“I do indeed,” he said with a chuckle. “And it will be a glorious and happy day.” He rolled over, taking her into his embrace.
He moved her hand around, admiring the ring her father had given her. He slipped it off her finger and looked inside. Nothing. No engraving. Her father had probably picked it up at a market, but it did appear made of gold with enamel flowers in three sections. He wondered why it had been segmented when it would have made sense to have had it smooth all around. He pressed one of the ridges then pushed one way and then the other and… it opened. He could see writing within the portion revealed.
Lucinda sat up on her elbow. “What? How did you do that?”
“I don’t know. Did you know about the compartments?”
“No. What does it say?”
“I have no idea. Code, maybe?”
A horrified expression swept across her face. “Do you think? Could this be? Is this the secret? The one that got my father killed?”
“I don’t know but whatever this message is, you were meant to carry it but never find it. Ingenious really.”
She sat up. “That bastard. So much for a token of love. He tricked me. He lied to me and then used me. My own father.”
“Lucinda, we do not know if this is anything yet. It could be a love poem in a different language for all we know. Let us not jump to conclusions.” He tried to make sense of what he could see. What if the other compartments opened too? He moved the ring around, testing the ridges, and eventually got the second section open, but it was more of the same nonsensical writing. It was not long before the third section opened to reveal yet more writing. Surely this was it? Why else would he have gone to such lengths to hide it in plain sight?
“I have to take this to Stafford.”
“No. We do not know what it is yet. I just… I do not know Stafford. Would my father have trusted him with this, whatever it is?”
“I assure you Stafford is an honorable man. He would not betray your father.”
“It is more what will he do with it? My father hid it for a reason. He could have sent it by mail to anyone in the British government, but he did not. He could have told them I had it, but he didn’t.”
“I have a friend. He is a code breaker, or was. He is married now but he could tell us what this might be, so we know what we are dealing with. Will you let me take it to him?”
She had already put it back on her finger. “It would be safer if he came here. What if you are waylaid by thugs, or a highwayman, or even someone who is already looking for us?That is why we are in this house. I will not take this off unless it is to show him in this house.”
Tony nodded. He hated to think about it, but she did have a point. “All right, I will send Bellamy a note asking him to meet me and I will bring him here to see what this is all about.”
“Thank you.”
Tony pulled her back into his embrace. “Beautiful and smart. How did I get so lucky?”
This made her smile. “If we are being smart, we should not stay here to be discovered. Let us go to your room.”
“Are you sure?”
“I cannot think that a few hours in your bed could be worse than being found like this by a poor maid or footman.”
“True. Come on then.” He stood and pulled her to her feet. She gathered her shawl and slippers while Tony made quick work of pulling his clothes together. They then tip-toed down the hall to his room. It had a double bed and an armoire, but not much more than that. Tony lit a candle and pulled back the covers. She went over to the mirror and looked at her nightgown. There were a few spots of blood on it, and she poured a little water into the basin and, with a cloth, dabbed at the stain.
“Here, change into this,” Tony said, handing her one of his clean shirts. “Or not,” he said with a wink. “I would love to admire all of the woman I am going to marry.”
“Only if I may do the same.”
“That is only fair.”
They both disrobed and jumped into bed, Lucinda pulling the covers up to her neck.
“How can I see you if you have the covers on?” He gently tugged until she let go, sliding the sheet slowly down to reveal her breasts. “You are perfection.” He bent down and took one rosy tip into his mouth.
Lucinda gasped and then moaned at the pleasure spiraling through her, at his hot mouth on her breast. He gently squeezed the other one and rubbed a thumb over her nipple, which made it form a tight bud. She did not know how to react to this intimate exploration. Should she be doing something too? Oh, but now his mouth was on her other breast and all she could do was rake her fingers through his blond locks and savor the bliss flooding her body.
When he lifted his head and looked at her, he smiled, no doubt happy at what he saw on her face.
