Page 20

Bloody, bloody hell.

Felix shoved a hand through his hair as his mind spun over what had just occurred between him and Caroline.

Not only had they coupled, but he’d taken her innocence.

It was a scandalous gambit, of course, and if her parents discovered what had happened, they would demand that he wed her… even if he didn’t have a title.

Above everything, he absolutely didn’t want to marry. Not after having his heart smashed by the last woman in his life.

Yet now, he’d bedded a woman he hardly knew but trusted enough to conduct a murder investigation with.

What the devil had he been thinking? He snorted.

Oh, he knew what. Desire had overwritten every thought and sense he’d had, and he hoped that once he’d gotten that need out of his system, he could fully concentrate on the case at hand, but damn if he didn’t want her all the more.

The taste of her lingered on his palate, and he swore he could still feel the warmth of her on his fingertips .

Did he regret what they’d done? Absolutely not. In fact, in a weird way, his mind was clearer than it had been in a long time.

“We need to find a way out of this damned room,” he whispered as he maneuvered his body around hers as he left the sanctuary of the sofa.

It didn’t take much time to set his clothing to rights.

“And then we need to turn our sights onto finishing the interviews or talking again to a few people I suspect were lying.” Oddly enough, it was difficult to put his cravat back to how it had been upon entering the room in the dark without a mirror.

“Agreed.” Fabric rustled in the enclosed space, a sure indication that Caroline had removed herself from the sofa. Was she even now yanking her clothing back into place to hide the charms he hadn’t gotten to see due to the cloying absence of light? “But how do we leave? It’s a mystery unto itself.”

“There has to be a way, for it would have been folly to build a room with only one way out.” Worry tightened his chest, but he hid it.

Showing that he was concerned would only make her even more frightened or anxious, and he would spare her that if he could.

“Let me take another tour around. I might have been a tad distracted before.”

“You have quite a sense of humor when you want to show it,” she said, and amusement clung to her voice. “Why you wish to hide behind the facade of a troll beneath a bridge is beyond me.”

Despite himself, he grinned. She was clever, he’d grant her that.

“Oh, the usual reasons any man becomes taciturn. Most can be dismissed, but we are a stubborn lot.” As he spoke, Felix felt his way around the room using his outstretched hands to guide him.

When he came to one of the wooden shelves at a wall, he blew out a breath.

“Since both the housekeeper and the butler have keys, can we wager that our killer is a servant or staff member? Easy access and all that.”

“Perhaps.” She joined him, and in the dark, her presence was most welcome. “Though to be fair, anyone could conceivably slip down to the servants’ hall and steal any key they wished.”

“True.” Which meant once more everyone in the house party was a suspect.

Some more than others. When his fingers encountered what felt like a marble statuette, he wrapped the digits around it to pick it up, but it wouldn’t budge from the shelf.

“What the devil?” As he tried again, he found the statue only tipped slightly forward, and in doing that, a low groan rent the silence.

Seconds later, the shelf swung away from the wall, and a rush of fresh air came into the room to cool his overheated skin.

“Damnation. It’s a secret passageway.” He couldn’t hold back the awe in his voice. There was no illumination there, only a slight shift in the shadows. “Shall we go exploring? ”

“If it leads us to the light, I’m all for it.” Yet she huffed out a breath. “Now we know how people can move freely through the manor and gain access to rooms they were nowhere near. What’s more, I had no idea the house had secret passageways.”

He frowned. “Even though your grandfather built the new wing?”

“No one mentioned it. Perhaps Andrew knows.” She gasped. “Or Mama. Do you think she sent Debra or Andrew to dispatch Mr. Blythe for whatever reason?”

Stranger things happened. “I have no idea at this point, but I promise we’ll find out.” Then he grabbed her hand. “Easy now. Remember to breathe.” Slowly, he entered the passageway, obliged to stoop, for the brick-lined corridor beyond was narrow with a curved ceiling, also lined with bricks.

Behind him, Caroline’s breath came in quick, shallow pants, and each sound tugged at his chest. This wasn’t the ideal situation for someone with her anxiety level nor was it something a lady of the beau monde should concern herself with, but she hadn’t broken into hysterics, and for that, his respect continued to rise.

