled a groan. “There have been so many.”
“Then look back to the most recent ones. Whom did he tup before Mrs. Boscawen?”
“Lady Amherst was just before Mrs. Boscawen, and Mrs. Coster, a baker in Bedford.”
Lissa’s eyes rounded and she dropped her arms to her sides. “Lady Amherst? But she’s married to an earl.”
He turned away to keep his concentration and walked toward the bed. “Yes, Lord Amherst. He’s…” He stopped mid-stride. “He’s a godson of the king.”
Lissa plopped on the bed next to him. “And what of Mrs. Coster, the baker?”
He started to shake his head but stopped and looked at Lissa. “Her son is one of the king’s footmen.”
She grabbed his arm. “That’s it. That’s the connection. Leighhall is tupping women who are close to people near the royal family, but why?”
He looked down at her and then wished he hadn’t. Her neckline crinkled with her position and he could clearly see one of her breasts, the whole perfectly shaped breast, with a large dusty-rose areola and tiny nub. Spinning away and pulling his arm from her hands, he strode to the window to look out upon the black night, trying to focus on the discussion.
“Anthony?” Her confusion was clear in her tone.
“I must think upon it.” But as he stared at the darkness, all he could see was the soft, pretty breast that he’d tasted for the briefest of moments earlier. Now all he wanted was to taste it again…and more.
“Could it be he was obtaining information? I can see where his flattery might turn the head of an unsuspecting woman.”
He forced himself to focus on her words. Information. From women. “By Jove, that’s it! He’s using these women to gather information about the king. But why?” He faced the room again, but didn’t look at her. He felt he was close to something important some revelation. He just didn’t know if whatever it was could aid him in his mission. “Why would Leighhall need information about the king?”
“Maybe he wants to ask him for something. Your king has many daughters, no? Maybe he wishes to improve his situation by marrying one of them.”
It was a possibility, but there were easier ways of accomplishing that. “I believe the answer is located either in that secret room or the man’s bedroom. I suggest we investigate both on the morrow. From what I’ve gathered, he will give us free rein of the house fortuppingour mistresses again tomorrow before dinner, so that might be an excellent opportunity to further our search for answers.”
“I agree.” She jumped off the bed and moved to her trunk.
As she pulled the crepe shift out, he moved to the settee and sat to remove his boots. “I will sleep here. I do not wish to makeyou uncomfortable.” He would be uncomfortable, but in a much better position than attempting to sleep on the bed without touching her.
“That’s all well and good, but you will need to unbutton me first.” Her booted feet came into view.
He looked up. “Yes, of course.” Quickly, he rose, anxious for her to crawl into the bed, so he wouldn’t have to worry about craving her. After unbuttoning the deep-blue dress, he untied the silken ties of the stays. “I believe that will accomplish what you need.”
She held the dress to her chest and looked over her shoulder at him. “I have a feeling that you know that as well as I.” Then, with a toss of her head, she strolled toward the armoire.
He ignored her comment, unwilling to discuss his skills with women, and dropped back down on the settee and removed his boots, greatcoat, and waistcoat. Then he lay back and closed his eyes. He didn’t plan to open them again until morning, even though the room already cooled.
As he lay there, he heard the armoire open and imagined her hanging her dress, and with each small sound, he pictured her until he was confident she had brushed her hair and crawled into bed. When the cloth first touched him, his eyes popped open to the sight of her long black hair hanging over his chest as she covered him with a blanket.
He snapped his eyes shut once again. “Thank you.”
She patted him on his shoulder. “We take care of each other, mom ami.”
The brush of her lips upon his forehead both startled and settled him. “Yes, we do. Always.”
Even as he heard her pad over to the bed and climb upon it, his last word seemed to echo in the room, or was it in his head? Just as he started to drift off, he thought he heard it settle into his heart.
Chapter Twelve
Asoft clicksounded as the lock gave way to her hairpin. Quickly, Lissa looked to each entrance to the dining room. With no one about so early in the morning, she opened the secret door and pulled the china cupboard closed.
