“Just go watch a house. Come tell me who comes and goes.”
His eyes narrowed. “Fer how long?”
Rubbing his chin, Molton responded. “Maybe just today. Maybe longer. Depends what you see.”
The urchin held out his hand. “I wants the half bean now.”
“Very well.” Edgar held out a half guinea. “Here you go. Find Stanwood House in Berkeley Square, Mayfair. Come back here in the morning. What’s your name?”
“Jem. I’ll do jus that, gov.” He took off running down the street.
Molton went in the house and climbed the two sets of stairs to his room. His luck was in. He knew it. He’d be living in better quarters soon.
* * *
Early the next morning, Matt left his home and crossed the square to Stanwood House. As he opened the door to Grace’s study, she was bent over her desk giving him an excellent view of her enticing derrière. “Good morning.”
She glanced over her shoulder, smiling beautifully. “Good morning to you. Come look at this.” Grace adjusted her position, making room for him. “These are the plans . . .”
He couldn’t manage to drag his gaze from her lush bottom. His breathing quickened as he imagined her skirts up and her bare to him. He ambled up behind her, keeping his voice low. “I’d rather look at something else.”
Matt pressed against her firm buttocks. Holding her to him with one hand, he ran the other over her breasts and down between her legs. Her breath hitched and her skin flushed.Halfway there. Leaning over her, he traced the outer whirl of her delicate ear with the tip of his tongue.
She sighed, and her voice was sultry. “We must review the plans.”
“Grace, please?” He pleaded, inching up her skirts. He caressed her inner thigh. Her legs trembled as his hand dipped into her curls.
A moan escaped her. “We—we don’t have much time.”
“We won’t need much time.” He slid two fingers into her hot, wet sheath. “You’re ready.” He smiled smugly to himself.
“Oh God, when am I not?” Grace’s head dropped onto her arms.
Worthington chuckled and reached for the buttons on his fall. “That is one of the many things I love about you.”
There was a gasp from outside. He turned toward the sound and saw what looked like a child run from the window. It damn well better not be one of theirs. Why in the name of God hadn’t he thought of that before? “Stay here.”
Bursting out the door to the garden, he rounded the corner of the house, just in time to see a small boy squeeze through the iron rail of the fence and into the street. “What the devil was that about?”
Grace ran out behind him. “Who was it?”
“I don’t know. Some urchin. From the way he was dressed, he doesn’t live in Mayfair.”
“Matt, do you think someone is watching us?”
He drew his brows together. “I don’t know what to think. Don’t worry.” Taking in her stricken countenance, he put his arm around her shoulders and led her back into the house. “Come show me the plans.”
He couldn’t think of anyone who’d be spying on them. Herndon said her relatives were relieved and happy about the marriage. Grace’s other uncle was out of the country. Still, any further lovemaking would have to be confined to his bed. At least until they were married. Better to be safe than sorry.
A few minutes later, Matt was reviewing the architect’s drawing for the renovations she’d done to Stanwood House. Impressive indeed. Grace had thought of everything. “They’re extensive.”
“What I like is that they serve the purpose so well.”
“May I see the rooms?”
“Naturally. Come with me.”
They climbed the stairs to the school-room floor. The children bid him good morning. Despite the number of them—his younger sisters were there as well—everything was orderly. The common areas were large and well lit by sun streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows on the eastern side of the house. As he strolled around, he noticed that the window placements ensured the rooms would remain lighted until the sun set. It had an airy feeling he’d not experienced at either Worthington Hall or across the street. “This is nothing like what I expected.”
