Being on the receiving end might do him good.
She allowed a small smile to surface. Silently, and with the utmost deliberation, she pressed her leg against his beneath the tablecloth.
He inched away, as if believing the touch had been accidental, but she followed, increasing the pressure, until she could feel the warmth from his skin through her skirts.
His breath hitched in his throat.
When she rubbed her foot up and down his calf, the hitch morphed into a gusty exhale.
He dropped his last slice of bacon.
But he didn’t pull away.
His leg leaned into hers, allowing her to massage his calf with her instep. Above the table, both she and Edison appeared to be giving the ongoing conversation their utmost attention.
“Thanks to Henry here, we’ve got something to go on,” Inspector Burke was saying. “We just need to decide how best to dangle Mrs. Templeton’s battery as bait.”
“How do we ensure the killer hears about it?” Meena asked.
Briar snapped her fingers. “Offer it for sale.”
“We could put out that it’s been stolen,” the inspector said. “That way it would be in the papers.”
Edison stopped, mid-chew, and shook his head. “We go back to the beginning.”
He spread his hands wide as if framing a picture with his half-eaten slice. “It started at the Admiralty. That’s where we’ll finish it.”
“What do you mean?” Meena asked.
While Edison paused to formulate his answer, Ada took the opportunity to run her hand down his thigh. She cupped his knee, massaging the hard muscles of his lower thigh with the heel of her hand.
“I’ll request a meeting,” Edison explained, an odd break in his voice. He cleared his throat. “Make certain the staff and all the lackeys know I’m coming.”
While the others nodded, Edison slid his own hand beneath the table.
Ada bit back a gasp. That very hand now rested at the juncture of her thighs. His fingers pressed into the crevasse between her legs, requesting entrance.
Her breath came faster as her skin flushed with heat. She let her thighs fall open, welcoming his caress.
His skills at this game of seduction far outstripped her own. She’d forgotten that.
As if he were reading her thoughts, Edison shot her a teasing look. Then he grinned like a school boy who’d just made the game-winning score, and slowly, languidly, brought his hand back to the table top.
Body aflame, Ada inched away from him. Playing with fire required skills she didn’t possess.
Ada took a moment to calm her breathing, to allow the flashes of heat surging through her body to dissipate before she delved back into the world around the dining table.
Burke was staring out into the room, his brow creased in thought. “Take the game back to the beginning indeed.” He nodded firmly. “It’s a solid move.”
“Brilliant,” Spencer agreed.
“It’ll have to be you,” Meena said to Edison. “You were there from the first.”
“Makes sense,” he agreed.
“What are you talking about?” Ada asked, once it became clear no one had thought to fill her in.
“Edison’s going to be the bait,” Briar explained. “He’s the only one—besides you—who could have it now.”
“Of course.” Ada felt decidedly thick-headed. She should have known that.
“It’s been a very long week,” Edison said. “Hard to keep up.” He patted her hand as if consoling an elderly pet. “We’ll let the old man know I’ve got the device,” he said to the others. “I’ll make sure to be seen heading in and out.”
“If you need a coachman, I’m your fellow,” Henry said.
“It would add a good touch. Make me look the part.” Edison grinned at the boy, who sat up straighter, like a limp plant soaking up water.
Briar batted her eyes at her brother. “And what part would that be? You’d make a terrible solicitor. I’d venture to guess you can’t even spell it.”
Edison feinted, as if planning to launch his last bit of scone at her, but before the pastry left his fingers, the business end of a small knife pinned his sleeve to the table with a distinct thunk.
Ada gasped.
Henry jerked back in his seat, a broad grin showing a pleasing set of white teeth. “Cor! That’s a bit of all right.”
None of the others batted an eye.
Edison yanked the knife out of the wood and set it calmly next to his plate. He inspected the small cut in his shirtsleeve and glowered at his sister. “This is my favorite shirt.”
Clearly immune to his intimidating glare, Briar brushed a golden curls off of her shoulder. “It’ll end up in the rag bin in a week anyway. They always do.” She caught Ada’s gaze. “He’ll stain it or rent it or set it on fire.”
Edison closed his eyes. A grand sigh escaped him, as if the weight of his existence was all too much.
Meena shared an amused look with her husband, then she pushed her chair back and rose to collect the breakfast plates.
Which reminded Ada that their household help was currently babysitting her addled dear of a grandmother. She jumped up. “You prepared the meal. I can scrub the dishes.”
While Ada and Meena cleared the dishes, the rest of the group continued planning for Edison’s meeting with the Admiral.
“Do we sneak in on him at home?” Ada heard Spencer ask.
“No,” Edison replied. “The Admiralty. We want everyone who knew about Ada’s device to see me.”
Ada stopped on her way into the kitchen. “Shouldn’t I go then?”
“Too dangerous,” Edison answered quickly. “Our man knows you’re alive, but he can’t be certain you still have the battery. I want to keep it that way.”
“We’ll put it out that Edison has… acquired it.” Spencer threaded his fingers together and thrust his arms out in a great stretch. “And he’s ready to sell.”
“Exactly,” Edison agreed.
“But—" Ada started to interject, but thought better of it. Letting this roomful of people continue to put themselves in danger because of her didn’t sit well.
She wanted to help.
Wanted to take on the risk.
But in doing so, she’d only put them in further jeopardy. She understood that now.
As with her attempts at seduction, she had little experience in this world of greed and violence.
Best let the experts guide her.
She scooped up the butter dish and the empty bacon plate.
Meena was watching her. When Ada looked her way, she smiled. “This is what we do, what we’ve been trained for since we were in the nursery. We’re quite good at it.”
Ada eyed Briar’s knife. “You’re spectacularly good at it. I only wish I could help.”
“Oh you can help. I have need of your particular… talents,” Edison said. “I can’t wait to get you in my workshop.”
When the double meaning in his words registered, her cheeks pinked. Every cell in her body buzzed with anticipation.
It was a wonder the heat between them didn’t set the entire room ablaze. Especially when Edison sent her a wicked little grin.
A grin promising full revenge for her teasing.