A Code of the Heart (The Code Breakers Series Book 3) (16 page)

“I was an ass. Can you forgive me? I was boiling with jealousy, watching you and Kendal dance together. The way he looked at you. I’d still like to kill him.”

“No, he was teasing me about how alluring I’d become as a woman. I think he saw a woman, intent on seducing the man of her dreams.”

“Me?” He moved closer to her.

“Yes, Derrick. Only you.”

He took her hand into his and stared into her eyes. “And I want you, only you. I’ve never felt this about anyone until I met you. I want everything with you.”

“You do?”

“Will you marry me Amelia?” He pressed her hand to his heart.

“Yes, Derrick. But does this mean we have to wait to be lovers?”

Chapter Nineteen

Amelia couldn’t believe the change in Derrick. Once she declared her feelings, he became a marauding, hungry male who couldn’t get enough of her. He held her head in his large hands and consumed her mouth. He licked, prodded, sucked. She reveled in his primitive need, kissing him back with the same frantic fervor.

She melted into the overwhelming sensations, floating on a voluptuous wave. Between the love bites and tastes on her neck, he told her that she belonged to him now and he’d never let her go.

Her hot and prickly skin was ultrasensitive to his every touch, as his bristly jaw abraded her throat and his tongue traced her ear.

His harsh, winded breath on her neck and throat excited her, causing her body to melt and her breath to come in short bursts.

She needed to lie with him, to press her entire self against his hard, hot body. “Derrick, please. Let me lie down.” she was entirely focused on melding as one with Derrick when he suddenly sat up to disentangle from their passionate embrace.

Amelia heard a loud harrumph and a fake cough before she recognized Gwyneth’s voice. “Solving the smuggling ring, I see.” And then she broke into peals of laughter. Ash was grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Derrick leapt to his feet and tried to hide Amelia behind him, which made Gwyneth chuckle even more. “A bit late, Brinsley.”

Amelia rearranged her hair, which had come undone from its pins and then stood next to him.

“This is becoming a habit for you two,” Ash said.

She felt Derrick’s body stiffen and knew he wouldn’t tolerate much more joking from those two. She stepped around him, but he pulled her to his side. “This is going to become a regular habit as Miss Amelia becomes my wife.”

Gwyneth squealed and leapt forward to take Amelia into her arms. “I knew you were in love.” Gwyneth didn’t let go of Amelia. “Didn’t I, Ash?”

Ash rolled his eyes. “It appears you were right.”

Ash thumped Derrick on the back.”Congratulations on winning the hand of the fearsome Miss Amelia Bonnington.”

“We will be brides together, then we can have daughters who will be the closest of friends,” Gwyneth gushed.

“Let go of the poor woman, Gwyneth,” Ash said. “You don’t have to plan her entire future this minute. Besides, I want to offer my solicitations to the bride.”

Ash then took Amelia into his arms and hugged her. “I’m so very happy for you, Amelia. And like Gwyneth’s sentiments, I consider you both part of our family, sealed after our adventures at the Edworth party.” Ash released her to shake Derrick’s hand.

Amelia’s heart swelled when she saw Derrick’s hesitant smile. The poor man looked bewildered, but obviously touched. The man needed family. Whatever happened in his family, Derrick was now obviously alone. She didn’t believe for a minute that he had done all those things he was reputed to have done. She knew in her heart, he was honorable.

“I also want to thank you, Amelia, for not involving Gwyneth in last night’s caper.”

Amelia turned toward Gwyneth. “Can you forgive me for not including you? I’m sorry, but with your demand that Ash not be given a dangerous assignment, I felt it was wrong to include you in the mission before your wedding.”

“I’m not mad at you…this time.’ Gwyneth’s chocolate brown eyes danced with mischief. “But the next time you dress like a man and venture to a dockside tavern, I want to be involved.”

“Gwyneth,” Ash said in a low murmur, but Amelia heard his whisper. “You can dress like a man anytime you want in our boudoir.”

Now it was Amelia’s turn to laugh as Gwyneth’s eyes rounded in interest and her dark skin took on a rosy blush.

Derrick also heard since he chuckled. “Amelia is not engaging in late night adventures any longer.” He raised her hand to his lips. “Are you darling?”

