Dante nodded. “I believe you are correct. We must focus on who else he speaks with. He might not be spending a great deal of time with his contact, just enough to get what information he needs.”
“I think the house party is our best opportunity.” Lydia looked up at him as they passed the French doors off the music room. “How do you feel about being stuck in the country with members of Polite Society for five days?”
He patted her hand and looked forward as they continued to stroll. “It is not something I would ever do on my own. I’ve passed up numerous invitations to house parties over the years.” He slid his eyes in her direction briefly. “The only ones I have attended were not for ladies.”
To his amazement, Lydia blushed. “Oh. I think I know what you mean.”
After a few steps, she said, “I believe it’s time to take our seats.”
Since the Ambassador had finally settled himself in the second row, Lydia and Dante immediately took the seats behind them. The men exchanged a few words in German that Lydia said were merely comments on the room.
Growing frustrated at the lack of progress, Dante barely listened to the two girls who played the pianoforte and the violin. Both were not particularly inspiring, but certainly competent. To his dismay, the Ambassador and his friend left during the brief intermission.
Since Dante and Lydia had become involved in a conversation with Lord Beauchamp and his daughter, they were unable to leave before Mrs. Price called everyone back to their seats.
The second half was the same as the first. Same girls. Same instruments, except a girl who was introduced as their cousin, sang. Again, skilled but not necessarily talented.
As soon as the applause died down, Dante stood and reached out for Lydia. “Are you ready to depart?”
He’d checked his timepiece and decided he had enough time to visit the club for a few hours.
“Are you going to the club?” Lydia asked.
?
??Yes.”
She nodded. “Fine. I will go with you. I’m not tired and I can do some more work on the books.”
It would be rude of him to tell her no, but his self-control was slipping. The gown she wore was not as revealing as the one she wore the night before, but still outlined her curves quite well. And a whiff of her now familiar scent was driving him crazy.
They settled in his carriage, and he told himself numerous times he would ignore her, and then after they arrived, he’d let her settle in the office upstairs in the club and he would wander the floor. Distance was a good thing given his frame of mind.
Within seconds, his arm having a mind of its own, he reached across the space, pulled her onto his lap and devoured her mouth like a man who hadn’t eaten in days. She must have been in the same frame of mind because she kissed him back with identical fervor.
He tugged her shawl down her arms and cupped her jaw, moving her head back and forth to gain the best position to take the kiss deeper. Lydia gripped his shoulders and moaned when he pulled his mouth away.
He scattered kisses along her jawline and down to the tops of her breasts. Warm, soft, scented skin. Plush. He reached into her neckline and ran his index finger over her nipple. She sucked in a breath and squeezed his arms. “Yes. Do that again.”
Aware that the ride to the club was not that long, he shifted her so she was lying on the seat. He covered her with his body and pushed the top of her gown down, revealing her exquisite breasts in the pale moonlight. He suckled. Hard. She gripped his hair, pulling almost to the point of pain.
The carriage stopped. He looked down at her. Swollen lips. Messed hair. The top of her gown almost to her waist. He heard the driver jump down and immediately Dante sat up and opened the door, his body blocking Lydia. “I have this, John. You can return to your seat.”
Being a good servant, the man merely nodded. Dante turned back to Lydia and pulled her up. He yanked the top of her gown up and stared at her. She looked well kissed and a bit on the confused side. “Let us wait a minute.”
Lydia nodded and licked her lips. He groaned. Waiting was not a good idea either. Dante opened the door and stepped out, holding his hand out for Lydia.
Once they made it to the back door of the club, he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward him. “There is a washing room on the same floor as the office. About three doors past the dining room. You might want to fix your hair.”
“Yes. Indeed. That is what I need to do.” She seemed much too cooperative for Lydia, so she must have been more than a little affected by their encounter in the carriage.
He walked her upstairs, down the corridor to the washing room. “I will see you when the club closes.”
She nodded and he kissed her briefly on the forehead and made a quick exit.
This upcoming house party would be a disaster.
10