Page 44

July, Starkley House, London

“G ood morning,” he heard her murmur as his body began to notice the sheets, the warmth and the smell of his wife that permeated his entire life.

Was he on his back? What was his hand on?

He gave an experimental squeeze. Firm but supple, smooth to the touch.

He cracked one eye open, and he winced at the glare of sunlight.

He turned his head away and was greeted once again by the sight of Regina in the morning.

Specifically, Regina in the morning after a full night of lovemaking.

Her head was propped up on one hand, the smooth linen sheets draped over her shapely form half obscuring her naked body. All those dark soft curls tumbled around her shoulders onto the pillow. Her mangal sutra as she called it, was ever present around her neck, resting against her dark bare breast.

“Good morning devika,” he murmured. She smiled and swept her hand over his chest, down to his stomach.

It hadn’t taken long for her to get used to touching him openly.

He had to admit he loved how boldly she went about it, unapologetically laying claim to his body the way he had done to hers. “How long have you been awake?”

“About half an hour.”

“You’ve been watching me for half an hour?”

“More or less. But it’s hardly a record for me. I’ve watched you for longer than that.”

He grinned, “That is true enough. It is after all how we met.”

“What are you talking about we met at the train station,”

“Not that time. Before.”

“Before when?” she lifted her head to stare at his profile. His eyes snapped open as if he suddenly remembered something.

“Ah,” he glanced at her and then chuckled. “I suppose I should tell you.”

“Did we meet before?”

“In a manner of speaking. I’m almost certain it was you. Did you go to the seaside last year with your family before you decided to kidnap Basil to Gretna Green?”

“Yes, how did—”

“Did you have a habit of walking on the slopes near the beach?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” a sinking feeling took root in her stomach as one particular evening came to mind.

“Oh I think you know devika,” he replied. “Honestly, it’s poor form to sneak up on a man in the altogether without so much as an introduction.”

She gasped, her eyes wide with horror. He watched her waiting to see if she would deny it. “That is not—” she couldn’t get the word out.

“Not what? Not possible?”

“That was you?”

She was so adorable caught between confusion and mortification. “Did you see another naked man at the seaside?” he asked.

She buried her face between his body and the bed. “I did not mean to see you in that state.” Her muffled voice emerged.

“So you say, but if I didn’t catch you I’m sure you would have invited your friends to have a gander at my expense.”

Her head came up, her face the picture of outrage. “That is not fair, I would never! I didn’t even mean to see you as it was.”

“But you didn’t think to look away.” He pressed.

“I was in shock. How long have you known?”

“Since I saw you at the train station.”

“Oh lord.” She buried her face in her hands. “How did you even recognize me from that distance?”

“Your bonnet, the purple one. Not many women who look like you have bonnets that glint in the sunlight.”

She shook her head, watching him as if she’d never seen him before. “You really are an investigator aren’t you?”

He chuckled, “What was your first clue?”

“I cannot believe you knew this whole time and never thought to say anything.”

“Didn’t seen the gentlemanly thing to do,”

“You must have thought me the wickedest creature,”

He chuckled, “Curious, certainly, and too bold by half, but never wicked.”

“Mother always says I’m too forward.”

She was perfect. Every moment in her presence only served to confirm how lucky he was to have her beside him in any capacity let alone like this. “You’re a lusty one for sure, but I think I can keep up with you well enough. I like you just as you are devika,”

She smiled and pressed her face into his chest, breathing him in. “I like you as well,”

“I’m glad to hear it.” He murmured, giving her a slight affectionate squeeze.

“We have an engagement tonight,” she said and the warm delight in his chest evaporated.

“Already? We’ve only just gotten to London.”

“Yes, but we are here with a purpose after all. It’s nothing extreme, but Mr. Thompson is back in town with Ada.

We’ve been connected to his mother, now it’s time to be seen with him.

To make sure people understand that the Baron and Baroness Starkley have very close ties to the Viscountess and Viscount Sterling. ”

“You make it sound like a military engagement.”

“It is a war to be sure. And we are going to win it.”

“I retired from the army,”

“Don’t be such a brat, it’s hardly for a long period of time. The season is still in full swing for a couple weeks before people return to the country for hunting. At that point we can pull back a little more. Spend some time overseas for our honeymoon.”

Of course his Regina already had a strategy in place.

