“I promise we will obtain feet warmers and more blankets as soon as we get to an inn.”
She grasped his hand, still reeling with a mix of emotions like the dancers of the scotch reel. “I’m not cold. Not now. I’m worried.”
He squeezed her hand. “Yes, we left a mess behind. Leighhall will hunt us down once he wakes.”
“If he wakes.” Her words came out in a whisper, but Anthony heard her.
“You’re worried about the stab wound.”
She nodded, relieved that he was so observant.
“If that butler wakes soon, I’m sure he’ll get Leighhall the attention he needs. Which means we must figure out what Leighhall was up to, or we will have no defense against him.”
Happy to have her mind on something other than the possibility they were being followed, she ran over the information they had accumulated so far. “We know he wasbeing gifted with weapons, which he appears to be obsessed with.”
“I would agree. And we know that he was gathering information from the women he tupped.” His mouth quirked up as he said the word.
She grinned, surprised she could after what had just happened. “Oui, and you said they were all connected in some way to the king and his family and friends.”
“Clearly, Leighhall was spying on the king, but to what purpose? The war with France is over, so I can’t see any Frenchman finding the information of any consequence.”
She pondered the puzzle of who would benefit from knowing the king’s actions. “I understand your king is mad. So who would care what he did or whom he spoke to?”
Anthony stiffened next to her, alerting her that he may have an idea. “What was the signature you noticed on the letters on the desk?”
“There were three. There was an ornateP, a capitalR, and a smallg.”
She waited as Anthony thought. Then his brows rose before lowering once more before he shook his head. “It can’t be.”
She shifted on the seat so she could face him. “What can’t it be?”
“Not what, who. Those initials could stand for Prinny, regent, and George. All the same person.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Wouldn’t the regent already have people reporting to him on his father’s activities?”
“Yes, he would, which is why I don’t understand. Hopefully, there will be something in those letters you pocketed that will help us put the pieces together. In the meantime, we have to assume Leighhall is acting under the command of the regent, which makes him even more dangerous.”
She sat back, trying to imagine a ruler being grateful to the likes of Leighhall. “One letter did praise Leighhall’s loyalty.”
Anthony leaned back against the seat as well and linked his fingers with hers. “Then there is only one thing we can do to protect you.”
She turned her head to look at him. “Protect me?”
“Yes. My dear Daguette, you not only stole those letters, but you stabbed a peer.”
A strong foreboding filled her. “I also stole some coins and jewels.”
He sat straight again and stared at her in surprise. “Lissa, why?”
She didn’t want to tell him. He would object, tell her she would be an outlaw if she followed through on her plan to live independently by committing crimes. But they had promised each other long ago that they would not lie to each other. Seeing no help for it, she answered, “I decided to collect valuables so I could sustain Grand-maman and myself without having to marry. You saw Leighhall’s drawer. He had plenty.”
As his eyes rounded, she rushed on. “I know what you would say.Oui, it is wrong. Butmon ami, I cannot live under the rule of a man. I need to live, not exist. Even your middle-class tradesmen and lawyers would stifle me.” She folded her arms, knowing he’d try to convince her otherwise.
“I know.”
“I would rather be a mistress than a w—What?” She unfolded her arms and stared at him.
“I said, I know. You would be miserable as a wife.” His gaze was soft, caring, making her belly feel as if little minnows swam inside her.
