Page 36

Sipping the sweet, fresh wine for courage, Ivy spilled the details of the previous night and more recent morning adventures.

Tapping her nail against the chipped glass, she pursed her lips.

‘My father told me how horrific it could be between a man and a woman. But it isn’t that way for you.

I want to know the beauty of it all. If I’m to lead this exploration between myself and Edward, I want to know all of the things we might explore. ’

Millie refilled her glass, then Ivy’s. Her eyes flashed with mischief. ‘That is something I can do. Prepare yourself for an education in the divine.’

For the next hour, Millie was true to her word.

When the other guests arrived, Ivy’s imagination reeled.

Her fear was no match for the burning curiosity Millie’s detailed descriptions inspired.

It was going to take all of Ivy’s efforts to focus on their meeting and not what might happen once their guests left.

* * *

Edward tried to keep his focus on the conversation swirling around him, but he couldn’t stop looking at Ivy.

Every time she caught him staring, something flashed between them as he remembered their conversation from breakfast. He had been in a state of half-arousal for most of the evening, but he was also anxious.

A strange amalgamation he hadn’t felt since his first time with a woman.

He wanted Ivy desperately, but he also understood how paramount it was not to push her beyond her boundaries.

If he had to spend the next few weeks frigging himself to completion while reining in his impulse to bury his cock into Ivy’s sweet cunny, so be it.

Whatever she offered, he would shamelessly take, but not one inch more.

‘If what you have discovered is true, I don’t think Ivy announcing her decision to remain headmistress of the All Souls Orphanage will be enough to flush out the Wolf.

The Devil’s Sons can just turn to the other orphanages littered throughout London.

If we want to force his hand, Ivy’s announcement needs to be much more threatening to their operations.

’ Hannah was pacing next to the unlit fire.

Killian stood near her and sipped the brandy he’d brought with him from a teacup.

Ivy didn’t have tumblers suitable, and Killian stated he cared little what vessel held the liquor so long as it did the job of not spilling all over him.

Philippa had claimed one of the wing-back chairs.

Her dress, the colour of currents overlaid with sheer black organza, caught the lamplight and created a sheen like polished garnets.

The same stone was sprinkled throughout her hair and wrapped around her neck in a waterfall.

Even at a war gathering, Philippa was striking.

But the only emotion she inspired in Edward now was warm affection and bone-deep respect.

Every eye was drawn to her as she rubbed her finger against her thumb. ‘I have a thought.’

‘I’m sure you have more than one.’ He couldn’t help but bait her.

She glared at him, then turned her gaze to the larger group. ‘The Devil’s Sons is comprised of high-born members of the beau monde. As such, they have been raised believing value lies within titles and money.’

Drake and Millie sat together on the settee. The major general looked comically oversized on the small couch. ‘How does that help us?’

Philippa rolled her eyes as though Drake were stupid.

He, in turn, curled his lip. His scar made the expression terrifying, which was likely his intention.

Two predators snarling at one another. ‘It helps us because they don’t believe anyone will make much of a fuss over a few missing orphans.

But they are wrong. At the charity ball, we’ll highlight how vulnerable these children are and lay out our plan to protect them.

All of them. Not just the ones in this building. ’

Silence covered the gathering.

‘And how exactly are we going to do that?’ Liam Renquist was one of the few members in their group who worked as closely with Philippa as Edward.

While he had served in the Anglo-Afghan war with Killian and Drake, upon his return he accepted the Queen’s secret request to join Philippa and Edward in their covert battle against corrupt members of the peerage.

His brothers-in-arms sided with the Prime Minister, fighting the same enemies with the differing goal of holding the men accountable through the House of Lords.

A path Edward feared would hold no actual justice.

Liam’s new wife, who caused quite the scandal when she ascended from maid to marchioness while serving in Liam’s household, sat in the wing-back chair Liam stood next to.

She gripped his arm and squeezed. ‘I believe Philippa is about to tell us, darling.’ Her quiet murmur pulled the marquess’ focus away from Philippa.

Edward didn’t miss the look he gave his wife. It filled Edward with a sudden ache.

Gazing at the assembled group, he saw three fierce couples as united to each other as they were to this cause.

