‘It does to someone.’
‘I suspect it did to Penhurst.’ Clarissa relayed the pertinent parts of the overheard conversation twice while he grilled her on the details. Like Seb, Clarissa believed the message and the subsequent message back hinted at the imminent but unexpected arrival of the smugglers. When she had finished he reread the note in frustration as he paced towards a candelabrum and held it just above the flame while he scrutinised it.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Certain invisible inks appear with heat.’
Invisible inks? What a bizarre world he lived in. Curious, Clarissa huddled close and bent her head to watch, immediately becoming distracted by the heady smell that was uniquely Seb. Soap, fresh air and excitement. He was somehow more attractive when he was all the dashing spy. The intensity of his stare as he considered the note, the hard set of his jaw, the way he tapped the missive impatiently against his open palm as he chewed his bottom lip. Lips she wanted to kiss again, just to be sure that last kiss wasn’t a fluke and that he did have the capacity to make her melt.
After a minute he huffed when nothing materialised and began to pace again. ‘Hope of God? It must be a code of some sort. The last message we intercepted from Jessamine was in code. Maybe the letters correspond to a cypher—but without a key it could take for ever to crack it. Or perhaps it’s an anagram?’
‘Or simply the name of a ship.’ Although that was probably far too simple. Not in a world where invisible inks were commonplace. His mind was like a steel trap, used to solving the most difficult puzzles and hers was...well, frankly substandard. Clarissa couldn’t even focus on letters or numbers on a page without them jumbling and spinning. Or concentrate long enough on the problem in hand because her flighty mind was having grossly improper ideas involving his mouth.
He stopped pacing instantly and stared at her. ‘You might have it!Espérance de Dieucertainly sounds ship-like to me and our viscount is arrogant and ignorant enough to believe he is untouchable. In which case, why bother trying to hide it? You said he blithely tossed it in the fireplace without a backward glance.’
‘Surely that is too simplistic. What if one of the servants saw it and retrieved it just as I did, then gossiped about it? He wouldn’t take the risk of throwing it away so carelessly.’
‘Have you not seen the servants?’
Now that he came to mention it, they were a dour bunch. The night footmen were menacing, the butler a lurking despot and the maids were afraid of their own shadows. Maybe they didn’t dare gossip. ‘What if Penny stumbled across it?’
‘Penny is as downtrodden, perhaps more so, than the staff. Besides, we know about the smuggling so are immediately suspicious. If she doesn’t, then this letter is nonsense.’
‘I suppose...’
‘There is no suppose about it, Gem. You’re a genius!’ His boyish grin combined with the nicest comment she had ever had did peculiar things to her insides. Nobody had ever praised her intellect before. Not once. ‘Sometimes I overcomplicate things when the simplest solution is staring me right in the face. I’ll bet it’s a ship. A merchant ship. The Boss does like to hide in plain sight. The Excise Men should be able to tell us if theEspérance de Dieuis indeed a boat. I’ll set my men on it later tonight when I see them.’
‘You are still going out? Can’t your valet pass on the message before the house is locked up?’
‘The smugglers might arrive tonight.’
‘No they won’t. Penhurst said it didn’t affect their plans for this evening.’
Clarissa didn’t like the idea of him risking discovery by sneaking out when it was unnecessary, or at all if she was honest. Dealing with Penhurst’s guards or, heaven forbid, smugglers alone didn’t bear thinking about. Not when he was the sort of man who threw himself in front of bullets and she was becoming rather attached to him. Perhaps even a tad besotted. Since that fateful kiss, she had floated around on a sensual cloud daydreaming. ‘It hardly seems likely anything will occur with them gone all night. Nor would they dare have a shipment of illegal brandy delivered while he has a house full of guests.’
He turned to her then, all serious, and her heart did a little dance in her chest. ‘I sincerely doubt he would turn down profit. I am of the firm belief it will be business as usual. Besides, he also instructed the butler to reply withtheywill be waiting. I’ll wager he never gets his hands dirty unloading his ill-gotten gains. If there is a tunnel leading to the cellar, then he would definitely feel no compunction to curtail them. Not when the demand for that brandy outstrips supply and the guests in the house would remain completely ignorant of what was going on beneath their feet.’ His long legs were already striding to the stairs. ‘Make my apologies to our hostess, I might be a few minutes late to dinner while I share all this with Gray. We’ll be availing ourselves of your window later.’
‘But it is dangerous!’ Clarissa’s insides were already taut with worry.
He shrugged as if it was no matter. ‘I’m a spy. We thrive on danger.’
