Page 51 of Must Love Scoundrels
Duncan looked at the couch in question. It was more decorative than anything else and weighed very little. “What’s next?” he asked.
She waved her duster toward a lamp, pretending to clean. “I was just wondering where your thoughts were a moment ago. Maybe they were the same place as mine.”
Duncan sincerely doubted that. But he could sense where the conversation was headed and lest she try and kiss him again, he’d better steer it in another direction. “I confess, I wasn’t thinking of anything. I didn’t sleep well last night, and my mind is a bit foggy.”
She paused her dusting and gave him a saucy look. “If you can’t sleep, you can always come knock on my door. I know ways to help a man sleep.”
“I’m sure you do, but I’d like to keep this position.”
Molly made a dismissive gesture, waving the duster and most likely scattering all the dust she’d just collected back on the lamp and table. “Lord John never knows what happens below stairs.”
“It only takes Mrs. Cox or McAlpin to catch wind of something and let him know.”
Molly shrugged and began dusting again. No one could deny that the housekeeper and butler had sharp eyes and ears and would certainly find out if two servants were having a clandestine affair.
Which made Duncan wonder—did they know about the late-night rendezvous he and Lucy had witnessed? Or was Mrs. Cox or even McAlpin the one they’d seen that night? The figure had been on the smaller side, but McAlpin was not a large man, and if he had hunched over, Duncan could imagine that figure might have been him.
“And there you go again,” Molly said.
Duncan raised his brows.
“You didn’t hear a word I just said, did you?”
Someone cleared a throat, and Duncan and Molly both glanced at the door to the parlor. Duncan had to work to school his features when he saw Lucy standing there. She was supposed to be his sister, and he needed his expression for her to reflect that. It was difficult, though, when she looked so pretty in the midday light. She was supposed to have stayed behind when Lady John went to visit neighbors because she had a megrim. Looking at her now, it was difficult to believe she felt even slightly unwell. Her cheeks were pink, her eyes bright, and her dark hair in a glossy twist pinned at the back of her head. She was dressed in dark blue, a plain gown befitting a governess. But the modest bodice couldn’t hide the swell of her breasts and the layers of skirts couldn’t keep his mind from imagining the swell of her hips and the silky feel of her thighs.
Duncan swallowed.
“Am I interrupting?” Lucy asked.
“Yes,” Molly said at the same time Duncan said, “No.”
Lucy raised her brows.
“We just finished,” Duncan said. “Do you need something, sister?”
“I’d like a word if you have time.Brother.” Lucy gave him a tight smile.
“Of course. Excuse us, Molly.”
Molly nodded and narrowed her eyes. Duncan followed Lucy out of the parlor. They didn’t speak until they were well away from the house. “She suspects us,” Lucy said as soon as they were alone and hidden from view.
“How could she? I doubt she’s even heard of the Royal Saboteurs.”
Lucy scowled at him over her shoulder. “That’s not what I meant. She suspects we are more than brother and sister.”
“Incest? I hardly think it likely she’ll make that accusation.”
“She doesn’t need to make an accusation to follow us or try and eavesdrop.”
“That’s true of anyone in the household. Where are you taking me?”
Lucy paused and looked about as though she hadn’t considered her path at all. She hadn’t started in the direction of the summer house where they’d spent the night. She’d taken a different path that led up a rather steep wooded ridge. “I hadn’t really thought about which way we should go, but Lady John mentioned that there is a lovely view of St. Paul’s Cathedral this way.”
Duncan took her elbow. “Is London so close? It feels as though it must be a world away.”
They reached the top of the ridge and circled about the clearing. Through a line of trees, there was indeed a view of London. The day was clear and yet a haze of coal smoke hung over the city. Duncan could just discern the white dome of the cathedral.
“Lady John said they call this King Henry’s Mound,” Lucy said, hands on her hips.
