He nodded as he jumped to the ground. “Indeed, I did. Alice, Alberta, Buswick, and at least six others have sought shelter under the tent.”
Relieved they wouldn’t be too early, she hooked her arm in his, and they started forward to join the others. “You didn’t do much to cover your tracks.”
“I didn’t want you out here with Leighhall. I don’t trust him.”
Not knowing if others were near, since the rain was becoming steadier and the sound of it hitting the earth was growing louder, she put her finger to her lips. “We are all going to need to change once we get back. At least we can shelter in the tent a bit.”
Just then, the rain doubled in intensity and Anthony slipped his arm from hers. “Run for the tent!”
She grabbed hold of her already wet skirts, lifted them high, and raced forward. Despite the sound of the rain, Anthony’s thundering footsteps were clear behind her. As they raced out ofthe wood and the short distance to the tent, shouts from those undercover greeted them. No sooner had they stepped inside than others arrived as well.
Her pelisse was soaked, as was her bonnet. She untied the ruined hat and pulled it off, though it was too cold to shuck her pelisse. Glancing at others doing the same, she noticed someone was missing. “Where’s Delilah?”
Anthony looked up from shaking his greatcoat free of water. “I don’t see her, but Rothbury is here.”
Lissa immediately strode up to Lord Rothbury. “Where’s Delilah?”
He shrugged. “Don’t know. Couldn’t find her. The woman is too clever by half.”
Placing her hands on her hips, she stared at the man. “So you ran for cover and left her out there?”
Anthony’s hands on her shoulders just made her angrier, and she shrugged him off. “If you will excuse me.”
“Where are you going?”
She turned on Rothbury. “To get Delilah.”
“You can’t.” The man shook his head. “If she refuses to come in on her own, that’s her decision. You’re a hunter. You’re not allowed to hunt my prey. That’s cheating.”
“No, it’s not. It’s caring enough that someone doesn’t die of exposure.” She stalked to the opening, but halted as Anthony stepped in front of her. “I’ll find her.”
She was about to refuse, but if she saw Delilah then he must have seen her too from his perch. “Fine. But if you’re not back in ten minutes, I’m coming for you.”
He gave her a nod and ran back out into the downpour.
“It’s a good thing you didn’t go, mademoiselle. As the hunter, that would have been cheating.”
She turned at the sound of Leighhall’s voice, even as fury filled her. “Yes, it would have been cheating death, but really, he’s not such a great bedmate now, is he, my lord?”
The man took a step back then studied her.
Merde, she couldn’t antagonize him or it could ruin Anthony’s investigation. “But that is just what my mother taught me.” She smiled. “I’m sure you were going to send servants out to look for her anyway.” She waved her hand. “It is the way of us French, so filled with concern over our sisters.”
At the mention of servants, she could see Leighhall hadn’t even thought of that. He covered up his thoughtlessness easily. “I understand your concern. As young Bellamore will save the day, I will keep my servants dry.” He turned from her and addressed them all. “And Alice, who cheated, can do her naked walk once inside the warm environs of the house.”
Alice grinned. “That will be even more fun!”
The others went back to talking, but she turned to look out the opening of the tent. What if Anthony were the one to become sick? It had never occurred to her before, but now that he was out there, she couldn’t stop watching.
Chapter Thirteen
Anthony contemplated Lissa’sbehavior from the warmth of the tub, which she’d had moved before the fire. She’d been out of sorts since he came back to the tent, both he and Delilah soaked to the skin.
Lissa’s actions reminded him of the first time he’d come to the farmhouse in the devastated countryside of France. She’d held a pistol on him as he attempted to find out if the captain was there. If her grandmother had not come to the door to see who had arrived, he probably would have never discovered Lord Blackmore still lived. Only now, Lissa acted as if he were the one inside the house and anyone else was the enemy.
She’d ordered the hot bath and had the servants move the tub. Then she’d told the valet to return in an hour and had personally stripped Anthony of all his clothes. That she hadn’t made a single inappropriate comment, or touched him except to peel his wet clothes from his body, concerned him, almost as much as her cutting her own wet clothes from her body before donning the dressing gown she now wore.
After dunking his head he lifted the soap to wash his hair, but she grabbed it from his hand.
