Page 57 of Kiss Me Lady One More Time
They walked in silence. They were both tense with anticipation—and awkwardness. Turning toward the house from the pavement, it all looked quiet. She turned the key in the lock, and they eased inside, closing the door silently behind them.
All lay quiet. Rooms full of furniture draped with dust covers. The sight of them made his heart twist a little, but he didn’t meet her gaze. They walked from room to room as stealthily as possible, finding nothing out of the ordinary. Nodding toward the stairs, he mouthed,stay here, and started up.
She didn’t listen. He should have known. Everything up here was undisturbed as well—until they reached the master’s bedroom suite.
It was empty—but it was a mess. The bed was unmade and gave off a stench of sweat and sex. Clothes were tossed about. They were mostly gentleman’s linens and breeches and trousers. Dirty plates and empty liquor bottles lay everywhere.
Penelope was furious. He could see it in the set of her mouth and the stiffness of her shoulders. They eased out, and she grabbed up a blue coat and brought it with her.
Still silent, they moved back downstairs, went through the green baize door and down to the servants’ domain. It was all empty, too. Sterne went through the kitchen and opened the door. Tensford stood, stiffly ready, outside.
“Come on in, there’s no one here.”
The earl came in. “But there’s been someone here, and recently.” He gestured toward the long table, where half a loaf of bread, still good, sat near a bowl of plums, as well as an open bottle of wine.
“He’s been living here,” Penelope said in disgust. She threw the coat over a kitchen chair. “And it is definitely my cousin. This coat is missing the third button. I mentioned it to him the other day.” Taking it up again and rolling it into a ball, she tossed it in the hearth, thick with ashes left uncleaned. “He made himself at home in my parents’ bedroom.” She shook her head. “Disgraceful.”
“We should look for the fossil,” Sterne reminded them.
“I’m going up to my mother’s studio. He might have thrown a tarp over it and stacked it amongst her canvases.”
They all went with her and searched the studio thoroughly, without success. They split up then and looked into each closet, underneath each bed and mattress, into each corner of every room, from the servants’ rooms in the attics to the wine cellar below the kitchen.
“He’s helped himself here, too, hasn’t he?” Penelope said, looking at the mess. “My father will be furious.”
“It’s not here,” Sterne finally admitted.
They all trooped back to the kitchen. Penelope set the oil lamp they’d taken downstairs on the table and everyone settled onto the benches. Tensford took up a plum like he meant to eat it, but he looked at it and carefully set it back into the bowl. “What do you want to do?” he asked Penelope.
“I want to stay here until he comes back. I want to confront his lying face,” she snapped.
“No.” Sterne said it at the same time as the earl. “I’m sorry,” he continued, trying to soothe her. “He’s desperate, clearly. And he’ll be shocked, humiliated and angry to be caught out. That’s a dangerous combination.”
“Then I want the locks changed,” she said stubbornly. “Now. Tonight.” She folded her arms. “I’ll pay what it takes. I’m not leaving until it’s done, and I know he won’t be able to get back in.”
“That’s not unreasonable.” Tensford sighed and stood. “I’ll go and arrange it. I’ll stop and check on Hope, as well, and then I’ll be back.”
“Would you mind sending a footman over?” Penelope asked. “I mean to write a note to the agency that is supposed to be watching the house. I want them to keep at least two men here until James is dealt with.” She snorted. “I wouldn’t put it past him to break a window, if he finds himself locked out—and it’s the least they can do.”
“Good idea.” Tensford paused. He drew a dueling pistol from his coat and held it out.
Sterne took it, holding it carefully.
“Just in case,” the earl said.
He nodded.
“The light will be fading soon. You should probably turn that lamp down low. And Sterne . . .”
“Yes. I know. I will keep her safe.”
His friend kept his gaze locked upon him.
“Yes. Completely safe.” From himself, as well. They both knew what he meant.
Tensford nodded and slipped out of the kitchen door. Sterne locked the door behind him and when he turned, Penelope was moving away, toward the front of the house. He dutifully turned down the lamp and followed her.
She was pacing from one front room to the next. He tucked the gun into his coat pocket, went to perch on a window seat and let her pace, while he watched the street outside through the heavy curtains.