How unfair of him to be so tender and attractive. With four charming brothers, she wasn’t that easily won over. Her skill at persuading men had been well practiced on her four bullying brothers. “I’m open to negotiating.” She looked into his warm eyes, trying to reciprocate the same seductive stare.

He sucked in a long breath.

It was Ash who interrupted their sensual interlude. “I hate to interrupt, but Cord wanted me to discuss the best way to win Madame de Puis’ cooperation. Time is of the essence.”

Gwyneth took Amelia’s arm. “Let’s all sit down.” She led Amelia to the settee. “You and Brinsley sit here.” She then sat in the chair where Cord had been.

Amelia felt the warmth moving to her face as she remembered Derrick and her passion on the settee before they were interrupted. Derrick’s muscular thigh pressed against her. He took her hand and caressed it gently between his huge hands. Her heart thumped against her chest. His closeness did such strange and delectable things to her.

Ash paced. “I’ve got a man posted at the front and back of the shop, watching for Elodie. But I wanted to talk with you, Amelia, before I alerted Madame de Puis about the girl.

Amelia tried to pay attention to Ash’s words, but Derrick traced her knuckles with his finger. She took a slow breath and tried to focus. “I had an idea while I was speaking with Cord.” It was only an hour ago. She stole a peek at Derrick. He was looking down at her with a smoldering stare that turned her insides into jelly.

She needed to help Helene and Elodie. She struggled to ignore her urge to climb into Derrick’s lap and kiss him and bite him the way he had done to her.

Ash coughed. “Amelia?”

Gwyneth giggled. “You two are so adorable.”

That got Amelia. She straightened her spine. “I’ve been thinking of a way to capture Elodie’s father and also to elicit Helene’s help.”

She ignored Derrick’s loud sigh.

“What if I made another doll to look as if it had just arrived…filled with paste diamonds? Wouldn’t that push Elodie’s father to seek out the traitor? Cord said that you’re working off the premise that Elodie’s father is an errand boy for one of the French spies.”

“That’s brilliant. We give him the new diamonds, then he takes them to the French spy, then you watch the French spy make contact with the English traitor.” Gwyneth clenched her hands enthusiastically. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Ash smiled in a charming way at his fiancée. “I hope it was because you have had your mind on our wedding.” He bent over and whispered, “And our wedding night.”

Derrick squeezed Amelia’s hand after hearing Ash’s erotic promise to Gwyneth.

Ash straightened and looked at Amelia. “How long will it take you to make a doll? We need to find Elodie’s father before the next contact.”

“With help from two of my maids?”

“I’ll help too,” Gwyneth said.

Ash beamed at her.

“With the four of us sewing, I can have it done by late afternoon. The shop is open late since ladies need their gowns for tonight’s ball.”

“What’s stopping him from taking the diamonds and making a run since the French spy doesn’t know about this newest doll?” Derrick asked.

“Oh, I didn’t think of that.” Amelia sat back against the settee.

“But once we see him take the diamonds from the doll, we’ll have him in our custody and can convince him to give up his contact,” Ash said.

“But how are we going to deliver the doll to Helene?” Gwyneth asked.

“I’ll take it to the shop to show Helene. I can pretend my French cousin sent it to me.”

Derrick shook his head. “No, you’re not going near that shop when…”

Amelia twisted quickly. “But I should be the one to take the doll.”

He didn’t raise his voice, but said in a quiet dogged way. “I won’t risk putting you in danger.” He pulled her close. “I can’t risk losing you now that I finally have you.”

Amelia saw the look of love and worry reflected in his eyes. “I suppose I can send my maid with the doll and a note.”

“Helene doesn’t need to know anything about the dolls. It will make the whole business easier,” Ash said.

Chapter Twenty

Brinsley paced in the subterranean rooms of the Abchurch office. Looking at the two story, brick building, no one would know of the tunnels and cells below the stodgy façade.

He didn’t feel the relief and satisfaction after an exemplary completion of the mission. It was too easy. And easy made him uncomfortable. Elodie’s father had led them to the English traitor who they captured with the diamonds in-hand. They had thwarted the purchase of the plans for the secret weapon. But something was off, and he had learned from experience to always trust his gut. Something he couldn’t pinpoint niggled in the back of his mind.

“Am I boring you?” Ash stood in front of him, giving the details of his interview with the English traitor. “Is your mind on a certain vivacious red-head?”

