Page 26 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

Chapter Nine

Good God, Reese had been seconds from kissing the woman. No, not simply kissing her, but claiming her. For he was short on control as she spoke of her nights spent bathing in moonlight and nothing more.

He imagined the way she would pin the mass of her hair up so it wouldn’t get wet, only to have the weight of it fall down her back to curl in the water. He envisioned the way her nipples would tighten as she descended into the cool, dark lake. And then the way the moisture would make trails down her skin as she stood. Each droplet merging with another as they traced their way along each glorious curve.

He’d grown hard just thinking of it. He was grateful she was studying his face or she would have clearly seen the way his breeches failed him and modesty.

Since they’d spoken yesterday of the things she wanted in a mate, Reese had been making his own mental list of his criteria. Willing to swim naked during the summer evenings was now at the top of his list.

He’d already been amused to think of her riding in men’s breeches. He’d done his best to downplay his interest in such a thing. For imagining her arse being caressed in a saddle in tight-fitting fabric had stirred him.

He’d made a grave error to taunt her. She had clearly won.

“If you’ll excuse me,” he said abruptly and turned for the house, leaving her there in the garden. She’d been pleased that her ankle would hold her, which meant she could find her way back to the house without his assistance. It was still rude for him not to provide escort back to the house, but ruder still would be for her to catch a glimpse of how she had affected him.

Stealing into the entrance of his study from the terrace, he pressed against his aching cock as if that would make it go away. Closing his eyes tightly he conjured a memory of when he was a boy and was forced to eat haggis. It hadn’t gone well for him. The memory was just horrible enough to cool his blood.

When he’d reigned himself into control, he exited the study for the front of the house to greet his guest.

“Albert?” Reese said having recognized the man who was handing Finch his hat and coat.

“Reese! How do you fare? How’s the leg?” the man asked. He knew about Reese’s run-in with Merrick. Not only because he was an agent himself, but because he was there that night on the docks when Reese had been shot. He’d been the one who had found him and taken him to the surgeon, saving Reese’s life.

He owed the man more than a hearty greeting, but that’s what he could offer at the moment. At least until he’d learned why the man had come.

“What brings you this far north?”

“Your letter to the home office. I was sent to intercept the Zephyr in Inverness. That’s where it’s moored, yes?”

“Aye. That’s where it was headed eight days ago. I’d imagine it is still there.” The man must have ridden as if the devil was chasing him to get here so quickly, but it was nothing Reese wouldn’t have done himself back in his days as an agent. “It would not be a quick thing to offload smuggled brandy and whatever other contraband fills its holds. Please tell me there is more than just you on this mission.”

Albert chuckled.

“Yes. Evershire and Willard have ridden on ahead to gather men in Inverness. Hopefully, we’re not too late. The man is like the mist.”

“Merrick will also be waiting there to receive a ransom for the lady. He will not be leaving until it arrives.”

“Even though he no longer has her?”

“I’m sure he’d think her dead after she jumped overboard.”

Albert nodded his agreement. “She’s a brave one. Many a miss would have cowered in a corner. I’d like to interview her. Learn how she escaped.”

“We can ask, but if she is uncomfortable discussing it, I’ll not allow her to be upset.”

“Of course,” Albert agreed. But Reese saw the flare of curiosity in the man’s eyes. He’d held the same desire for knowledge when he’d been the one asking the important questions. It was an easy thing to forget how fragile a person could be during the retelling of something distressing. He’d been guilty of it many times in his search for information. He’d not allow Harlow to be pressured into sharing more than she wished.

“If she refuses, that is the end of it.”

“Of course,” Albert repeated and gave a nod as well.

“My mother is in residence as Lady Harlow’s chaperone. You may not see her during your visit, but the lady’s reputation will not be called into question, do you understand?” If the man didn’t hear the threat in the tone of Reese’s voice, he surely saw it in the cock of his brow.

“I believe I did see your mother in an upstairs window as I was coming down the drive,” the agent said though Reese was certain the man had never even met his mother so even if she had been at Slains he’d not know it. Albert only wanted the information needed to capture Merrick; anything else was irrelevant. But there was one more thing Reese needed to address.

“And you’ll not tell her of my being an agent.”

“You aren’t an agent anymore. Nothing to tell,” Albert said surely with a nod.