‘It could be Moss does likewise or is one of the spies himself. But why would he be here if he’s on duty? The excitement is all along the Channel or overseas. There’s no strategic value in the area.’
‘Unless he is investigating one of that circle?’
‘I can’t see Cooper being important enough in military circles to warrant someone shadowing him. Who are the others? Junior officers or men with no observable occupation and probably little money living the life of the gentleman writer scraping by on family crumbs. Tempting though it may be, we mustn’t add one and one and make a hundred.’
‘The other three– Knotte, Wright and the charming Langhorne?’
‘I’d like it to be Langhorne, just so I can bring him down a peg or two.’
She laughed. ‘I thought you’d say that. Wasn’t he a pill? Knotte, by contrast, seems breathlessly devoted enough to want to ferret away a piece of his sainted poet.’
‘But would he want to damage Wordsworth in this way? He seems intelligent even if hopelessly awkward. It would be obvious such an act would harm the creativity of the one he wishes to encourage.’
‘Then what is our next step?’
‘Find out more about Wright, Knotte and Langhorne. I’ll add Moss to that as there was something about him that prickled the hairs on the back of my neck. But for today, I believe we can count ourselves as being off duty.’
Dora pulled him towards the stepping stones across the Rothay. ‘Then let’s climb Loughrigg.’ She pointed to the hill that lay between Rydal and his cottage. It was steep and the paths meandering, carved out by sheep. Usually, he returned via one of the valley routes that went around it.
‘You want to climb the hill? Is this to put off returning to my brother?’
She smiled up at him. ‘Definitely, but I also have this dream.’
‘What dream?’
‘Where you and I find a secluded spot and make love under the sky. I can’t see us getting up to much with your brothers and Ruby in residence, can you?’
Jacob felt a surge of desire for her. It was never far away and returned at the slightest pressure of her hand, the glimpse of her smile. She really was the most provocative woman he’d ever had the privilege to know. ‘You– me– the sky?’
‘Probably some sheep too– but I want you to find some place no one goes. No spying either, from across the vale.’
He squeezed her hand. ‘I think I can come up with something.’
‘I certainly hope you can.’ She brushed his groin teasingly. ‘My plan won’t work without that.’
ChapterTwelve
Loughrigg
Dora lay with her head resting on Jacob’s stomach, basking in the sunlight and relishing the sensation of the breeze on her skin along with the pleasurable aftershocks of their lovemaking. The straw-coloured grass danced in the breeze; at the verge of the little meadow, summer flowers, harebell, knapweed and milkwort, swayed like wallflowers at a ball. A bee bumbled lazily from bloom to bloom, the beau with his pick of partners, filling their dance cards with his attentions.
‘I could write a poem about this,’ she murmured, smiling at her own silly image of ballrooms while lying out in the wilds. Weren’t they the antithesis of each other? ‘There is nothing more sublime in all of nature.’
‘And I wish I could draw you like this.’ He tickled her shoulder with a blade of grass. ‘Titania in her bower.’
‘That makes you Bottom, the ass-headed mechanical.’
‘It would be my privilege to play the part.’ He growled. ‘Let me be the lion too.’ He playfully nipped her fingertips.
After a pause, he added: ‘I’m sorry about my brothers landing on us without invitation.’
‘And I’m sorry they hurt you by not calling you home earlier.’
‘It was Arthur’s doing.’
‘I don’t think I like your oldest brother very much.’
‘He has some good qualities.’