He shouldn’t have been surprised, she had after all, been preparing for this her entire life.

But now there was no way for him to deal with Harrison in secrecy and adhere to her wishes as well.

She couldn’t know the truth of his agreement to return to London. “You have it all planned out I see.”

“That my dear husband is my job.”

“Mmm.” He swept his hand down her back, over her lush bottom. “And mine is to obey?”

She gave him a coy look before walking her fingers down his bare chest. “Your input would be appreciated and duly considered of course. We are meant to be doing this together after all. You aren’t going to be annoying about this are you?”

He laughed. “I wouldn’t dare devika.”

*

It had been a long time since Leo had been to Scotland Yard.

Ever since the debacle with Trent, it had been difficult for him to trust the police the way he had before.

He couldn’t vouch for every officer there but there were at least some he knew he could count on.

A handful who were honest even if they weren’t always agreeable to what he wanted.

As he drew closer, he knocked on the ceiling signaling for the driver to stop.

The last thing he needed was to roll up in front of the building in a carriage with a bloody sigil on the front.

He disembarked from the vehicle and turned to the driver. “Wait here Simmons,”

“Very good my lord.”

My Lord. It still sounded incorrect. He didn’t need them hearing that nonsense either.

He made his way down Whitehall Street to the entrance, an inexplicable bundle of nerves in his stomach.

As he neared the entrance he spied a lumbering bear of a man standing outside, making notes in a small notebook.

Then he caught a glimpse of the red hair under the flat cap.

“Collins,” Leo called out. Collins looked up and a wry familiar smile curved his mouth. “Just the man I was looking for.”

“Well if it isn’t Leo the Lion,” Collins commented holding out his hand for Leo to shake.

“Still here then?” Leo grasped his enormous hand firmly and slapped his shoulder.

“Still here for now, been thinking about following you out the door.” His brown eyes flicked over Leo’s clothing and Leo knew he had noticed the difference. It would be impossible to miss for a seasoned investigator like Collins. “Is this a social visit?”

“Not exactly.”

“I haven’t seen you around for a bit, what brings you to The Yard?”

“There’s a delicate bit of business and I need some eyes on it. Eyes I can trust.”

“Alright.”

“Well look who it is,” a snarling drawl came from over Leo’s shoulder, and he turned to see Locke.

A dark haired and dark hearted idiot who had somehow ended up a police officer.

The two men had never seen eye to eye on anything.

Leo had never appreciated Locke’s tendency to cut corners, and Locke had never respected Leo’s thirst for answers and justice.

But this was too serious to allow past grudges to hamper him. “Locke.”

“I’m surprised you came here yourself Kingston, seeing as you’re all high and mighty now, a peer of the bleedin realm.” It was clear he was trying to engage in lighthearted banter, but the simmering envy in his eyes was twisting it into something more bitter.

“Are you?” Collins asked.

“Yeah he is look at that waist coat. Look at them boots. What are you now? An earl, a duke?”

“A baron,” Leo replied tightly, resisting the urge to tug down on the blue-black brocade waistcoat. “Not that it matters.”

“Isn’t that interesting?” Collins commented, a glint of humor in his eyes.

“Don’t start.” He grumbled. “I need help. Do you remember Edward Harrison?”

Collins rolled his eyes. “Unfortunately, why?”

“He is in England, and he’s been making threats to me. I believe that he is responsible for the murders of at least two of my cousins who were in line to inherit before me.”

“He’s a blustery kind, you can’t handle that yourself?”

Before he could finish Leo was shaking his head in silent contradiction. “This isn’t bluster Collins. He was nearly a baron, he was publicly accepted as the heir until my claim was discovered.”

Collins blinked and tilted his head back slightly. “So now you are the only thing in his way.”

“Yes.”

“Already wielding your power eh?” Locke jeered. Christ, was he still here? Didn’t he have something to do other than stick his nose where it wasn’t needed?

“Back off Locke,” Collins growled.

“Not even a fortnight and you’re here to put your polished boot on the working man’s neck. A veteran.”

Leo turned to face him, his patience running dangerously thin. “He is not the only veteran here, Locke. I am not the one with an agenda.”

“I believe you,” Collins said resting a hand on Leo’s shoulder.

“I don’t.”

Collins rolled his eyes and glared at his colleague. “Shut up Locke.”