Chapter Twenty
The sun warmedthe room. Through the drawn open curtains, Hart glanced out of Maddie’s bedchamber window at a gray-blue sky buffeted by clouds. Not the azure blue of country skies, but at least not gray with soot. That would come soon enough. As the second ball they had attended ended close to dawn, they’d slept later than usual. Summer was only a few weeks away, and Hart wished to return to Pembury. A letter had arrived from Uncle William’s trustees to say that the monies and property in the will would soon be handed over to him.
It meant that money was no longer a concern. He did not wish to use any of Maddie’s inheritance and would advise her to talk to the trustees, as she should be made aware of how her money was invested. She expressed an interest in charity work, and he wanted her free to pursue it.
The last few weeks had been busy, the Season in full swing. Thankfully, Vivian had kept her distance since that first ball, which suited him. He had no wish to pursue her.
Parliament would go into recess on the 12thof July, and would not meet again until late January. If they were to go to Pembury as soon as the hot weather arrived, it gave Hart little time to discover the identity of this peer at the head of the smuggling ring.
As the House of Lords sat later today, Hart intended to search for the lord. A letter from Sir Joshua despaired how his contacts failed to discover anything about him. It appeared the lord was cautious and kept his association with the smuggling ring secret from the smugglers themselves.
Yesterday, as he left the house, Hart caught sight of a man loitering in the square. It might mean nothing at all, but he wanted this lord arrested in case he proved a danger to them. He intended to single him out, but with little idea of the man’s appearance, he had little to go by.
Maddie yawned. “We weren’t home ’til dawn.” Propped up by pillows, she drank the last of her chocolate and nibbled on a slice of toast. “We haven’t had a moment to spare since we came to London. Out every night, then breakfasts and card parties or riding in Rotten Row. I feel as if I could sleep for a week.”
“Your looks belie your words, Maddie. You are positively radiant,” he observed while drinking his coffee.
She laughed. “Before I brush my hair?”
He reached over and gave a soft tug to a lock curling beguilingly over her breast. “I like your hair in a tangle.”
“You should, as you are responsible for it.”
She was different since her uncle died. More sassy and confident. She’d become the girl he sensed she could be when he first met her. He never tired of her company, or making love to her.
“Diane and I are to visit a mantua-maker at midday. We dine at home tonight before we attend the opera house. There’s a new musical drama calledThe Slavewe’ll watch with Ianthe in her box.”
“Mm?”
She poked him in the chest, breaking into his pleasant thoughts of them earlier. “You must be sorry to miss it.”
“I am,” he said with a grin.
“And I believe you,” she said with a lift of her eyebrows.
“Maddie, already you know far too much about me,” he murmured with a shake of his head. He slid a hand across the smooth skin of her belly and breathed in the heady mixture of her perfume and arousing feminine scent.
She giggled and pushed his hand away. “Stop that. I don’t like to be tickled.”
“If I had time, I might pursue that challenge,” he said. “But unfortunately, I haven’t.”
“I am shopping for suitable hats, as we are to spend the summer months at Pembury.” She sighed. “And new clothes. I’ve put on a little weight. One is so much more active in the country. A ride in Rotten Row is not nearly enough. I can’t wait to ride Pearl again. We used to travel for miles.”
“I once watched you galloping Pearl. You looked as though you might ride on until you disappeared. For a moment, I thought you wouldn’t come back.”
“Perhaps I might have one day.” Her eyes darkened.
He cursed himself for mentioning those desperate times when it was his intention to put the experience behind them. He smiled and rested a hand on her thigh. “I like you a little plumper.”
She looked indignant. “I am not plump!”
“In all the right places,” he said, grinning. “I have the House of Lords later, which will probably go late into the evening.” He kissed her nose and rose from the bed. “Afterward I’m to meet Tate at White’s.”
“Then I shan’t see you until late tonight?”
“You’ll probably be asleep. I won’t disturb you; I’ll sleep next door.”
“I’ll be awake,” she called as he tied the sash on his dressing gown and made for the door. Hart blew her a kiss and went through to his suite.
