Chapter Fourteen
A nthony led Lissa out of the dining room, where they found a couple having sex on the table, but not before he had a good look at where the china cupboard was located on the wall. If he were correct, there had to be a room beyond the billiard room, which he must not have found on their arrival day.
She squeezed his arm as they started down the corridor. “That was an interesting place for a rendezvous, considering there are no doors.”
He glanced down at her to see her grinning. He grinned as well. “Any place makes for a unique experience.”
“Even in the dressing room?”
His body immediately heated. “You were in there.”
Though he hadn’t asked a question, she still nodded. “I believe there is much more I need to learn to truly be a mistress. You will teach me, of course.”
He swallowed hard at the thoughts she instigated in his head. “I think we should focus on our place of discovery for this interlude first.”
“I was just thinking of in the future, as in tonight.”
The shock of desire that hit his groin had him coughing. “Yes, well, it’s best not to plan but allow the atmosphere to dictate the terms.” Though the atmosphere felt as if it would combust any minute. Even now, walking sedately past the library’s closed doors, he wanted to press her to the wall and have her again. He should have never seen her in a dress or undressed or—
He forced his mind back on their task and nodded to the billiard room, where male voices could be heard.
Lissa sighed. “I guess those gentlemen must wait until this evening.”
Since her comment started his mind in the wrong direction, he determined he needed her to focus as well. “I did enter the next set of doors, which are the ballroom, as are the set after them. I was hoping there was a room I missed, but we are almost to the end.”
“Is there no other corridor? If not, the weapon room may well be off the ballroom.”
That was a possibility, but if so, that would be very public when there was a ball. As they approached the end of the corridor, they could go no farther. “It appears we will need to search the ballroom, as you suggested.”
They turned around and walked to the set of double doors. Opening one, he hoped the room would be unoccupied.
Lissa preceded him. “It’s not particularly large, though it could take us a while.”
He stepped to the right and viewed the entire room. She was correct—it was small for a ballroom, but checking every inch of wall would take quite some time. “I don’t see another china cabinet or even bookcase in here that might be an entrance.”
Lissa wandered into the middle of the room, the light from four sets of French doors illuminating the space. She slowly turned. “I imagine dancers escape to that terrace in the middle of events.”
He strode across the empty room and looked out. The angle was wrong for a secret room to be connected. “I don’t think we’ll find what we’re looking for in here. It’s the wrong layout.”
She looked at him over her shoulder. “But not if it’s off that room.” She pointed to her right, and he strode past the column in his line of sight.
She was already heading for the single door with a walnut doorframe much like in the rest of the house. Before he could reach her, she opened the door. “Oh.”
When she didn’t move inside, he quickened his pace. “What is it?”
“I believe this is where all the married men hide during a ball.”
“Hide?” He stepped inside and to the right to examine the room. Though there were no windows, the sunlight from the ballroom was enough to see the interior. It was covered in pale green wallpaper with no design. On the walls hung a number of stuffed animal heads, a coat of arms, and two paintings of hunting dogs. Though smaller than the parlor, it boasted a large fireplace, at least a dozen wingback chairs, end tables, card tables, and a sideboard with a variety of liquors. “Yes, I imagine this would be the place to hide.”
She stepped across the wooden floor toward a cabinet of rifles. “And look. I wonder if some of these were used on them.” She waved her hand toward the animal heads on the walls.
He was less interested in what they were used for than in what they might be hiding. If he weren’t mistaken, the wall with the gun cabinet could be the one for the secret room. Walking over, he began to run his hand along the side of the cabinet.
Lissa didn’t say a word. Instead, she moved to the other side and began to feel along the wall as well.
He froze when his fingers encountered metal.
As if she sensed his excitement, she stopped. “You found it?”
He nodded then pushed down on what felt like a lever behind the cabinet. Immediately, there was a click.
Lissa walked over to stand next to him. “Now what?”
Studying the area, he saw there was only one way it could move, so he pushed. The whole gun case slid to the right, revealing a door.
“We found it.” Lissa’s whisper was filled with excitement as she grabbed on to his arm.
“I believe we did. Shall we check?”
Nodding excitedly, she let go of his arm and nudged him forward.
He turned the nob, expecting it to be locked, but it moved and the door opened inward to inky blackness. “We’ll need a lantern.”
“There must be one in here. Let’s—”
The sound of the ballroom door opening interrupted her, and he quietly shut the secret door.
Without a word, Lissa tiptoed back to him, and they moved the silent gun case back into position. Just as he steeled himself for the click, Lissa let out a moan.
