“Mmmmmh,” she managed to mumble, blinking again. Her thoughts were still muddled as she tried to remember what had been happening before he’d twisted her into knots with that kiss.
“I have to go back inside, Tricia. I’ll leave you with Tabbie. But we need to talk. If not tonight, then first thing tomorrow morning.” He kissed her again. It was a simple joining of the lips but it lingered, speaking of an intimacy she longed to explore.
“Talk?” she blinked up at him. “After that kiss, you want to talk?”
His shoulder
s silently shook in mirth before he whispered, “You’ve a point there, my sweet. We’ve only a few details that need attending before I’ll kiss you for as long as you desire.”
He couldn’t mean what she thought he did. It was absurd to think that he wanted her.
Then, slipping her arm back in his elbow, he reversed direction, and headed back toward the house. If he’d kiss her for as long she desired, she’d likely agree to anything he wished to discuss.
* * *
Ryker and Luke slipped down the darkened halls far away from the noise of the party. There were a few men in front of and behind them, but all were silent as they made their way to the auction.
Ryker had to admit, in terms of a cover for illicit activity, this was first rate.
Everyone here was known among the ton, which meant everyone and no one could be a suspect.
Of course, it also meant that the very people who had been stealing from him could attend.
“Do we need a password or something?” Ryker mumbled, keeping his voice low.
Luke gave a jerk of his head to affirm they did not. “If you know about it, that’s password enough.”
“How do we know about it again?” Ryker asked even more softly.
“Coventry knows all sorts of things that continually surprise me.” The corners of his mouth turned up in a hard smile. “He has ears everywhere.”
As if on cue, a man stepped from the shadows. Ryker tensed but Luke stopped, extending his hand. The two greeted each other with a quick handshake and then Coventry fell in step with them.
“Thank you for coming, Sussex. Wimbley,” Coventry gave him the tiniest wink as he used Ryker’s cover name.
Ryker gave a nod in return. “Appreciate your help,” he returned.
Luke looked to his old friend. “So what has Addington gotten himself into?”
Coventry’s mouth pinched. “A business deal he set up with our illustrious host turned sour. They were shipping tea or something to the Orient when the ship supposedly sank. As per the terms of the agreement, Addington must now work off the debt. The whole of it reeks like week-old fish,” Coventry murmured. “I could pay off Addington’s debts to free him, but I think the better plan is to expose the marquess. He’s taken advantage of enough of our peers, I think.”
Ryker’s eyebrows rose. He’d met Coventry on several occasions and he’d always gotten the sense that the man was as shrewd as they came, but to think that he used that sharpness to help his peers and right wrongs among the elite, well, it went beyond anything Ryker could have imagined. “Glad I can help.”
Coventry did not reply as a lit room at the end of the hall came into view. Ryker adjusted his mask to better hide his face and Coventry donned a mask and hat to hide his.
At least thirty men stood silently about the room, peering at tables with blankets spread atop them. All were clearly curious to know what delights lay underneath.
A few more men entered the room and then the door to the hall was closed. Uneasiness broiled in the pit of Ryker’s stomach.
Even more unsettling were the two men who came around, holding out a basket for any weapons. One collected them while the other eyed each man suspiciously. If he found a fellow lacking, he patted him down to check for additional knives or pistols.
Once done, a door in the back of the room opened and three men stepped in. Ryker recognized the marquess but not the other two. Both Luke and Coventry shifted as their eyes met the man to the marquess’s right. Ryker could only assume that was Addington.
What was more, Addington seemed to recognize them too. His step stuttered as he looked over to them and the piercing gaze of the marquess bore into Addington as he followed his gaze right to Ryker, Luke, and Coventry.
Bloody bullocks. Ryker gritted his teeth, preparing for the fight, which was sure to be near impossible without his pistols, but it didn’t come.
Instead, the marquess gave a nod to the group, and without a word, pulled a blanket off one of the tables. Jewels even a duke would find lavish met his gaze.