The Naked Viscount by Sally Mackenzie Page A

staring at him as though he were speaking Hindi. “Miss Parker-Roth, Lady Lenden and Lady Tarkington have returned to the ballroom. They are no longer looking for us.”
    â€œOh.” She still appeared to be seriously bemused. He felt an odd mix of annoyance and pride. They did not have all night to search for Clarence’s statue. Anyone might come along and interrupt them—and with so many people interested in the sketch, he could not rule out the possibility that someone else might find the next piece of this puzzle before they did. There was no time to waste. They had the advantage—at least, he thought they had the advantage—but nothing was certain. They needed all the pieces to fully understand what they were dealing with. He needed Miss Parker-Roth to focus on the problem immediately.
    Still, it was more than a little flattering to think he’d caused the prickly woman to be so distracted, and by doing something as simple as attending to her small scratch.
    Of course, he’d been rather distracted by his actions as well. She had such perfect skin, such lovely breas—
    Focus. “This would be a perfect time to locate that tree, Miss Parker-Roth. Do you have any idea where it is?”
    The woman looked at him as if he were a complete cod’s-head and then laughed. “It’s a good thing you aren’t trying to do this by yourself, my lord.”
    He frowned. “Why do you say that?”
    â€œBecause you obviously don’t know a magnolia from a mulberry. We walked right past it when we left the path.”
    â€œWhat?” He looked back through the bushes at the tree Jane indicated. There was nothing especially remarkable about it—and there was certainly no obscene artwork lurking under its foliage. “Where’s Pan?”
    â€œNot there. I can’t think Lord Palmerson would put that god in such a public location, can you? Imagine how the debutantes and their chaperones would react. There’s not enough hartshorn in England to revive the swooning masses.”
    Blast it all, she had a point. “But I could have sworn…I mean, the sketch was very clear…” Damn. He’d been so certain Clarence had drawn the flower as a clue. What the hell was he going to do now?
    Miss Parker-Roth extended her hand. “Let me see it. Perhaps I’ll notice something you missed.”
    â€œI can’t let you see Clarence’s sketch.”
    She scowled at him. “Why not? You need help, don’t you?”
    â€œNo.”
    Miss Parker-Roth snorted.
    He couldn’t argue with her. Of course he needed help—just not hers. “I can’t show you Clarence’s drawing.”
    â€œWhy not? I may not be an expert in botany, but I’m obviously more versed in the subject than you are.”
    â€œIt’s not botany, but biology that’s the issue.”
    â€œBiology? What do you mean?”
    Surely she knew the answer to that question? She had gotten a glimpse of the paper in Clarence’s study. “Miss Parker-Roth, the sketch is extremely pornographic. It is not fit to be seen by a young, unmarried woman such as yourself.”
    The woman actually rolled her eyes. “My lord, I appreciate your chivalry, but if you believe the drawing can tell us where the next statue may be, I think we need to sacrifice my tender sensibilities. I assure you I’ll be able to withstand the shock. My mother is an artist, after all.”
    â€œAnd I assure you your mother does not draw pictures like these.”
    â€œPerhaps not, but they are only pictures. It is hard to imagine how they could do me any permanent harm.”
    â€œNo?” The word was sharp in the quiet garden. Light glanced off Lord Motton’s tightly clenched jaw. “Not all harm is physical.”
    â€œI know that.” Did the man think she was a child? Anyone—especially anyone who’d survived seven London