“Oh, Anthony, mi amour .”
He pulled her into his arms as a shadow blocked the light into the room. “I must have you.” He lowered his head to her neck, undoing the tie at the back of her dress, waiting for the person to interrupt. When they didn’t, he kept going, lowering her dress a bit and kissing her chest. Ballocks . He forgot she wore no stays. What was the person waiting for?
“Wait.” Lissa’s voice sounded breathless as she grabbed his shoulders.
He stopped. “But I can’t.” He hoped he sounded desperate, though anger was riding him hard.
“Please, Anthony. Someone is here.”
He looked over his shoulder as if he hadn’t known they had company. “Lord Leighhall.” Quickly, he lifted Lissa’s dress to cover her bare chest. “I didn’t know you were there.”
The man took a couple steps into the room. “I’m not surprised. I can see you were otherwise occupied.” Though Leighhall spoke to Anthony, he continued to look at Lissa.
Quickly, Anthony tied the back of Lissa’s dress before stepping around her. “I apologize if you didn’t wish us in here.”
Leighhall finally moved his gaze. “Not at all. Any room is open to you except other bedrooms.” The man waved his finger. “I allow no orgies unless I’m invited.”
“We don’t participate in orgies.” Lissa’s voice was firm. “I do not allow another woman to touch my Anthony.”
Leighhall’s eyes fixed on her gloves. “No, I don’t suppose you do. Why are you wearing gloves? It is not required at my house parties.”
Lissa used her left hand to pull up her right glove. “As it happens, my Anthony likes the feel of silk on his—”
“Since you need this room, we shall continue our exploration of your beautiful home. You are indeed a most gracious host.” Anthony glanced at Lissa, who appeared completely innocent in what she’d been about to say.
“I just came in to retrieve a couple of guns. Pemberton and I were having a bit of a debate.”
Lissa visibly shivered. “Guns? I do not like them. They killed my family.”
Leighhall’s eyebrows rose. “My dear, if you had your eyes open, you would see there is an entire case of them.” He pointed behind her.
Lissa turned to look. “Oh.” Quickly, she turned back and pressed her forehead against his arm. “Take me away from here. I cannot bear it.”
Anthony held her close and gave Leighhall an apologetic shrug. “I think it best we find another room in which to play.” Leading Lissa past the man, he continued out the door before crooning to her, “I’m here. We shall find someplace else. I promise we won’t go in there again.” He continued until they had left the ballroom and headed for the stairs.
When he felt her shaking, he grew alarmed and stopped. “Lissa, what is it?”
She lifted her face, chuckling. “I don’t suppose we should tell our host that I’m a crack shot.”
Relieved, he shook his head. “There are many things we won’t be telling our host.”
“And there’s much he’s not telling us. We need to get back in that room.”
He continued to lead them to the stairs. “Yes, we do. Maybe tonight, after all are asleep.”
“That’s a good plan. And that gives us time to enjoy the afternoon in another room, like maybe the dressing room?”
His body reacted at her suggestion, but he refused to be distracted. “No, it’s a good time to rest so you are awake when everyone is asleep.”
She gave him her perfected pout. “I’ll never be able to sleep.”
“Then I suggest you read. I will be rejoining the men after a little more exploration.”
When they reached the top of the stairs, she dropped her hand from his arm and strode purposefully toward their room. “Exploration? Surely, I can help with that.”
Despite enjoying her company, he didn’t wish to risk her again. She meant too much to him. “Nothing exciting. Just the rooms I haven’t explored yet.”
“Oh. Very well.” She remained silent until she reached the door. She opened it, stepped inside, and halted, immediately turning to face him. “You said you were concerned that Leighhall is a great friend of the regent and therefore untouchable.”
He quickly closed the door behind him, moving to his travel trunk and opening it. “Yes. My fear is that if he is such a good friend, no matter what we discover about him, it won’t make a difference. I’ve never failed at providing my client with what they need, but if Leighhall is so well favored, there will be nothing to stop him from ruining Lady Harewood’s reputation.”
“Then why hide the weapons? If he truly is so protected, why not display them? He had the gun case in that small room. What’s different about the ones in his weapon room that he won’t show anyone, nor even let any servant in to clean it?”
Even as she made her point, hope rose in his chest. “That’s true. But we don’t know that he doesn’t allow a servant in. You only heard that through rumor.” He rummaged through his shaving case to pull out three keys, pocketing them before closing the trunk.
She wrinkled her nose before turning and walking further into the room, pulling off one of her gloves. “That’s true. It was terribly clean, from what I noticed. I could see that burly butler being allowed in. He looks as if he’d die protecting Leighhall.”
