dying of happiness.
When Tony smiled up at her, the lazy, carefree grin was back. He bit her hip, and let his fingertips play over the back of her knees.
‘Your Grace?’ There was a trace of laughter in her maid’s voice. It had been obvious to Susan what she had been doing. And, Constance suspected, quite loud.
‘No, Susan. Do not trouble yourself. I am fine.’ The maid retreated.
‘You are fine. Very fine indeed,’ Tony whispered against her belly. ‘And I must go.’
‘But you haven’t—’
‘But you have. Twice, at least.’ He smiled with pride and rose to take her hands. ‘I told you I would make it all better. I must go and take care of Barton and retrieve your deed and your keys. I suspect he is quite cold and stiff after all this time standing in the street. Whereas I feel most refreshed.’ He let go of her hands and scooped her up in his arms, and she squealed in delight as he carried her to her bed and tossed her under the covers, pulling them over her naked body. ‘You need not fear a visit from him tonight. Now, go to sleep, and if you would…’ he kissed her ‘…dream of me.’
‘Sleep?’ How could he even suggest it?
‘I have work yet to do. It is a shame, isn’t it, that in my chosen profession the work begins when the sun goes down, for it leaves me less time to spend with you.’
‘But you will come again,’ she whispered. ‘Soon. When you can stay with me.’
And he grinned. ‘As your Grace pleases.’
There, he thought with some satisfaction as he climbed out of the window and gained the street. She had left off the notion that he need run for his life. In fact, he was quite sure that she would be most vehemently opposed to his going anywhere without her. And she had forgotten all about sleeping with Barton as well. Although the notion that she would make the ultimate sacrifice for him was flattering, under no circumstances would he allow her to do so.
But it gave him proof enough that he need no longer worry about Constance’s feelings towards him. She might think that marriage was an impossibility. But there were many other things she seemed ready to agree to, and he would soon teach her that the advantages of becoming his wife might outweigh the negatives of birth and career.
As he approached his rooms, he saw the shadowy figure concealed in the bushes long before it saw him, which was highly amusing.
‘Barton.’ He smiled his most unctuous smile, and strode up to the man, clapping him on the back.
Barton started at the unexpected contact, and then straightened and failed miserably at hiding his confusion.
‘Forgotten me so soon? My name is de Portnay Smythe. I believe we spoke this evening, when I was rescuing Constance Townley from the tedium of having to waltz with you.’ Tony smiled. ‘I was most disappointed to lose you in the crowd at the Gardens, for I rather thought that you meant to teach me a lesson.’
Barton’s eyes narrowed. ‘Someone must, Smythe. It is well past time you learned that sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong can be very bad for your health.’
Tony shrugged. ‘Perhaps. But I doubt you will be the one to teach me, for you have not learned that lesson yourself. Your continued harassment of the Dowager Duchess of Wellford, for example, is about to prove extremely unhealthy.’
Barton smiled. ‘I beg to differ. I was there first, Smythe. She did not seem the least bit harassed, when last we were alone, and I have no desire to part with her. I assure you, the lady’s services are already engaged.’
Tony ignored the red haze of rage that formed at the idea of Barton alone with Constance, and sneered. ‘Her services are engaged? You talk of her as though you are hiring a coach. If she were in agreement on that point, then we would have nothing to speak of here. But in talking to her, I gather she is somewhat distressed by your attentions. And so, you will cease them, immediately.’
It was Barton’s turn to sneer. ‘You believe that she prefers you, a low-born thief?’
Tony ignored the insult. ‘Whether she might prefer me is immaterial to this discussion. We are talking of that which she does not prefer. And that would be you. Noble birth does not erase the fact that you are a criminal as well, Lord Barton. Perhaps, in respect to your fine blood, I should offer you the chance to settle our differences on the field of honour.’ Tony laughed to himself at the idea. ‘But I am just a common man. I am no fencer, sir, and not much of a shot. I will not give you a chance to stick me when the sun rises, any more than I will allow you to knife me in the back on a street corner this evening. If you think you deserve Constance Townley’s affections, then prove to me that you are the better man. Try and take them from me.’ He raised his hands, prepared to fight.
Barton took the stance of so many fine gentlemen, fists up to protect his noble profile.
Tony ignored it and punched him once in the stomach, watching him fold and drop to the ground. He looked down at the man who lay gasping at his feet. ‘And this is why, if you wish to fight, it is better to learn it in the street, than from Gentleman Jim. You may find, Barton, that much of the prancing and preening you’ve been taught is quite useless against a rogue such as myself. And while you are quite terrifying to old men and ladies’ maids, I find you to be a bit of a joke.’
Tony reached down, grabbed Barton by a lapel and ran a hand efficiently through the pockets of the coat, until he came upon the deed. ‘Carrying it with you to prevent me from stealing it? I thought as much. And you see how well that succeeded.’ He continued his search, removing more papers and a key ring. He flipped through the papers. ‘Let us see what else we have. IOUs. And here is one from Constance’s idiot nephew.’ He stared down in disgust at Barton. ‘No one is this lucky at cards, Jack. Therefore, I will surmise you cheated and will take the lot. I suspect it will be like early Christmas for the owners to get them back.’
He examined the ring of keys, removing one that fit the lock he had noticed on Constance’s front door. ‘You will not be needing this, and so I will return it to its owner as well.’ He glared at Barton. ‘A true gentleman would never accept something that was not freely given.’
He made to return the keys, and then hesitated. ‘I don’t suppose, while we are here together, that you would like to tell me the location of the key to your safe. I do not see it, on the ring here. It would be round, with a notched end. With a little cap to keep the dust out of the grooves.’
Barton glared up at him with murder in his eyes.
‘Didn’t think so.’ Tony smiled. ‘Never mind. I didn’t really want it. I will open the lock on my own, soon enough. I enjoy the challenge, and having the key would spoil my fun. But do not think for a moment that you can succeed in your plans to mint your own money. The government is on to you, and has set me to stop you to prevent scandal. But they will have you, no matter what you do. My advice to you, as a fellow criminal, is to admit defeat, turn over the plates and run while they will still allow it.’
He tossed the other keys back into the muck of the street.
‘Do you understand?’
Barton had left off gasping, and he struggled up on one hand and spat on the ground at Tony’s feet.
Tony kicked the hand out from under him, rolled Barton over with the toe of his boot and planted his foot across the man’s throat. ‘I said, do you understand? I am concerned, predominantly, about the Duchess of Wellford. It stops here, Barton. You will leave her alone. Are we clear on that?’ He increased his pressure on the man’s throat.
Barton nodded with difficulty.
He removed his foot from Barton’s neck, allowing the man to sit up. ‘You are no doubt having thoughts right now about what you will do to me, once you get your wind back. If you mean to call me out, you will be unsuccessful, for I will laugh in your face. I am proud to be a live coward in a family of dead heroes and I do not need to duel to