Page 73 of The Confessions of a Lady
Her perfect lips trembled, and she bit the bottom one hard. Liam’s body tightened in response to her white teeth pressing into the plump, rosy flesh.
‘You made the deal tonight so you could trick them?’
How did she know about his conversation with the Snake?
‘You were spying on me?’
Penny’s pale cheeks darkened in embarrassment. ‘I… yes. I was listening in the servants’ alcove. I have been searching for evidence against you to give to the commissioner. For the reward money. To free my mother.’
Commissioner Worthington frowned. He opened his mouth to speak, but Liam didn’t give him the chance to interrupt their conversation. Lifting his free hand to trace down Penny’s cheek, he marvelled at the silky sensation. ‘This whole time, you thought me guilty of such heinous crimes?’
Penny’s eyes filled with tears, but he knew she wouldn’t let them fall. ‘I wasn’t sure. I… at first, I did. But then everything I discovered about you contradicted the evidence I found.’
‘Like?’
‘You bought your servants new clothes because you saw my ruined skirts. You paid for a tutor to come and teach us to read, write, or do sums if we wanted to learn. You picked up the waistcoat Molly was hanging on the line and made her laugh.’ Penny shrugged. ‘Those are not the actions of a cruel man.’
‘I told you, Penny.’ Liam shouldn’t be confessing this in front of everyone, but he couldn’t stop. ‘I did it all for you. Everything.’ He stroked his thumb over her bottom lip and leaned closer. ‘Such selfish motives hardly make me a good man.’
‘Liam.’ Penny covered his hand on her cheek. ‘You are a good man. Or I wouldn’t love you.’ He could feel the warmth of her mouth only a moment away from his. Then her words registered.
‘Wait, you love me?’
Penny smiled. ‘I do.’
‘Thank God for that. Because I’ve been in love with you for so long. Days and days.’
Penny’s smile turned into a giggle as Liam’s chest exploded with sparkling stars shooting through his veins.
Philippa cleared her throat, the sound like a gunshot in the quiet room. ‘Must I always be surrounded by lovesick fools?’
Her sharp words broke the magic spell weaving around Liam and Penny.
Penny’s eyes grew wide as if she suddenly remembered where they were and who was with them. She took a hurried step backward. Her accelerated breaths did wondrous things to her corseted breasts, and Liam lost all logical thought for a blessed moment.
‘We don’t have time for this, so let me summarise what should be painfully clear outside of the fact that one more intelligent, capable, powerful woman has fallen prey to Cupid’s bloody arrow.’ Philippa’s lip curled in an ugly snarl before she continued. ‘Liam works for the Queen. He is not in league with the Devil’s Sons. We are all seeking the leaders of this reprehensible group to bring them to justice. And thanks to Liam’s undercover work, we’ve been given a unique opportunity.’
Philippa’s clear voice drew every eye in the room.
‘Opportunity to catch these men and bring them to the House of Lords for a just trial.’ Killian looked to Drake, who nodded.
‘Opportunity to catch these men and hold them accountable for crimes we know they committed without the need for a bunch of pompous men getting in the way,’ Hannah countered.
‘Let’s split hairs later.’ Philippa winked at Hannah.
Millicent’s smile widened.
The commissioner spared a sympathetic glance at Killian and Drake.
Philippa turned to Liam. ‘You are set to meet with the Devil’s Sons in a week and they expect you to bring a maid. As it happens, we know a maid who would be perfect for the job.’ Philippa glanced meaningfully at Penny and Liam’s heart froze.
‘No. Absolutely not.’ He grabbed Penny’s hand once more, pulling her behind his body and shielding her from everyonein the room. ‘I forbid it.’ The beast inside growled with feral intensity, straining on the chains he held in a faltering grip.
‘The decision is not up to you, Liam.’ Philippa’s quiet words belied the power she so effortlessly wielded.
‘No. It isn’t. It is Miss Smith’s choice to make.’ The commissioner stepped around the settee and joined Philippa near the door. Her body stiffened and she turned slightly away from the man.
A feather-soft touch landed on Liam’s shoulder as Penny gently pushed him aside, stepping out from behind him. ‘You want me to be the bait Liam brings to the meeting?’ She directed her words at Philippa.
