Page 22 of Mine This Winter
“And that’s what you were doing in Mr Payne’s room?”
“Yes, until you became an alluring diversion.”
She laughed, her hot breath tickling his nape. “So, I’m to blame for you losing focus?”
“I haven’t had my mind on the mission since locking eyes with you in the drawing room.” In truth, he’d spent the journey northward remembering every passionate kiss. “If I’m not careful, I’ll get myself shot.”
“Shot!” The word left her lips in a shriek of panic.
Her body was close to his, he felt her shudder.
“Shush. Bancroft will hear us. If I’m to succeed in my mission, I must stay alert. I must apprehend the traitor before he discovers who I am.”
She fell silent for a moment, and he could almost hear the cogs in her mind whirring. “Searching the rooms during daylight hours would carry less risk. I shall supervise the cleaning of Lord Bancroft’s bedchamber in the morning. See what I can discover.”
“What if you’re caught?”
“I shall say my prying stems from a need to know more about the man I might marry. It’s the perfect excuse. No one will suspect me.”
He thought to inform her she would marry no one but him. But what if they were destined to be nothing more than lovers? What if he was destined to die during the assignment and fate had granted them a chance to say goodbye?
“Let’s wait and see what Bancroft is up to before we make a plan.” There was every chance the deal would be done tonight. “If I’m forced to leave the cave and confront him, you must race back to the house and inform your brother.”
They watched and waited.
Long minutes passed.
Still, Bancroft stood on the shore.
Gwendolyn yawned. She didn’t wrap her arms around his waist and rest her head on his shoulder. Despite spending the last hour making love, despite the spark of electricity in the air, she seemed reluctant to touch him again.
“Look,” she whispered as a figure in an over-sized greatcoat hobbled along the shore towards Bancroft. “It’s a man. It’s impossible to say who, though it’s not one of the guests.”
The newcomer stopped to talk to the peer, though no documents or money changed hands. Bancroft pointed to the headland north of their position. The men seemed to be negotiating. They could be arguing over the price, though the stranger pointed at the heavens while shaking his head.
Upon reaching an agreement, both men nodded and parted ways. Perhaps they’d arranged to meet tomorrow night. If so, that meant Bancroft had the list in his possession, and Simon still had time to find the document. If only he could focus on the task, not the woman whose soft breath stroked his neck.
“Mr Pope walks with a slight limp.” Gwendolyn gestured to the stranger with the odd gait. “And he owns a fishing boat. His business has suffered since he injured his leg and his son moved abroad.”
Simon turned to look at her—and almost wished he hadn’t. God, he had never seen anything as beautiful. The gleam of satisfaction in her dark eyes held him spellbound. He wanted to kiss her but could not afford to become distracted.
“You’ve an eye for detail,” he said, keen to make amends for five years worth of pain. “Perhaps you could assist me. On condition you do exactly as I say.”
Gwendolyn’s eyes widened, and she grinned like a court jester. “Do you mean it? I swear, I shall be no trouble. I shall do whatever you ask.”
His heart swelled. He could think of many things he’d like her to do, none relating to the case. “Come. You’re shivering. We cannot sleep here all night. Now Bancroft has gone, let me escort you back to the house.”
She nodded, though he sensed her hesitance. “It was foolish to think we might remain in the cave until dawn.”
“It’s not foolish to long for what we once had. What we might still have when I’m free of my obligations.” Danger lurked in the shadows. It would be foolish to make promises or cling to false hope. If only he could find the damn list.
“I promise to be a help, not a hindrance.” She placed her hand on his upper arm, the merest touch igniting a fire in his blood.
“Then perhaps you should kiss me to seal our bargain.”
Their mouths met.
The kiss was achingly slow. A caress so deep it tightened every muscle. They held hands as they walked along the snow-covered beach, only parted as they neared the house.
