Page 41 of Lord Ashley's Beautiful Alibi
She shook off her negativity. Ashley and she had done a good thing last night. Their ruse had worked.
What had not worked was her behavior. She had kissedhim.
A natural act. A foolish girl’s.
She squeezed shut her eyes. Since she’d been thirteen, she’d told herself she would have no ordinary man. She would one day choose a man who would be totally hers. Disciplined and docile. Afraid she’d leave him. So afraid, he’d never roam. Never demand. Never need anything other than what she wished to give him.
But she had enjoyed this one, this giant of a man, this exemplary one who definitely belonged to himself. This Englishman with the dubious background. With the legitimate government assignment. With eyes of ice and shoulders of a mythic god. Arms of iron and lashes (she had to grin) that afemme fatalewould kill for. A body that stood so tall, so broad, so exquisitely sculpted, that she…
She squeezed her thighs together. Years ago, Amber had told her the gush of desire for a man could make her pulse with need. Make her yearn to place her own hands on her body and press and stroke.
But….
No.She would not succumb.
She put her feet to the carpet and went to her mirror. What a picture! Her hair stood on end, and her puffy eyes popped. Who would want this woman who wished to be celibate? Her nipples beaded, hard and aching in the silken muslin that abraded her and made her want him more.
She groaned, pulled the fabric from her breasts, and strode to her bellpull. She gave it a yank.
Arms crossed, eyes upon the carriages crisscrossing the streets, she welcomed the sun. Ashley should bring a small cabriolet, open to the world. And, as per their agreement, he would come prepared to kiss her for all to see. This time, she would be good. He would do all the kissing.
He would be the aggressor. For the moment’s thrill. To establish the reason to travel. Create a cover. An alibi.
“Mademoiselle, bonjour.” Her little French maid scooted before her. “A bath or breakfast first?”
“Bread and coffee, Natalie.”Sustenance for kissing a man.“I’ll have them in the tub.”
*
“Corsini?” Kane hadrung for his butler only minutes ago. With Ram and Dirk gone to the east, Kane had need of a person he could trust to recruit incorruptible men. In such a rush to leave town, he expected that hismajordomcould fill his needs. Scarlett Hawthorne had hired Corsini, and she had excellent skills in the art of selecting aggressiveagents provocateur.
“Si, conte?” His butler appeared at the door to his bedroom.
Kane stopped his assembly of informal frock coats and breeches he wished to take to the country. Corsini had hired a valet for Kane, and young Gaston Clement, a Frenchman, had gone to find Kane’s trunk in the attic.
He sat on the edge of his bed. “I need a delicate matter done.”
Corsini folded his hands before him as if he were a prince appearing in public. “Si, I can help you, sir.”
“I do assume, because you were hired for me before I even knew I was to serve here, that you can do me the favor of hiring certain male associates I might trust.”
“You have the right of it, sir.” Corsini seemed to grow taller in stature.
Kane hid his grin. He had an inkling Corsini had already done him a favor to hire one good man. Kane had never spied the fellow at his work, but he had a sixth sense that someone followed him. And justly so. Kane was second head of mission until the government-appointed ambassador arrived. No one knew when that might be. So an envoy needed protection, didn’t he?
Kane strolled to his armoire and took out a few cravats. “My trip to the country is of indefinite duration. I informed Clement a few minutes ago. I trust you will impress upon him the need for secrecy.”
“Si, conte. I will. Fear not of anyone in the household being indiscreet.”
“I will have a guest with me. A special friend.”
“I understand, sir. And does this require added security?”
Good man.“I need three carriages for three nights from now.”
Corsini’s dark eyes held his like magnets.
“Each carriage exactly the same.”
