“He talked about me?”
“After I heard his story, I asked him why he would rather die than let you know about that house. After all, he had shown little interest in you for years.”
Her throat tightened. The disappointments had been many, and still pained her. “What did he say?”
“He wept, darling. He explained it was not lack of love that made him keep his distance. It was because seeing you broke his heart. You look just like her, he said. You look just like your mother. He has never stopped mourning her, or loving her.”
She held in her tears, but they burned her eyes and throat. Ives must have felt them in her, because he pressed a comforting kiss to her head.
Footsteps heralded another person in the garden. The moonlight reflected off fair hair.
“Over here, Strickland,” Ives said.
The man who had burst into the office with Ives and Aylesbury joined them. “It is done. Your brother proved eloquent in describing the repercussions if it became known a government agent had become a rogue. Sidmouth looked ashen when Aylesbury finished talking.They are taking Crippin and the Trenholm woman to a place of confinement, until arrangements are made for them to go away.”
“And Belvoir?”
“There were a few curses about the bad luck of having a stickler like you on the case. It will take some doing to find a story the magistrate will swallow, but they will fix it.”
“Thank you for your help.”
“I enjoyed every minute.” He took his leave and walked away.
The garden fell silent. And the house. “I think they are gone,” Padua said.
“Then we can be too.” Ives stood and offered his hand. “You will not stay here tonight, or any night again, Padua. You will come with me now.”
***
He took her to his house on Lincoln’s Inn Fields. His man Vickers only blinked once at her arrival before announcing he would bring some refreshments.
“I think we have shocked him,” Padua said.
“We have certainly surprised him. I do not bring women here.”
“You should not have brought me either.”
“I have some things to say to you, and they are not appropriate to an inn or a carriage or that house. Come to the library.”
She loved the library. Everything about it spoke of comfort and informality. Good chairs, a plump divan, abig table, and a handsome fireplace filled a good-sized chamber lined with books. One wall held law books, but the others showed a wide assortment of tomes in leather bindings.
She toured it all, taking in the appointments. She realized Ives watched her. “It is perfect,” she said. “Just the right size. Luxurious, but not overwhelming like the one in Langley House.”
He took her hand and led her to the divan. He sat and pulled her down on his lap. “I am glad you like it. I will show you the rest of the house tomorrow, to see if it suits you as well.”
“What matters is that it suits you.”
He quirked a half smile. His gaze drifted lower. “I’ll be damned. I had not realized this before.”
“Realized what?”
“Due to your height, when you sit like this, your breasts are most conveniently placed.” He kissed one, to show what he meant. “A bit of unfastening and unlacing and I can drive you mad from the comfort of my favorite chair.” His hand toyed with buttons on her pelisse to show what he meant.
“Mr. Vickers—”
“Damn. I will have to wait until after he brings the refreshments. Until then...” He kissed her breast again, and caressed the other.
She looked down on his fine hand moving on her body. A most contented arousal purred. Perhaps one more time—she kept saying that, didn’t she?