“Perhaps this was an old smuggler’s tunnel.

After all, Maidstone isn’t far from the sea.

” If he kept up a running stream of conversation, he could make her temporarily forget her fears and belay his own, for the passageway was creepy at best, and concerning at worst, complete with roots and vines that had sneaked their way through the brick work.

Frankly, he didn’t want to think about rodents down here either.

“While such history about the manor is fascinating, I’d rather not find myself down here again.” Her voice echoed in the closed space that smelled like damp, mold, and dirt. “Clearly, this was dug beneath the manor. When, we would have no idea.”

“I can appreciate that.” The warmth of her hand in his kept him grounded as he led the way through the gloom. Finally, they reached the end and what felt like a door beneath his fingertips. “We’ve arrived.”

“To where?” She rested a hand on his back once he’d maneuvered in front of her.

“We’ll find out momentarily.” Luck was with him, for as he pressed the latch, it proved unlocked. The door swung open. He ducked as he entered the room, which oddly enough was the library. The “door” on that side was also disguised as a movable shelf. “Damn, how interesting.”

“And how the killer could have conceivably gone from one side of the manor to the other without anyone seeing.” She breathed a sigh of relief as they came more fully into the library.

“Perhaps.” Thank goodness they were still alone in the room. Glass pieces lay broken on the floor, a testament to the staff being busy with the outdoor luncheon. While he had the chance, he needed to quickly talk to her. After clearing his throat, Felix said, “About what we did…”

“Stop.” Caroline rested a hand against his chest while glancing at the door. In a low voice, she responded. “I refuse to be an object of pity and don’t want an offer out of obligation.”

Not that he had any intention of making an offer, at least not right away. “If you fall pregnant—”

“It’s unlikely to happen. My menses ended a few days ago. Besides, we were both willing and consenting adults. There is nothing to regret.”

While that was true, he didn’t want her to think him a rake. “Yet if that does happen, I…”

Again, she shook her head. “I will figure out that next portion of my life. You needn’t be entangled with it.”

Why must she prove so stubborn? It was one of the things he liked about her, yes, but it might be a stumbling block later. “Caro, you don’t need to be brave all the time.” He cupped her cheek, inspected the wound on her arm now that there was light to see by. “That needs cleaning.”

“I know.”

“Good.” An awkward silence stretched between them, so he pulled the scrap of paper from his waistcoat pocket and read the threat. “Who the hell is so nervous they want to frighten us into quitting?”

“That remains to be seen.” She shrugged, and even though her dress covered her charms, her hair was mussed, cobwebs clung to her body, dirt and dust streaked her cheek and dress.

Anyone could see she’d had an adventure, and had indulged in a tryst, for there was a certain softness to her eyes that hadn’t been present before.

Knowing he’d been the one to introduce her into the carnal realm swelled his chest. “I need to find Mr. Lockhart’s valet.

If anyone knows the truth of what’s going on with the soon-to-be duke, it will be him.

And I need to do it before they quit the house party since they were both already skittish. ”

When Caroline’s full lips turned downward in a frown, he knew a powerful urge to kiss her, but he refrained. “Will I see you at tea? If nothing else, it will be pretty in the orangery.”

“Perhaps, but I’d also like to do one more interview before dinner. With your mother.”

“Oh, dear.” Her eyes rounded, and he suddenly wanted to dive into those blue pools. “That is going to be unpleasant.”

“Which is why I want you there with me. Partners share equally.” He chuckled then grunted in pain when she gave his shoulder a mock slap.

“However, and more sobering, we were locked in a room together for over an hour as well as explored a secret passageway—alone. People will return from luncheon soon, and some saw us pursuing that person in black. Everyone will want to know why we didn’t catch him. ”

“Meaning?”

“We need a plausible story to explain our absence, and this broken window will suffice. At least to make our escape from.”

“I don’t understand. Why can’t we just walk out of the library?”

“Because I want it to look like we weren’t alone for scandal, and I’m trying to protect your damn reputation, so don’t argue.

” He didn’t want her future damaged merely because they’d both succumbed to passion in a unique situation.

With another glance around to make certain they were alone, he sat on one of the low tables. “I’m going to need you to shoot me.”

“What?”

