Miss Pardue smoothed her hands over her beige buckskins. “Because one feels surprisingly efficient in breeches.”
Miss Bennett smiled. “If you have any hope of changing men’s opinions, Miss Pardue, you must embrace your sex, not disguise it. Now, might we borrow your notes to show the coroner and magistrate? Your rough sketch of the wound is most impressive.”
“Of course.” Miss Pardue beamed with pride. “I trust you won’t mention this incident to Lady Denham. My mother would have a fit of the vapours if she knew. They lock girls away in Bedlam for less.”
“You have our word we shall not mention your hobby to a living soul.” Hugo inclined his head. He was desperate to get rid of the woman for he had his own consuming passions to contend with. “Good night, Miss Pardue.”
The lady bowed and curtseyed. “Good night, my lord. And good night to you, Miss Bennett.” Miss Pardue paused in the doorway. “My lord, should you feel willing to offer an introduction to the gentleman you mentioned, I would not be averse to a meeting.”
“Then I shall host a dinner party on my next visit to London.”
Miss Pardue clutched her arms to her breast. “And I shall be most eager to attend. Thank you, my lord. Good night.”
Hugo waited for Miss Pardue to close the door, waited to hear the crunch of snow as she retreated along the path, before turning his attention to Miss Bennett.
“We should dress Mr Bellham,” she said with some urgency, “and then return to the house. I can barely feel my toes.”
Hugo had a remedy for that, but the old bothy was no place to seduce the woman he intended to marry. “I can see to matters here if you wish to return with Miss Pardue.”
“Why would I want to leave with Miss Pardue when I can spend the evening with you?”
Masculine pride sent a bolt of desire straight to his loins. “Then attend to Bertie’s stockings and boots, and I shall see to the rest.”
They worked in silence for a minute before Miss Bennett said, “I’m not an expert on human nature, nor do I profess to know anything about the workings of the criminal mind, but I believe Miss Mason-Jones and Miss Pardue are innocent of any crime.”
“I am inclined to agree with you.”
“Then, other than the servants, that leaves Miss Harper and Miss Venables on the list of suspects.”
“I can vouch that none of my servants committed this heinous act. And you’re forgetting Lord Northcott. Perhaps the man has a strawberry embroidered on his silk drawers.”
A resigned sigh escaped her. “I doubt Mr Bellham even said the word strawberry. What if confusion addled his mind and our amateur investigation is for nothing?”
Hugo fastened the last brass button on Bertie’s waistcoat and stared at the woman who held him enthralled. “Not for nothing.” His passion for her clung to every word. “We may have struggled to find a motive for murder, but we’ve found something infinitely more rewarding. And when it comes to sharing an intimate moment with you, I’m no dabbler.”
She fell silent for a moment.
Doubt surfaced. He’d not imagined the lustful look in her eyes or the affectionate way she touched him. He’d not imagined that she had devoured his mouth with equal enthusiasm. Yes, they’d known each other for a ridiculously short time, but their attraction went beyond mere compatibility. Fate knew of his dilemma and had delivered an angel to his door.
“No, my lord, there was nothing amateurish about the way you kissed me.”
“I’ve never kissed a woman like that before.”
She frowned. “Like what?”
“With the need to fuse two souls into one.” He could drink from her mouth for an eternity though doubted it would be enough to quench his thirst.
“My experience amounts to a few stolen pecks with the youngest son of one of Montague’s friends.”
Jealousy writhed in his chest. “Tell me his name, and I shall call him out for the indiscretion.”
She laughed. “It is not an indiscretion when both parties are willing. I was curious, but he tasted of cheroots and brandy, and it was terribly unpleasant.”
“And how did I taste, Miss Bennett?”
She arched a coy brow and smiled. “Warm and spicy. Like nectar from the gods.”
For the umpteenth time in less than an hour, lustful urges took command of his mind and body. He would make this woman his before the weekend was out. Indeed, had his conscience not waged war with his throbbing manhood, he might have suggested they retire to his bedchamber.