“Still, your point is sound. Why not display such a unique collection?”
She pulled off her other glove, palming her dagger. “Are they illegal here in England?”
He’d asked that very question of Mr. Stochbury at Talley on the Green, and at the time, none of the ones he knew of were outlawed, just out of use.
At the thought of Stochbury and his promise to introduce Lissa to the man, he stiffened. How could he possibly keep that promise now?
“Anthony?”
“Yes?” He found her standing by the bookcase. He’d completely lost track of their conversation.
“I asked if any of those weapons were illegal here in your country.”
“No. So again, why hide them? They are of no particular value.”
She pulled a book from the shelf and turned back to face him. “Then maybe they are stolen?”
Her explanation made the most sense, but even then, the regent would protect the viscount unless he’d stolen them from the king himself, which was unlikely, since the king had little interest in weapons. Now, the regent did enjoy collecting weapons, which only made the connection between the two men that much stronger. “That may be the case, but even then, it would not be enough to keep Leighhall at bay.” He turned back toward the door. “I’m going to search his rooms. Maybe I’ll find something there that will aid us in our quest.”
“Are you sure you don’t wish me to accompany you? I may notice something you don’t.”
Even as she said the words, he had to tamp down a harsh refusal. He’d seen the way Leighhall’s gaze had latched on to Lissa. The last place he wanted her was in the man’s bedroom. “No, it’s better that I go. If we are both caught there, we will have broken one of Leighhall’s rules about exploring other bedrooms. It would not go well for us, I’m sure.”
She cocked her head as if trying to find another excuse to leave with him, but finally she sighed. “Very well. You go.” She waved him toward the door. “I shall see what folly Lady Fancy falls into.”
“I’ll look forward to hearing all about it.” He opened the door before the actual acts that might be described in such a book had him halting. “Or maybe not.” He quickly stepped out to the sound of her laughter.
What was he going to do about Lissa? Even as he walked toward the stairs, he tried to answer that question, but as he crossed the landing and moved up the steps to the other corridor of bedrooms, he didn’t have an answer.
A doorway opening behind him had him plastering himself against the wall. As Maria and her benefactor strolled toward the staircase, he let out his breath. Now was not the time to be musing over Lissa. He needed to be alert in case Leighhall or the man’s valet decided to go to his room.
After the couple descended the stairs, Anthony moved quickly to the last door on the right. He tried turning the knob, but it was locked. Taking a ring of three skeleton keys from his waistcoat pocket, he inserted one into the lock. It took a few minutes and the second key, but finally there was a soft click and he turned the knob, slipping into the room.
Turning around, he found the bedroom appointed like any other viscount’s. Its wallpaper was gold with trees and bushes. The four-poster bed curtains were a dark-golden velvet, and the window curtains, which were partially open, illuminated two chairs at a small table on one side and a wingback chair before the fireplace. There were two armoires and a chest of drawers as well as a table for shaving.
Moving toward the bed, he found no manacles or devices, but that wasn’t what he searched for. On the bedside table there was a note, and he quickly unfolded it. It was nothing more than Leighhall’s mother informing him of her next visit. Studying the room, he saw nothing untoward about it, and everything was in its place except for the note.
He walked around the bed past a full-length mirror to a door, which most likely led to a dressing room and then another bedroom for the future lady of the manor.
Opening the door, he froze in shock. He swallowed hard at the apparatus inside.
Manacles hung from two poles that would have all but the tallest of women on their toes. Two more were anchored to the floor. On a table nearby lay a whip, a quirk, and screws. None of which would have been so alarming if not for the dried blood on all of them, including the manacles. This was no pleasure room. It was a torture chamber.
Hearing movement behind the door to the connecting room, he quickly backed out and softly closed the door. Unsettled by what he’d seen, he strode to the exit. Just as he reached for the door, a giggle could be heard in the corridor outside. Leaning his ear against the wood panel, he listened. Soft conversation ensued, making him itch to leave, but he couldn’t be seen leaving Leighhall’s room. He glanced toward the closed door of what should have been the dressing room, expecting it to open at any moment.
Finally, in the corridor a door opened, but it did not shut, and giggles turned to moaning. If the couple were having sex in their doorway, Anthony would have to risk it, because he refused to stay in Leighhall’s room for one more minute. Carefully, he cracked open the bedroom door. As he’d guessed, a couple had opened the door to their room, but never shut it. Slipping into the corridor, he relocked the viscount’s bedroom then strode forward.
