“Perhaps,” Miss Venning said, offering an apologetic smile to her cousin, “someone should wait with you.”
Warwick appeared as though he would refuse her, but then he nodded once and held out his arm. “Do you play cards?”
“Only for money,” she replied as they strolled from the room.
Once their voices faded, Mansfield stepped forward and extended his arms. “Mrs. Wilmington, Miss Wilmington, and Miss Drummond, we’ll examine the remaining rooms on the ground floor.”
“Before we begin searching,” Levi said, moving beside Mansfield, “I wish to thank you all again for your assistance this evening. I hope you find absolutely nothing.”
Everyone laughed, the mirthful sound lifting Levi’s spirits.
Was it too much to hope this ridiculous scheme succeeded?
They dispersed throughout the house, and Levi headed upstairs with Grisham, Miss Philbert, and Miss Rowe.
“Does it disturb you?” Miss Rowe asked, keeping pace with Miss Philbert. “To hear them talk of expelling your brother’s ghost?”
The corner of Miss Philbert’s mouth pulled. “Ellis was a cruel man. While I don’t agree with Tabitha’s decision to kill him, I can’t denounce her for it.”
She shuddered, and Grisham was instantly at her side, murmuring in her ear.
He lifted his gaze to Levi. “We need a few minutes.”
“Take her into that chamber,” Levi said, pointing to the room across from the landing. “It’s currently unused.”
Miss Rowe gave them a wide berth, waiting until the chamber door closed before saying, “I didn’t intend to upset her.”
“He knows.” Levi sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. “Miss Philbert’s brother…”
Miss Rowe held up her hand, stopping him. “She can tell me her story in her own time, if it suits her.”
“I’d like to return to our previous discussion,” Levi said, offering Miss Rowe his elbow.
“We’ve had many conversations, Your Grace,” she replied, waiting a beat, then accepting his arm. “To which one are you referring?”
“The one where I admitted I wanted to lose ten thousand pounds for the opportunity to court you,” he said, leading her down the corridor to the furthest chamber.
His chamber.
“I refused you,” she said, her gaze sliding over the damask wallpaper.
“Without reason.”
She stopped. “It’s too much money.”
“For anyone… or for you?” He reached out and cupped her face. “Miss Rowe, I would pay ten times that amount to spend a day in your company. Why can you not accept that someone could love you?”
“Love?” She swallowed. “You don’t know me.”
“I know there’s no other place I desire to be than near you.” His thumb slid across her lower lip. “I know that you frequent my dreams and that the only reason I agreed to this inane exorcism attempt was because I assumed you wouldn’t visit my house again if you believed it was haunted.”
“I would call upon you,” she whispered, her eyes dropping to his mouth, “even if Mr. Philbert himself opened the door.”
“Then, there’s nothing else I want to know.” Levi leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, craving the fire that previously scorched his skin.
Her arms slid around his neck, drawing him closer, and she moaned against his mouth, her lips parting.
Dipping into her warmth, Levi’s tongue tangled with hers, drawing another sigh from Miss Rowe. The sound ricocheted through his body, blazing through any remaining logical thought. He lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist, and pinned her against the wall, grinding himself into her soft center.
