“Certain you aren’t willing to beg?”
She gave him a sarcastic little sneer, then added, “That was in English as well, in case you were wondering.”
Alex just laughed, took two quick strides, and kissed her hard and fast before she could argue. He pulled back and stared at her for a moment, brushed a thumb along her bottom lip. “Lord, I love your mouth.”
By the time Sophie had gathered wit enough for a response, he was gone.
The next day, she received a note from Alex.
Dear Sophie,
Should you find yourself in need of my assistance on some matter, please do not hesitate to send immediate word to my country estate. The address can be found below.
Yours,
Alex
P.S. I promise not to make you beg.
She kept it on her nightstand.
A stocky, middle-aged man sat, brandy in hand, in one of London’s quieter taverns. Across from him sat a much shorter gentleman whose exotic features, and tastes in spirits, marked him as a foreigner.
“This is quite an undertaking,” the shorter man commented. “Are you sure it will work?”
“As sure as anyone could be, I suppose. It’s been given a great deal of forethought and planning.”
“We are still relying heavily on luck.”
“It was my understanding the girl has an abundance of luck,” the stocky man replied.
“Both good and bad, same as the rest of us.”
“Perhaps, but some of the situations she has found herself in—”
“Have been primarily of her own making. The girl is headstrong and rash.”
The stocky man smiled and tapped his over-large nose. “Which makes her perfect for the job.”
“Yes, but we’ve still to see if she’ll accept it.”
“I believe she will. By all accounts she’s enjoying herself immensely.”
“That she is, the little hoyden.” The shorter man smiled and stood. “I’ll be leaving for Wales for a few days. She’ll be attending the Coles’ house party, and I suspect she’ll be safe enough there without my following her.”
“She’s safe enough anywhere.”
The shorter man shook his head and tossed a few coins on the table. “As I said—headstrong and rash. The girl needs watching.”
Eighteen
The Cole house party was considered by many to be the high point of the season. The widowed Lady Thurston, or her son rather, spared no expense on the affair. Every year, the enormous house was packed to the rafters with people eager to enjoy the entertainments Haldon Hall offered—two weeks of the finest meals, some of the best hunting grounds in England, and opening, mid, and closing balls.
Lady Thurston had confided to Sophie that as much as she enjoyed entertaining, she would rather have a usual house party, with fewer guests and just one ball. But her husband had started the tradition years ago, and now she felt obligated to keep it.
Haldon Hall was a massive manor that seemed to ramble for miles. The original structure was built when the first Cole was granted the title of baronet some three hundred years ago. From the looks of the house, Sophie guessed that every ensuing generation had made an addition to the home, and it was clear they varied wildly in their tastes. The effect was disorienting.
She got lost in the maze of corridors twice before making it to dinner the first night. An unsettling notion for a girl who prided herself on her sense of direction (a skill she’d honed in the jungle). When she finally managed to locate the front staircase, it was only to find Alex waiting for her at the bottom of the steps wearing a knowing smile.
“You’ll get used to it,” he guessed.
“I beg your pardon?” she asked innocently. She wasn’t comfortable with the idea that he knew her well enough to know she’d gotten lost. So her room was nowhere near this particular staircase. How did he know she hadn’t just been exploring? She was even less comfortable with the almost overwhelming desire to just…touch him. Everywhere. Lord, he was handsome, and she hadn’t seen him for days.
“You needn’t beg mine,” he returned smoothly. “Lady Thurston, however, has been in quite a dither about her lost guest. You’re twenty minutes late for dinner.”
“Damn.” Sophie picked up her skirts and hurried down the stairs, deciding now wasn’t the time to worry about wiping that smug smile from Alex’s face.
Alex took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. “I’ll give you a tour after dinner if you like.”
“That won’t be necessary, thank you.”
“I could show you all my favorite spots,” he argued pleasantly.
“All of them dimly lit and well concealed, I imagine.”
“I’ll do my best to make them your favorites too,” he whispered as they entered the dining room.
“Also unnecessary,” she whispered back, before taking her seat.