As he reached the doorway, he found Violet bent over the foot of the bed as Buswick pumped into her. Softly, he walked past and to the stairs.
Anthony hadn’t expected Leighhall to be as dangerous as he now knew him to be. All he wanted was to take Lissa and leave. Every instinct inside him was telling him they weren’t safe.
As he headed back toward his room, he contemplated his options. If he left, Lady Harewood’s reputation may well be forfeit. If he didn’t, then Lissa could be hurt.
His protective instincts rose hard. They would leave. He just needed an excuse.
He opened the door, and Lissa looked up from her book. She’d taken her hair down, and it fell half behind her and half over her left shoulder. How could he have not realized how beautiful she was in addition to her cleverness and courage?
“Were you not able to enter any other rooms?”
He closed the door and leaned back against it, not sure how to explain his need to keep her safe.
She set the book down and stood. “What is it? Did you hear something?”
“No.” He wouldn’t lie, nor would he tell her what he saw. “But I now know that Leighhall is indeed a dangerous man.”
She walked toward him, her brow furrowed in concern, before setting her hand upon his arm. “We had guessed that, especially with the practice wall in his weapons room.”
He hadn’t thought twice about the practice wall for weapons, but then again, he didn’t actually see it, as his lantern had not revealed it. That it existed had his stomach tightening. “I believe we should leave.”
“Leave? But we haven’t found what we need. We can’t leave. Dory needs us to find something. I’m sure once we get into the weapons room tonight, we will have all that we need. Did you find anything in Leighhall’s bedroom that will help?”
“No. But it may be too dangerous to enter Leighhall’s secret room again. I will just have to tell Lord Harewood that I couldn’t find anything.”
Her dark-brown eyes studied him. “Anthony, I haven’t seen you this tense since the time those three men caught us in the stables of Comte de Lancey.”
Unwittingly, she’d given him a way to explain. “This is much like that. There is great danger to you here. Like then, I need you to be safe.”
She frowned. “But at that time you needed me safe so I could fetch the coachman while you provided a distraction. Do you feel I will need to run to the stables for your coachman?”
He curled his hands into fists and walked away from her touch. He wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but he couldn’t. She wouldn’t understand, perhaps perceive him differently, possibly as a threat to her future plans. She definitely did not want a peer as a husband.
Even as the thought surfaced, he understood exactly how much she meant to him. He’d broach that quandary if and when the time made it possible. First, he needed her to agree to leave. “I’m quite sure we will need my coachman, but only to drive us away from here.”
She wrinkled her nose and set a hand on her hip. “I do not think it wise to leave now. We need to try one more time to see what we can discover in the weapon room. Then, if you like, we can leave tomorrow. But we will need a good excuse.”
He didn’t want to leave tomorrow, but his instinct told him that telling her he loved her and needed to protect her would do the opposite of what he hoped. “Very well. We will try once more, but then we leave. No information is worth dying for.”
Her eyes widened before she nodded in understanding. “You must have found something for such a change in plans. What did you find?”
“Blood.”
Her face drained of color, and he cursed himself for revealing the truth. He knew how much she feared blood. He strode across the room and held her to him. “I should not have told you.”
She lifted her head from his shoulder. “No. I asked and you did not lie. That is very important to me.” She cocked her head. “It is best I know, so I am better prepared.”
One moment he forgot how delicate she was, and the next he was reminded how strong she could be. He cupped her head and kissed her with all the possessiveness he felt.
She matched his passion, pulling herself closer as she opened to him.
The need to claim her again ran up his spine, and he quickly untied the back of her dress to splay one hand over her bare back and down to the curve of her small buttocks.
She arched toward his hand, offering him her arse.
The need to possess her heart, soul, and body grew stronger until her hand found his hard erection and squeezed him through his pantaloons. He growled before bending her back and slipping his fingers between her legs, moisture greeting him. “I want you again.”
She let out a raspy chuckle. “And I want the sling, so I say we agree.”
He froze, his body practically pulsing, demanding he take her. He took a deep breath, refusing to rip her clothes from her body. He wasn’t sure if she meant to be a temptress or if she wasn’t aware of what she did, but he had to stay in control.
Removing his fingers, he withdrew his hand from her dress.
Her moan of disappointment echoed through his groin, but he forced himself to set her back enough to look her in the eyes. “Have you ever experienced a sling?”
She shook her head. “You’ll have to teach me how it works, probably with a number of other items in that dressing room.”
He swallowed hard as the images of the items he had seen in the room flew through his head, making his body reverberate with need.
