look at the man and her thoughts started wandering toward the bedroom. She forced her mind to focus on the discussion at hand.
“According to the colonel, this will be your cousin’s last assignment. Do you think Captain Sharpe will miss the sea very much?”
She barely knew Ethan Sharpe though she had been aboard the ship that had sailed to France to rescue him from prison. During the single occasion Cord’s family had all been together to celebrate his return, she had thought him cold and distant, but Cord said he had not always been that way.
“The sea has always been Ethan’s life,” Cord replied, “but he is resigned to assuming his duties as marquess. I think part of him is looking forward to the challenge.”
“Do you think he’ll enter the marriage mart? It is, after all, his duty to produce an heir.”
“Eventually, he’ll have to, but not right away.” Cord reached up and tugged a strand of her thick chestnut hair. She was small, but a little less slender now that she was four months gone with child. He turned around in his chair, pulled her down on his lap and kissed her.
“What is this sudden interest in Ethan?”
“Sarah dropped by. She is beginning to worry. You know how she is.” Sarah was Ethan’s sister, the Viscountess Aimes. Along with Cord, Sarah had been a driving force in bringing her brother safely home from France.
“There is no reason for her to worry. Harmon Jeffries has fled. The man is no longer in a position to give away secrets—or sell them, as the case may be. Ethan will complete his mission and return safely home.”
“With the viscount removed from the government, I suppose the voyage will be safer.”
“Which brings me to a question I’ve been meaning to ask. Recently it occurred to me that it was extremely co incidental for your friend, Grace, to decide to visit a relative in the north so shortly after Lord Forsythe’s escape.”
Tory gave him her innocent, wide-eyed expression. “Darling, surely you’re not implying that Grace had anything to do with it?”
“Don’t give me that look. Tell me Grace Chastain was in no way involved in the viscount’s escape.”
“Why ever would you think she was?”
“Because, as we both know, the man is her father. Perhaps—”
“That is a secret, Cord! You promised never to mention it.”
“I am only saying—”
“You are accusing Grace of aiding a man convicted of being a traitor—though of course he did continue to proclaim his innocence right up until the last.”
“Yes, and he would be dead right now—hanged by the neck—if someone hadn’t helped him breach the walls of Newgate prison. And we both know how reckless Grace can be.”
“Well, she certainly wouldn’t—”
“Wouldn’t she? If you were in her position, you would certainly consider it.”
Nervous at the direction the conversation was taking, Tory slid her arms around his neck and leaned into his chest, which pressed her full breasts nicely against him.
“You are trying to distract me, you little witch.”
“Is it working?” She knew it was. As she settled a little deeper on his lap, she could feel his arousal.
“Dammit, yes, it’s working.”
Tory laughed as he scooped her up in his arms.
“Perhaps a little distraction will do both of us some good. In a short while, we’ll have the baby to consider.”
“The doctor says we can make love till just before my confinement.”
“Yes, well, doctors aren’t always correct and I am not about to take chances.” He bent his head and very soundly kissed her. “In the meantime, however, I plan to enjoy you every chance I get.”
Tory just smiled. She had successfully sidetracked her husband from a subject she didn’t want him to explore. From the moment of Lord Forsythe’s escape, she had been certain Grace was behind the deed. For her best friend’s sake, she hoped Grace was comfortably established inLady Humphrey’s distant abode and that by the time she returned to
“According to the colonel, this will be your cousin’s last assignment. Do you think Captain Sharpe will miss the sea very much?”
She barely knew Ethan Sharpe though she had been aboard the ship that had sailed to France to rescue him from prison. During the single occasion Cord’s family had all been together to celebrate his return, she had thought him cold and distant, but Cord said he had not always been that way.
“The sea has always been Ethan’s life,” Cord replied, “but he is resigned to assuming his duties as marquess. I think part of him is looking forward to the challenge.”
“Do you think he’ll enter the marriage mart? It is, after all, his duty to produce an heir.”
“Eventually, he’ll have to, but not right away.” Cord reached up and tugged a strand of her thick chestnut hair. She was small, but a little less slender now that she was four months gone with child. He turned around in his chair, pulled her down on his lap and kissed her.
“What is this sudden interest in Ethan?”
“Sarah dropped by. She is beginning to worry. You know how she is.” Sarah was Ethan’s sister, the Viscountess Aimes. Along with Cord, Sarah had been a driving force in bringing her brother safely home from France.
“There is no reason for her to worry. Harmon Jeffries has fled. The man is no longer in a position to give away secrets—or sell them, as the case may be. Ethan will complete his mission and return safely home.”
“With the viscount removed from the government, I suppose the voyage will be safer.”
“Which brings me to a question I’ve been meaning to ask. Recently it occurred to me that it was extremely co incidental for your friend, Grace, to decide to visit a relative in the north so shortly after Lord Forsythe’s escape.”
Tory gave him her innocent, wide-eyed expression. “Darling, surely you’re not implying that Grace had anything to do with it?”
“Don’t give me that look. Tell me Grace Chastain was in no way involved in the viscount’s escape.”
“Why ever would you think she was?”
“Because, as we both know, the man is her father. Perhaps—”
“That is a secret, Cord! You promised never to mention it.”
“I am only saying—”
“You are accusing Grace of aiding a man convicted of being a traitor—though of course he did continue to proclaim his innocence right up until the last.”
“Yes, and he would be dead right now—hanged by the neck—if someone hadn’t helped him breach the walls of Newgate prison. And we both know how reckless Grace can be.”
“Well, she certainly wouldn’t—”
“Wouldn’t she? If you were in her position, you would certainly consider it.”
Nervous at the direction the conversation was taking, Tory slid her arms around his neck and leaned into his chest, which pressed her full breasts nicely against him.
“You are trying to distract me, you little witch.”
“Is it working?” She knew it was. As she settled a little deeper on his lap, she could feel his arousal.
“Dammit, yes, it’s working.”
Tory laughed as he scooped her up in his arms.
“Perhaps a little distraction will do both of us some good. In a short while, we’ll have the baby to consider.”
“The doctor says we can make love till just before my confinement.”
“Yes, well, doctors aren’t always correct and I am not about to take chances.” He bent his head and very soundly kissed her. “In the meantime, however, I plan to enjoy you every chance I get.”
Tory just smiled. She had successfully sidetracked her husband from a subject she didn’t want him to explore. From the moment of Lord Forsythe’s escape, she had been certain Grace was behind the deed. For her best friend’s sake, she hoped Grace was comfortably established inLady Humphrey’s distant abode and that by the time she returned to
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