The Formidable Earl (Diamonds in the Rough #6) - Sophie Barnes Page 0,77
us, certainly not enough to betray three powerful shareholders.”
“Perhaps not,” Simon agreed, “but it’s the best lead we’ve got right now, so we have to at least try.”
Following their discussion in the carriage, Simon had sent a note to Mr. St. John requesting a meeting. The businessman had written back, inviting Simon to lunch with him two days hence. Sensing Ida’s impatience and need to do more than wait, Simon had suggested they sort through the information they’d gathered thus far.
It was now almost one in the morning. His brain was starting to leap from one random point to another – nothing made sense anymore – and she was starting to wear down the carpet with her constant pacing. When she yawned, collapsed in a chair with a sigh, and started reviewing what Murdoch had said for the umpteenth time, Simon decided he’d had enough.
“I’m taking you to bed,” he declared. “You need to rest.”
“But I can feel the answer. It’s right there. I can practically touch it.”
He scooped her up into his arms. Her lack of protest proved how exhausted she was. “It will be easier to reach after a good night’s sleep.”
“Oh, I—” she yawned and leaned her head against his chest “—hope so.”
So did he. He wanted nothing more than her happiness and was starting to fear she wouldn’t forgive herself if she failed in this mission. But was success possible? He wasn’t as sure as he’d been when they started. Hopefully they’d make some progress soon.
Simon climbed the stairs and strode toward Ida’s bedchamber. Their bedchamber. She was deep asleep before he managed to lay her on the bed. After lighting an oil lamp, he carefully pulled back the covers and rolled her onto her side so he could undo her dress. He liked the task, the intimacy of it – the fact he was close enough to her that he knew without doubt she’d allow it.
Leaving her chemise, he got himself ready for bed as well. Still wearing his trousers, he climbed in beside her. Propped on one elbow, he gazed at her beautiful face and smiled. The glow from the lamp illuminated her skin so it almost glowed. She looked peaceful like this, leagues apart from the fiercely determined woman she’d been just a half hour earlier.
He liked both aspects of her in equal measure and felt his heart grow with the promise of spending another day with her tomorrow.
It was remarkable, he decided as he settled back against his pillows and turned down the light. Within the span of three weeks, Ida had become the single most important person he knew. It was almost absurd. And yet it worked so wonderfully well. She wasn’t trying to manage him or meddle with his affairs the way some women did. Instead, she took him by the hand and walked alongside him, sharing her thoughts, her dreams, her ideas. Laughing with him, and being his friend. While also being a great deal more.
Simon breathed a sigh of contentment and repositioned himself so he could hold her while he drifted off to sleep. There was everything that had happened before he’d met her, then there was now and what would come after.
Inhaling, he savored the sweet smell of jasmine that clung to her hair. His hand came to rest on her hip. He began sinking into deep sleep when a soft click brought him back to awareness.
Holding his breath, he opened his eyes and lifted his head. The bedchamber door creaked open. Simon’s lungs tightened around the air they were holding. His heart leapt into full gallop. Someone was there, and the tall shadow he could now see through the increasing gap in the door assured him it wasn’t Miranda.
After sliding quietly out of bed, Simon crept along the floor until he reached the foot of the bed. There was now a direct path to the door, but he had to be quick if he was to catch the intruder off guard. Within two more seconds the door would be fully open, and the man would surely see him. He glanced toward his discarded clothes. The pistol he carried with him at all hours these days was in his jacket pocket while the one he’d given Ida was on her nightstand. Collecting either would waste precious time, so he had to manage without them.
Acting on instinct, Simon raced forward, slamming the door as hard as he could. A guttural curse followed as the door struck the man.