One Thing Leads to a Lover (Love and Let Spy #2) - Susanna Craig Page 0,75

was certain. She still could not decide, however, whether he had resented the order. The ride back to Bartlett House from the Horse Guards ought to have given her an opportunity to discover his feelings about the matter, perhaps his feelings about a great many things.

Then again, perhaps his businesslike brusqueness had been the answer to her questions and her heart simply refused to accept it.

Not that she had been forming expectations about him, or imagining that Langley being ordered to continue the ruse of tutor might provide an opportunity to repeat last night’s activities. The general would be astonished to think his instructions had been interpreted thus!

But surely, that morning, there had been a moment—a moment before Jamie had revealed how the codebook had come into his hands and the day had taken such a strange turn—when she had seen longing in Langley’s warm, whisky-colored eyes?

The bed’s linens whispered an admonition as she restlessly shifted her hips. Mind your step. When exactly had she become a merry widow, not just intrigued by but actually lusting after a devastatingly handsome, entirely unsuitable man?

This was carrying her desire for adventure too far.

Determined to put a stop to such nonsense, she squeezed her eyes shut and drew several deep breaths. Her family was in Richmond under the protection of an officer of the British army because they were in danger. She needed to keep her mind on what was important. And if she hoped to stay alert to threats, she needed rest.

She would not let her thoughts wander to the dark attic, where the air was doubtless so stifling on this early summer night that Langley’s nightshirt must be clinging damply to the muscles of his arms and chest—if he had not been forced to shed it entirely.

She absolutely would not let her thoughts wander back to last night.…

“Amanda.” Mama’s groan rose from a mountain of pillows on the opposite side of the enormous bed. “No one is more aware than I that these are hardly ideal arrangements. If I had realized that the Hursts were in the midst of redecorating and could spare just one room—and one bed—for the two of us, I would surely have stayed in London. But as I am here…please. Go. To. Sleep.”

“Yes, Mama,” Amanda agreed, knowing she promised the impossible. Still, she dutifully turned onto her side, punched down her pillow, and settled into it with a sigh. She needed to clear her mind, or else she would be dreaming of Langley next.

Closing her eyes, she pictured the swift, clear river sweeping her unruly thoughts out to sea.…

She awoke to a light-filled room and the sounds of children’s laughter. Her children’s. When she twisted her head on the pillow, she discovered herself alone in the bed. The very notion that Mama had already risen, and quietly enough not to disturb Amanda, made her certain that the hour must be late indeed. Tossing back the covers, she slid from the mattress and hurried to the window to investigate.

On the green stood Jamie and Philip, Langley facing them. Evidently, he had been leading them through a series of fencing maneuvers, though the boys wielded long sticks, tree branches by the looks of it, instead of their foils. Doubtless they had gone overlooked in the flurry of packing.

Langley had no weapon, but like yesterday morning, he had shed his coat for ease of movement. It lay draped over a low stone wall, and by the glint of sunlight against some object there, she could guess his spectacles must rest on top of it. Nothing particularly remarkable about the scene.

Except the laughter.

Philip was doubled over with it. Jamie’s whole face was drawn up in an almost unrecognizable grin, no hint of the adolescent cynicism with which such an expression—already rare—was usually marred. And as for Langley…

When he was stern and serious, it did something strange and wonderful to her insides. But she was entirely unprepared for what happened when he smiled. Nothing sly or sardonic. Just curved lips, a glimpse of white teeth, crinkles at the corners of his eyes. Yet his face, handsome in its severity, was transformed utterly by it.

Amanda brought her hand to her chest, hardly certain which to blame for its sudden, spreading ache. Pleasure at seeing her sons’ happiness. Attraction, no matter how unwise, to Langley. Pain in the knowledge this moment could not last—for any of them.

But they had today. This perfect, sunny summer day, far from the heat and noise and odors of