A knock sounded on the door and Mercy acknowledged the knock immediately and invited whoever it was to come in. But then she froze. Should she be so careless now? Her breath whooshed from her lungs in relief as her son’s night guard opened the door for Edwin. As he raced across the chamber to her, Mercy resolved to change her habits. She should not answer the doors unprepared anymore. She must exercise better care in the future.
Edwin climbed into her lap and kissed her cheek. “You’re awake!”
Mercy tickled his belly until he giggled. “Of course I am. It’s only you who sleep the day away. Have you eaten yet?”
He nodded vigorously. “Cook made apple puffs. Does Mr. Randall like apple puffs?”
Mercy smoothed his dark hair back from his eyes. “I’m not sure.
Perhaps we should go find him and ask. Would you like that?”
“Yes. But he’s already gone out on his horse to ride the estate. Cook said so. He knows everything.”
Mercy laughed. One day, Edwin would be the one to know everything, not cook. “Ah, well, Mr. Randall is a busy man. He’s going to help us with Romsey so we better not be too sad about it. Perhaps we could ask him later. I was hoping you might like to take a picnic this afternoon. Would you enjoy that?”
Edwin squealed with excitement. “Yes, yes. Could cook make us chicken sandwiches and gingerbread? Can we play hide and seek, too? Can we invite Mr. Randall?”
Mercy laughed. “Yes, my love. We can do all of that. Now let us visit cook and Wilcox to see what needs to be arranged.”
As she caught up her son’s hand, she decided to come clean to Leopold about everything today at the picnic, if he could be persuaded to come. She’d tell him about the letters and gruesome gifts left in her bedchamber. A picnic setting should be perfect for such a disclosure. Out in the open, where no one could hear her fears.
Chapter Fifteen
There was something to be said of the thrill of conducting an affair when you know it would only lead to ruin. But there was also the intense frustration of not being able to have what he wanted, when he wanted it, that tempted him to throw propriety out the window.
Leopold pushed a pile of old invitations aside and threw his quill away in disgust. He was acting like a green boy. But once tasted, he could not get the yearning for Mercy out of his mind. He shifted in his chair, adjusting his trousers to accommodate the sudden surge of desire that the thought of her passion aroused. She was quite simply a woman made for loving. Uninhibited, free of any false artifice. Mercy’s come hither looks were driving him mad.
Even now, with a pile of work between them, she tempted him to whisk her away to somewhere more private and make her cry out in ecstasy. He’d used every trick he knew last night to keep her aroused and pleasured without his cock buried inside her too often. But there were limits to what a man could deny himself and those limits could be breached.
Across the room, Mercy sat in carefree abandon, reading a document he’d thrust at her. The investment proposal had merit and should at least be given some serious consideration. However, all Leopold could think of at that moment was kissing away the frown lines on her forehead.
As if sensing his regard, her gaze rose. “This is utter gibberish to me. You decide.” Mercy tossed the pages onto the desk and groaned.
Leopold snatched them up and straightened the sheets. “I cannot do that and you know it, Your Grace. If you would just read through the second page again you can see the terms and expected return on your investment. However, I would suggest further investigation into the business affairs and principal operators before committing any funds to the project. If it is as good as it appears, the investment could be very lucrative.”
Mercy stood and so did Leopold. Another frown marred her forehead. “An investigation? Would my temporary advisor handle such matters for me personally?”
Leopold turned to face her. “Not necessarily. Your London man of business can conduct the necessary interviews and hire a runner to ensure the business is legitimate. Then, if it is sound, the matter would need to be forwarded to your brother for his approval.”
When she stopped a bare inch from his chest, Leopold’s heart pounded. She had avoided all intimate contact with him since last night. She hadn’t joined him until an hour ago, or attempted to kiss him when they’d first greeted each other, much to his disappointment. He had started to believe he’d imagined last evening altogether.
“Good. I should not like to have you depart from Romsey.” Her fingers traced the pattern on his waistcoat. “Are you busy this afternoon?”
Leopold gulped as his body responded, cock throbbing for the woman to come closer. “I do have work to continue with here.”
She licked her lips as she adjusted his cravat. “Edwin and I are taking a picnic this afternoon. We wondered if you might join us.”
Leopold set his hand to her hip and she swayed closer. “I should not intrude on your time with the boy.”
Mercy’s face rose to meet his. Her gaze was sultry, her lips parted and damp. “We would not invite you if it were an imposition, Leopold. I want to spend the afternoon out of doors and I think you would enjoy the fresh air, too. You have worked tirelessly all morning and I am profoundly grateful for your diligence. But, if you must, bring some of those papers with you. No doubt Edwin will fall asleep at some point and you shall have leisure to peruse them.”
Leopold cupped Mercy’s bottom, dragging her flush against him. “You had everything planned out before you asked me to join you and Edwin, didn’t you?”
Her lips lifted into a cheeky smile. “A woman, even a duchess, must tempt the man she desires to throw his reticence aside. I missed you when I woke this morning.”
Mercy rose on her toes and set her lips to his. While Leopold struggled to hold back, Mercy twined her arms about his neck and plundered. She curled her arms tighter about him as the kiss continued, needy and desperate once again. Leopold couldn’t stop his reaction. He couldn’t control the need to be inside her body again. Slowly, he inched her gown up her legs, determined to touch her skin. Mercy’s touch stilled him.
He drew back to look into her face. Had he got it wrong? Had she taken her fill of him already?