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“I do not want you ladies involved. This is already dangerous enough. Someone is after me, and I will not have them after you as well.”

“We are already involved, Abram. And there is safety in numbers. None of us will be alone. And since we have to return to the dress shoppe for alterations on Violetta’s dress, Myrtle, Gladys, and I can head over to the apartments with you while she is having her measurements taken. We can go tomorrow. She needs to dress back in time for the ball on Friday.”

Abram stared at her for a moment from his spot at the bottom bedpost. “I think we should get your brother-in-law involved.”

“He has to go to Parliament for session tomorrow. Let us help you. It will be daylight and there will be four of us. What could go wrong?”

Abram appeared pensive. Agitation leeched from him as he drummed his fingers against the bedpost. “I just don’t like the idea of this.”

“I understand, but we must get that paper or I fear we’ll have no other clues to go on. Do you not want to find out who murdered your friend?”

“I do not want to find out at the risk of your safety.”

“We will be safe. We are resourceful, and again, there are a number of us. No one in the world would attempt a murder in broad daylight.”

“I hope you are right.”

“Abram, I am always right. I am going to bed now. We will spend the morning sitting for our miniatures, then we will head to the dress shoppe. You will head to the apartments, and we will meet you there. And do not worry—we are very good at fighting. When he comes out to see what is happening, you slip inside, grab the paper, and come back out. I shall see you in the morning,” she said, clapping her hands before turning toward the door.

“Orris,” Abram called out to her.

She glanced back to find him right behind her. He grabbed both her hands in his own and her breath caught in her chest.

“I have never met anyone who would put themselves at such risk for someone they hardly know. I thank you for caring, and for your concern,” he said, lifting both her hands to his supple mouth and kissing each, slowly. His touch was gentle and warm as the scent of sandalwood and whiskey awakened in her senses.

“My… My pleasure,” she stammered. When he’d released her, she could hardly get her legs to move. She nearly stumbled as she turned away and headed for the door. He was simply being nice, she told herself. Everyone kissed women on the hands. Why did his kisses have to be so sensual, though? An image of his mouth on her hands, then moving ever so slowly up to her neck, flashed in her mind, and she nearly stumbled. Shaking the thoughts away, she tried to regain her calm.

As Orris practically floated back to her bedchambers, she crossed her fingers. Hopefully, things went as planned because there was a first time for everything, was there not?

Chapter Twenty

Abram got up out of bed and hurriedly threw on clothes to go seek out Samuel. He did not want to leave him out of Orris’s plans. And while he did not want to betray her in any way, he felt the plan was impulsive and dangerous. He would never forgive himself if something happened to her or any of her family members.

He merely stumbled down the stairs, for his night had been filled with reckless thoughts and things that he wanted to do to Orris. She was an indomitable force in his mind, one that he could not easily turn off. Why had he touched her so? How had she managed to haunt his dreams and fill him with desire? She was everything he wanted. She was everything he hadn’t realized he needed.

A fire grew in his belly for her. An appetite he feared would not be sated if he could not have her. It should’ve been the last thing on his mind. Here he was with a dead friend and a bounty on his head, for all he knew. Yet all he could think of was the softness of her skin on his lips.

At the bottom of the stairs, he found Dorchester walking briskly, as if he had somewhere much more important to be.

“Dorchester, have you seen the viscount this morning?”

“He set out early today, Mr. Fain. Is there something that I may help you with?”

“No, I was just hoping to get started on his and his wife’s portrait today,” Abram lied. Of course he had to lie; what was he to tell the man? That he was risking the life of every person in the house?

“Very good, sir,” said the butler. “Breakfast has been set out in the morning room.”

“Thank you, Dorchester. I shall make my way over.”

Abram was fretful all day. Orris had managed to make herself last in line to have her portrait done. By that time, he had memorized every plane of her face. Every line, every crease, the gentle curve of her lips. He could’ve drawn her face from memory, had he needed to.

He hardly noticed when Mrs. Gray came to stand behind him and watched as he worked on Orris’s painting.

“That is beautiful, Mr. Fain. Oh, how I adore everything you’ve done for us. The ladies look quite fetching.”

Abram startled, then turned to look at her. “I didn’t hear you come in, Mrs. Gray. My apologies.”

“No matter. I was just coming to get Orris. I’m taking Myrtle and Gladys over to the dress shoppe for alterations. I thought you might get the hem raised on the honey-brown dress, my darling.”