He had always longed for that sense of belonging.

To look at another and be known on such an elemental level.

To embrace every part of someone. The ugliness.

The beauty. The fear. The triumphs. And know that person did the same for him.

It was a remarkable and rare gift being displayed so excessively in this parlour. A gift he knew he would never deserve.

Looking at Philippa, knowing he was responsible for taking that gift from her, regret nearly stole his breath. Because while he deserved to suffer a solitary life for the sins he committed, he wouldn’t wish that for anyone else.

His gaze inevitably returned to Ivy. She perched directly across from him in the other kitchen chair.

If he could play a part in teaching her the joy of physical connection, she might one day find the same kind of partnership her friends discovered with their spouses.

And that would need to be enough for Edward, though the thought of letting anyone else take that place in Ivy’s life made him want to rip out his worthless heart and throw it in the fire.

No more than I deserve.

A plain silk gown hid her beautiful skin from view. Would she let him remove her shield tonight? Might he finally trace the crimson blush with his fingers and tongue as it painted across her body? He was so lost in his imaginings, he almost missed Philippa’s response.

‘We are going to set up a task force led by the Commissioner of Scotland Yard himself to look into the state of London’s orphanages, and Ivy is going to be the figurehead. A high-born lady with no children of her own, devoted to the cause of protecting our most vulnerable citizens.’

Because he was already staring at Ivy, he saw the colour drain from her face as her mouth fell open in a perfect ‘O’.

‘Pardon?’ She glanced at him before refocusing on Philippa. ‘That’s impossible.’

Philippa raised a perfectly shaped black brow. ‘Why? What is so impossible about a woman protecting children? It is the most natural thing in the world.’

‘A woman like you, perhaps. Or Hannah as a fellow duchess. Millie or Penny would be grand in this role. Not me.’

‘Why not you? You’ve done an admirable job of defending these children.’ Millie added fuel to Philippa’s fire.

‘Which is why I should stay here. In my role as headmistress. If that won’t flush out the Wolf, we’ll have to think of another way to do it.’

Philippa tsked. Shifting irritably in her chair, she examined her nails. ‘I just think you could do far more good working with Edward to protect all orphans rather than letting Lady Smithwick constrain you to only helping the seven and twenty children here.’

‘Philippa, you must end this war against Olivia. She isn’t constraining me.’

‘And we aren’t finding any solutions,’ Millie added. ‘Though, I do think you would do a marvellous job working to protect the orphans, Ivy.’

‘What about the proposition lacks appeal for you?’ Penny asked.

Edward noted how Ivy’s shoulders tightened. Her breathing was growing shallow and fast.

‘Mayhap Ivy has her own reasons. Reasons she has no wish to share with all of us. It is late. Perhaps we should all retire to our respective homes and think on other solutions.’ Edward couldn’t sit silently while Ivy was being poked at by her friends.

Killian reached for his wife’s hand. ‘The hour is late. Let us retire. My best ideas always come after a good night’s rest.’ But the way he was looking at his wife promised anything but a restful evening.

Philippa audibly groaned. ‘Try to control yourself, Killian. At least until the two of you are in your carriage.’

Drake shared a look with Millie that made the ache in Edward’s chest pulse. Philippa rolled her eyes. ‘Come, my lady. We should also seek our… slumber.’

Millie’s cheeks grew pink as she swatted Drake’s arm, but they both rose. Drake shook the gentlemen’s hands, and Millie hugged Ivy, whispering something in her ear that had Ivy’s neck splotching crimson and her eyes drifting over to Edward.

What the devil did she say?

‘We should away as well.’ Liam took Penny’s hand, helping her rise.

‘We’ll think of something. Between the nine of us, surely we can come up with a plan that will force this wolf to come out from his den.’ Penny’s mouth drew into a determined line.

‘The ten of us, Your Grace.’ Reading was hunched over a small table, scribbling down notes. He looked up from the parchment and gave the group a hesitant smile. ‘I’m rather good at finding secrets. I shall put my total focus on discovering this wolf and thinking of ways to trap him.’

‘Good man.’ Philippa rose with the grace of a falcon ascending in flight. ‘I suppose our evening is at its end. Edward, I would like a word with you before I leave.’