With a nod, he hiked up the left leg of his breeches until his thigh was exposed.

Then he worked the buckles and leather straps, and after a quick twist, he removed the prosthetic portion of his leg.

“Just as I said. I want you to shoot me.” As he spoke, he removed a small pistol from the depths of the wooden leg.

Shock creased her features. “I can’t do that.” But she watched with interest as he laid the pistol on the table next to him and then replaced the prosthetic. When she opened her mouth to either ask a question or protest, he was destined not to know, for she said nothing.

“Look, we were trapped in the same room by an alleged killer. If we leave the room without him or her, people are going to want to know why, and we can't give away any of what we might have discovered without perhaps being aware of it. Yet someone thinks we might have figured something out. Let’s not show our hand.”

She darted her gaze to the pistol he took up. “There has to be another way.”

“There isn't and you know it. And in this way, no one will even think to assume we were together for other… things.”

A blush stained her cheeks. “But...”

“No.” Felix pressed the pistol into her hand.

“It’s a small caliber so won’t cause that horrible a wound but enough to make a commotion.

I want you to shoot me. Right here.” He motioned between the fleshy part of his shoulder down to his forearm.

“Make sure it’s in a meaty part. Avoid the elbow as well as bone. ”

“Bone?” Fear reflected in her eyes as they rounded. “It will injure you, cause you pain, and I don’t know if I can do that to another person.” Her face paled. “Also, I have never shot or even held a pistol before.”

Though he nodded, his attitude was grim.

When he knew pain would come, it oftentimes hurt worse than when he didn’t.

“It’s the only way we make ourselves look convincing and keep ourselves on this case.

Otherwise, the magistrate will be called—or your father will be forced to do his duty—and you and I will never see this through to the end. The killer will slip away.”

“I understand that, but I—”

“Just do as I say.” Then, because he could, Felix snaked a hand about her nape, dragged her against his body, then kissed her swiftly, before releasing her. “Please. We are running out of time. Luncheon will end soon.”

Finally, she nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

God, how proud of her was he? “Oh, and make sure you shoot the arm I don't need to hold the cane with. I still want to be ambulatory.”

“Right.” She nodded and stepped away from him as she brought the pistol up, nose pointed to his upper arm.

“On my count. Ready?”

“No.” Her hand shook ever so slightly, and that might mean a messy wound.

“One. Two.”

Bang!

“Shit! I wasn’t done counting.” Pain went through the fleshy part of his left forearm.

“Well at least this is done, and you don’t have to worry about it.” With a shaking hand, she gave the pistol back to him.

Quickly, Felix put it into the interior pocket of his jacket. Then he clapped a hand over his wound that hurt like the devil. The ball had gone through as if she were a surgeon, and it was bleeding profusely. “Wrap my cravat around it to stem the bleeding.”

“Why must you bark orders? You aren’t in the military any longer.” Yet she came close and once more relieved him of the length of linen. When she finished tying it off around the wound, he hissed with pain. “Now what?”

“Out the window. We’ll sneak around the manor and then approach as if from the country lane. As soon as we’re within eyesight of the manor and the terrace, I want you to scream your head off. Understand?”

“Why?”

“To draw attention to ourselves and our wounds. The story will go that we chased the person responsible for throwing the brick into the window. Then someone shot at us, threatened us. That’s all and stick as close to the truth as possible. It’s easier to remember.”

“Do I even want to know why you are an expert in this?” she asked as she nodded, but her eyes were large in her head.

“Let’s just say that I’ve seen some strange cases while I was with Bow Street, and even worse things in the military. What I’ve found is that using the truth, however thin it might be, keeps a man one step ahead.”

“Of the law or the criminals?” she asked with a raised eyebrow .

He shrugged. “Both. Your hair would curl if I told you stories.”

“Will you?”

With a glance over his shoulder as he went toward the window, he winked. “Depends.”

“On?”

“How we do at being thrust into a bit of acting once we call attention to ourselves.” Then he climbed through the window.

Truly, Caroline was a brick of a woman, and a damn fine partner, and one thing was quite certain.

He hadn’t gotten her out of his system. In fact, the fires in his blood burned even hotter for her now that he’d bedded her.

Bloody, bloody hell.