Beau arched a brow. “Lead the way, Agent M.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Marianne hurried out of Beau’s door toward the end of the hall and the servants’ staircase landing.
Beau followed closely behind her, while continuing to scan the space for anyone else who might see them together. Thankfully the corridor remained empty until they made it into the stairwell.
They quickly and quietly descended the stairs, careful not to speak to each other, knowing that when following someone in a crowded house at night, the fewer words spoken, the better.
When they reached the third-floor landing, Beau motioned for Marianne to stay against the wall while he nudged the door open a crack with his boot and peered out.
Marianne pressed her back against the wall and waited. Beau soon let the door quietly shut again.
“It’s clear. Which room is it?” he asked.
“The fourth door on the left,” Marianne replied.
Beau nodded. “Very well. I hope whoever told you that was correct. I suppose there’s only one way to find out.”
Pushing the stairwell door open using his hand this time, Beau silently moved it until it was wide enough for Marianne to fit through. He followed behind her. They both kept their backs to the wall and remained in the shadows. Any servant or guest might wander into the long hallway at any moment. They had to be prepared to either flee or hide.
Marianne was the first to arrive at the fourth door on the right. She pointed at it and Beau nodded. She leaned forward and placed her ear against the solid wood. Muffled voices came from inside.
Beau crept over and crouched down in front of the door. He put his ear against the keyhole and nodded to Marianne to indicate that he could hear.
“It’s Baron Winfield,” he whispered. “I know his voice.”
“Can you tell who he’s with?” Marianne asked.
“Definitely not Lady Winfield,” Beau whispered back, “but a female.”
“Albina,” Marianne said with a nod. She crouched beside Beau so they both could hear. Being so close to him was doing funny things to her insides. But at the moment she didn’t want to examine too closely the feelings that were careening inside of her.
She shook her head to clear it of the unhelpful thoughts.
“Can you hear?” Beau asked in a whisper, his mouth so close to hers that she felt his breath against her lips. She had to fight the urge to close her eyes against the pang of lust that shot through her.
“Yes,” she managed with a nod.
They stayed there like that, crouching next to the door in the shadows while they listened to the exchange in the room.
“Come ta bed, me dear,” Albina said.
“Not yet, darling. I need your help tonight,” Baron Winfield answered.
“Help?” Albina’s tone sounded both surprised and confused. “Help wit wot?”
“I need you to write another letter for me,” Baron Winfield said, his tone wheedling.
Beau exchanged a loaded glance with Marianne.
Albina sighed. “Another letter? Are ye mad? I thought we was all done wit that. We about got our heads skinned the last time.”
Baron Winfield chuckled. “No one ever found out, and you know it. But thiswillbe the last time, I promise.”
“Yepromise?” Albina repeated, her voice coy, clearly warming to the topic.
“Yes, and I’ll give you extra coin for your help, just like last time,” Baron Winfield added.