She sauntered by him, her dress slipping past her shoulders, catching on her hard nipples. “But I was most curious about that sling.”
He couldn’t hold back any longer and rushed her, throwing her over his shoulder like Pemberton had done to Alice on the stairs. He strode to the dressing room door and had opened it when a knock sounded on the bedroom door. “Go away.” His words were barely discernible with the predatory growl in his voice.
“A package from Lord Leighhall, sir.”
He halted, the heat in his loins disappearing faster that a thin sheet of ice on a pond on a sunny spring day. Lissa didn’t move either. Slowly, he put her down, and she pulled her dress up to cover herself. They stared at each other for a moment.
She gestured toward the door to the corridor. “We should probably see what it is.”
He agreed, but couldn’t quite get his voice to work, yet his body cooled so quickly as to almost make him shiver. Without saying anything, he turned and walked to the door as if he’d find a live snake curled up outside. Opening it, he looked about to see no one was there, but a bundle wrapped in brown paper sat on the floor.
He glanced down the corridor to see other packages. If every guest received one, then it must not be anything dangerous. Picking it up, he brought it inside and set it on the settee.
Lissa peered over his shoulder. “What is it?”
“I don’t know, but every guest received one.”
She breathed out heavily before plopping down on the settee next to the package. “In that case, let’s see what it is. Maybe it’s something for tonight’s activities.”
She was right, of course, and he admonished himself for his abundance of concern. Untying the wrapping, he lifted the note. For the bacchanalian celebration on our last evening. Please enjoy your costume and come prepared for a carnal experience fit for the gods. Of course, we will need a maiden to be sacrificed to those fickle deities. L
The image of Leighhall’s dressing room immediately came to mind.
“I’m sure he doesn’t mean a real sacrifice.” Lissa peeled back layers of the brown paper. “He did say carnal , so I imagine we will have some final sexual show.”
Even as she lifted the white toga from the folded pile, he couldn’t agree with her. His only hope was that Pemberton, Buswick, and Rothbury would never come back if such sacrifices were the norm.
“I do believe this is rather short.” She handed him the toga. “Do you think that’s mine?”
He held the white garment against him. “I hope so. It barely covers me.”
“I don’t know. I think it quite fetching.” She reached into the paper. “Especially with this gold leaf circlet.” She held it out to him. “See if it fits.”
He took the gold-painted wreath and set it on his head.
She laughed. “I do believe that’s your costume.”
He did not find it humorous at all. “What else is in there?”
She lifted a sheer crepe toga with a golden rope belt from the package. “I hope there is more to this.” She pulled out two gold metal circles and frowned. “Do you think these are for the shoulder?” She clipped one to the material.
He swallowed at what she was expected to wear, the tension in his lower abdomen already affecting him. Leighhall obviously knew exactly what would make his guests excited. The gold medallions were meant to clip to her nipples, the sheer material showing every other part of her body. Almost afraid to know, he still asked, “Is there anything else?”
“I don’t think so.” She shook out the paper, and a gold chain fell to the floor. She lifted it, showing it had a small white piece of silk attached to part of it. “Is this for my head?”
Gritting his teeth, he took the chain from her and held it out with two hands. “This material is to cover the front of your pelvis.”
She frowned. “But for that to be, the chain in the middle would have to go between—Oh.” Her skin flushed. “That seems uncomfortable. And why cover so little there when everything else is visible? It doesn’t make sense.”
Sometimes he wished she wasn’t so analytical. “The gold pieces go on your breasts, not the material.”
She picked up one and held it in front of her. “If it’s not clipped to the toga, then it would be clipped to my nipple?” Her chest rose suddenly, as if the thought stimulated her.
He simply nodded.
She laid out the sheer toga on the settee and added the metal undergarments beneath it. “I might wear this in here, but I refuse to wear it before anyone else.”
“I wouldn’t allow you to.”
Her gaze snapped to his. “Wouldn’t allow me? That is not your place.”
It wasn’t difficult to see her dander was up. Instead of arguing the fact that he was responsible for her, he held up his own toga against himself. It would barely cover his private parts, and that only if he didn’t get an erection. It also draped from one shoulder down to his hip, leaving half his torso exposed. “Would you allow me to go below before everyone like this?”
She opened her mouth to answer then snapped it shut. Instead, she shook her head, folded up her costume, and laid it on the settee. “I can’t believe he thinks we would wear these.”
He handed her his toga, quite sure that Leighhall expected all his rules to be obeyed, which meant he had to get Lissa off the property before tomorrow evening. “I suggest we get some rest before dinner. We will have a long night.”