Brinsley couldn’t prevent the wide grin from breaking out across his face, knowing it would spur endless ribbing from Ash. But he was thoroughly taken with the thought of Amelia getting ready for tonight’s ball and their first dance—a first step in the initiation of their first lovemaking.

Ash chuckled. “Another rake gets the leg shackle.”

Brinsley sat down in a wide wooden chair. Although the atmosphere in the dank basement was gloomy, the chairs in the Abchurch were sturdy, built for a man’s comfort. “You’re much closer to the shackle than I am.”

“Can you blame me?” Ash asked.

“Of course not. You’re very fortunate to have won the hand of Lady Gwyneth.”

Now it was Ash’s turn to smile like a goon. “Did you hear anything I told you?”

“Our traitor was a low-level secretary for the American inventor,” Brinsley said.

“Yes. He has no political affiliations I can identify. Looks like he did it for the money.”

“Was his contact always Maurice, Elodie’s father?” Brinsley asked.

“Yes, but our traitor doesn’t think that Maurice was the brains behind the operation. Did Maurice tell you who he stabbed? Could he be the head of the operation?” Ash questioned.

“He said that the French man in the tavern refused to pay for other smuggled goods. Nothing to do with the diamonds.”

“A case of bad business between thugs. Do you believe him?”

“I believe him. Maurice is a cutthroat smuggler, not a mastermind. He doesn’t have the guts or the ability to run this covert operation. He maintains his instructions came from France and there is no one else involved,” Brinsley said.

“He denies having any contacts here?”

“Yes. He spent a great deal of time begging for me to believe that his daughter wasn’t involved. That she was totally innocent.”

“Do you agree with Amelia, that the young girl is innocent?” Ash asked.

“Yes, but something is bothering me.” Brinsley stood.

“I want to follow-up with Madame de Puis. She has to know the French connection who provides Maurice with her fabric and dolls. We should’ve questioned her sooner.”

“We’ve only known about the diamonds coming through her shop for one day,” Ash said. “But I think it’s a good idea. I’ll finish up with Alfred.”

“Alfred?”

“Alfred Pettibone, our Navy secretary, who planned to retire to the Greek islands with the French diamonds. It seems he’s always wanted to go abroad.”

Brinsley snorted. “The only trip he’s going to take is to Newgate.” He stood. “I’ll see you tonight at the Foster Ball.”

Ash clamped his arm around his shoulders. “You better prepare yourself to be the topic of society gossip when you spend the night glued to Amelia’s side.”

“Amelia doesn’t want us to be conspicuous until I’ve spoken with her father who is out of town. She doesn’t want him to hear from anyone else about our engagement.”

“Smart girl. Not a good start to get on the bad side of your formidable father-in-law.”

“Amelia said the rumors about her father are exaggerated. I believe she used the term pussycat.”

Ash laughed out loud. “To his daughter, he might be very sweet, but to the man who is stealing her away, I’d say daunting.” Ash’s eyes were a bit too bright and his attitude a bit too smug.

“Thanks for your support.” Brinsley turned and walked out of the room.

Brinsley wasn’t sure if it was all this talk about Amelia and marriage, but he had an urgent need to see and hold her. A disconcerting idea took hold of him while he talked with Ash and he had to act. The most logical contact for the head of the smuggling ring was Helene. She was in the middle of the intrigue. Derrick had no doubt that the French thug had said
elle—
she. He should’ve suspected Helene sooner.

How did he allow himself to be blinded by Amelia’s faith in her friend, to not look at the most likely suspect?

And although Talley had Amelia under surveillance to guard her, he wanted reassurance that she was safe before he went to the modiste’s shop.

Chapter Twenty-One

Amelia paced between her easel and the west-facing French doors. The afternoon light at the back of Bonnington house was perfect for her painting, and she had spent many creative hours in her studio. Not today. Today she was wound tight. Fear and worry had her nerves coiled into knots. The doll had been sent to the shop several hours earlier. A relaxed Betsy, unaware of her true mission in delivering the doll, stood at the door.

“Miss, you need to get dressed for dinner and the ball.”

“Thank you, Betsy. I’ll be along in a few minutes. Can you draw a bath for me?” Despite her clammy palms and her heart racing, she maintained the charade of a routine day and not one filled with dangerous spy games.