Page 21 of The Swan Detective (The Swan Syndicate #2)
His lips crushed hers, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, feeling the flex of his muscles as he lifted her up to sit on his lap.
They kissed for what seemed like hours. Deep, lustful kisses that gentled to a simple touch of lips on lips before teasing tongues swept them back to passion-filled kisses.
The moment was as intense as it was gentle, and soon they fell back, legs entangled, as their hands roamed, seeking tactile contact.
The fire blazed in the hearth, the firelight casting fanciful shadows on the ceiling.
It reminded her of those first nights when they were running from Gemini.
They hadn’t been intimate, their relationship too new, while questionable trust lay between them.
But with each passing night, they’d lain closer and closer for warmth.
She found it strange that somehow, her body knew Beckworth was safe before her mind caught up.
When their fervor was sated, he pulled her close enough that she could feel his rapid heartbeat. The weight she’d been carrying for a distressed Elizabeth had melted away, leaving only the two of them.
T he following morning, Beckworth stared at the ceiling.
Stella’s head rested on his shoulder as she slept.
He was looking forward to an evening in the East End with old friends.
The event would be a welcome reprieve from the stuffiness of the balls.
Everyone could be themselves, and Stella was as excited as he was.
The question was what to do with his day while she was at the garden party. He didn’t know why she decided to go with Flora, but she knew her mind, and they would have other days for just the two of them. The gentlemen’s club was a good idea, even if it had come to him on a whim.
He could say he was off to see Daphne’ s crew, but the idea would have come up at dinner.
Now that Jamie’s crew had their eyes on the bloke from the Nightwawk , his part of the mission was over.
But what if they ended up with more questions than answers?
Was it possible the man hadn’t been the first mate on the Tidewater ?
He might not have been part of the crew at all.
It was possible that McDuff or Cheval had placed him on the Tidewater for some other reason.
According to Stella’s unfortunate stay with Cheval, she’d learned that both smugglers used spies, which shouldn’t have been surprising.
He should stay out of it. And as much as he wanted to walk away, he had to know what was going on, if only to stay updated on the mission.
It was time to see Hensley. Before he could organize his thoughts for an impromptu meeting, a light tap on the door signaled someone leaving a tray. He slowly extricated himself from Stella and grabbed his robe before opening the door to retrieve the coffee service.
After placing it on a table, he poured a cup and wandered to the window, pulling back the heavy drapes and squinting at the sun breaking over the horizon.
He loved watching the sunrise, and today it reminded him of all the times he’d witnessed it growing up on the Thames.
Early mornings, when the docks were quiet before the hustle and bustle began, he and a few of his friends would race through the vendors who’d been setting up their carts.
They would steal a fish or two so their mothers could make a watery stew that would last a couple of days.
When he began earning decent money, he wanted to help everyone.
It was a hard lesson to learn that not everyone could be saved.
He hadn’t been able to save his mother. Then, when he’d received his title, he discovered the aristocrats didn’t think about the poor at all.
Once he became one and was no longer the duke’s henchman, he was in the position to make a difference.
It seemed he’d always walked a line between good and evil.
Always standing between the haves and the have-nots.
He’d understood the motive behind Finn’s willingness to smuggle when he’d been the captain of the Daphne Marie .
He’d only take the risk when he was positive he could get away with it, and it was for a good cause.
Beckworth had thought him a fool when they’d first met.
And through everything that had been thrown in Finn’s way, his only thought was for what was right.
They’d gone through some harrowing times before Beckworth realized they were cut from the same cloth; they simply approached solutions differently.
Stella had recognized it right away. He’d tried to hide his East End beginnings from her, but she’d called bull shit—her words—on the whole thing.
She loved him all the more after discovering his roots and meeting the crews.
People he still called friends and would lay down his life for, just as he would for Hensley and the Crown.
When he’d found Stella, he’d found someone who wanted to partner with him in all things—even the dangerous ones. It rankled that he was following Hensley’s orders to hide his activities from Stella. It wouldn’t have bothered him a year ago, but he hadn’t known the ginger-haired beauty then.
He sighed. He’d meant to have a discussion with Finn and Ethan after their first trip back to Waverly on how to deal with old paradigms once he arrived back in this century. He’d never found the right time.
“Come tell me what has you worried.”
Stella’s voice startled him, and a few drops of coffee tumbled from the cup. He forced a smile as he turned to her.
“What makes you think I’m worried?” He strode to the table and refilled his cup before pouring one for her.
Without Libby around, the kitchen staff always forgot to send mugs instead of cups.
He’d have to speak with Mrs. Evans again.
He handed Stella her cup, then brought over the pot so he wouldn’t have to get up multiple times.
Once he’d settled back on the pillows she’d rearranged for him, she nestled close and sipped half her cup before answering his question.
“Your morning ritual, when I’m awake for it, is to open the drapes to watch the sunrise.
But when you hover there for an extended period, it’s usually because you’re working through something.
” She paused to sip, then said, “I’m not saying you’re worried over anything bad.
For all I know, you’re worried you don’t have enough fancy clothes for all the invites we’ve accepted.
Or, you might be worried whether Bart will be a help or a hindrance to Lincoln at the Royal College of Surgeons.
Or, you’re wondering what Hensley’s up to. ”
The last statement bothered him. Not that she hadn’t been correct on all her points.
He did have to stop at the tailor to order more clothing for both of them.
He’d planned on accompanying Lincoln to the college to give Bart a day off, but mostly to ensure the old doc wasn’t creating friction for the lad.
But her comment on Hensley rang a minor warning bell.
“And if I told you it was all those things?” He might as well play it safe.
She leaned over and kissed his temple before handing him her cup for a refill. “Then I’d say everything was alright.” She took the refreshed cup and sipped it immediately, her nose wrinkling. “The coffee doesn’t taste the same this morning. I’ll ask Eleanor to check it out.”
He laughed. “Why don’t you speak with Nellie directly? She’s the cook.”
“Because Eleanor has a rapport with Mrs. Evans and Nellie. At this point, if I were to go to them directly, I’d hurt Eleanor’s feelings.”
“What a complicated life we live, Lady Caldway.”
“Indeed, Lord Beckworth.”
They nudged each other’s shoulders and leaned against each other as they drank their coffee.
After several quiet moments, Stella returned to the topic that made his skin itch.
“I’m serious about Hensley. It’s been a couple of days since you’ve had a decent talk.
Maybe you should see what he’s up to after you visit the gentlemen’s club.
But, I want to get to Katherine’s early so I can help, so you can’t stay long. ”
He hesitated, wondering why she would bring up Hensley. Did she know something, or was it his guilt making him paranoid? She was right. Neither of them had seen much of Hensley other than at parties. There wasn’t anything suspicious about going to see the man to play a game of chess and catch up.
“I admit, I was thinking of doing that.” He might as well stick with the truth when he could.
“Excellent.” She handed him her cup and ran her fingers under his robe. “Now that we both have our day planned, let’s focus on each other.”
He barely had time to set both cups down before her hand strolled lower. And he forgot all about the coming day as he elicited screaming giggles from her until he smothered them with kisses.