As he walked across the room to the door, she found herself watching him, or rather his taut arse. She remained in bed as the valet entered and dressed Anthony, slowly reasoning herself out of her pique. Or maybe it was watching Anthony getting dressed that had her mood improving.
Once he was dressed, the valet headed for the door.
“Wait.” Anthony moved across the room to her pile of wet clothing.
Tired of waiting for the valet, she’d cut her dress to get out of it, not wanting to waste a minute so she could get Anthony divested of his own clothes and into the hot tub and warmed up.
Anthony handed the valet the clothes. “You may dispose of these.”
The valet looked aghast that he must touch her clothes, but did as told and left.
She chuckled, enjoying the fact the valet was scandalized. “I do believe he will be sick.”
Anthony turned around and faced her. “I hope that’s the case.”
That his motivation had been for her had her laughing. “Well done, Lord Baron.”
He bowed. “Thank you, mademoiselle.” His brows drew together. “I do hope you have something else to wear for our afternoon stroll.”
“Indeed, I do.” Without warning, she threw back the covers and languidly rose from the bed completely naked.
Anthony’s eyes darkened, but he did not move.
Though she shouldn’t, she still enjoyed walking to the armoire and taking her time deciding on a dress, though she only had enough for the weekend. She chose her green dinner dress that she had planned for the following evening because by then there would be no need to worry about what the guests thought of her for wearing it twice, as it would be their final night.
Turning to her trunk, she pulled out dry stockings then walked over to the settee where she’d left her stays. Lifting them from the back, she found them still damp. She refused to dampen another dress. She looked to Anthony, who she’d expected would have turned his back, but he hadn’t. Instead, his gaze seemed to devour her from where he stood.
She sucked in her breath before finally shaking her head. “I will have to forgo the stays this afternoon. They are still damp.”
He didn’t say a word, but his nostrils flared.
Now knowing that he watched her, she found every movement she made, from pulling up her stockings and tying them to slipping into her kid shoes, aroused her. Even twisting her hair into a loose knot once more had her nipples hardening. Lastly, she added a dagger on her thigh. The dress had short sleeves, so she’d wear gloves to hide another weapon. Finally, she lifted her dress and brought it to him.
He took it, and as she lifted her arms, he settled the dress over her, smoothing it down the front over her breasts and then walking around her to pull it tight. Once it was secure in the back, she made to step away to add her other daggers, but he stopped her, instead taking her hand to bring her in front of the mirror.
Curious, she looked at him as he stood behind her. “Do you wish me to see something?”
“Yes. Look at you.”
She did as he requested. Her gown hugged her waist and covered her breasts nicely without the stays to push them up to the scooped neckline.
He wrapped his arms around her. “You are beautiful.”
Her chest tightened at his persistence, and she gave him a soft smile. Then she turned in his arms and kissed him, letting him know how happy he made her. She broke the kiss before they forgot what they were about and stepped back. “I just need my last daggers and I’ll be ready.”
Without the stays, she could only slip one in her hidden pocket and one in her glove. She held up a silk choker and gave it to him. “Please.”
He tied it loosely, just as she liked it, then held out his arm. “Shall we explore, mademoiselle?”
“To find the perfect place for an assignation? Yes.”
He chuckled as he led her from the room, little knowing that she meant exactly what she’d said.
Chapter Fourteen
Anthony led Lissaout of the dining room, where they found a couple having sex on the table, but not before he had a good look at where the china cupboard was located on the wall. If he were correct, there had to be a room beyond the billiard room, which he must not have found on their arrival day.
She squeezed his arm as they started down the corridor. “That was an interesting place for a rendezvous, considering there are no doors.”
