Damn it all. Dane had a lot to answer for. Indeed, he made a mental note to punch him hard on the nose the next time he laid eyes on him.
Pushing away from his desk, he picked up the candle and strode out under the shelter of the cloisters. With dawn fast approaching, there was little point sleeping, and so he retraced Anna's steps, searched for anything untoward.
Just as Andre had said, Marcus found no sign of forced entry. Despite various reports to the contrary, he had never found any sign of a secret entrance either.
Now, he would have to pursue another line of enquiry — one that left an empty, hollow feeling in his gut.
A member of his staff had let the intruder into his home.
It was the only feasible explanation. But why?
With a heavy sigh, he trudged upstairs, hovered outside Anna's door not knowing quite what to do. He would not reveal his suspicion: primarily because he did not want to alert the culprit. And he did not want Anna to worry. She had spent years looking over her shoulder, not knowing whom she could trust. He would not have her living in fear, not in his house.
No, he could not abide disloyalty and would secretly investigate the matter until he found the person responsible.
As though sensing his presence, she opened the door ajar and peered around. "I heard footsteps. Is everything alright?"
Damn. He did not want her to think he was insensitive, that he lingered with lascivious intentions in mind. "I have finished searching the house but couldn't sleep. Forgive me, if my prowling disturbed you."
She smiled, opened the door a little wider, and he was somewhat disappointed to see her soft curves shrouded in a cotton nightgown. "I couldn't sleep, either. I keep thinking about what he said to me. How he knew my name."
They stared into each other's eyes for a moment; his deep sense of longing reflected back at him, and he suspected their thoughts followed a similar vein.
"If you want company, you only have to say." Being the first to find the courage to speak, he added, "We could sit in the chapter house and read. You can tell me why you think I should farm the land."
Her eyes brightened. "Or you … you could come in. We could lie together, try to get a few hours sleep."
Desire ignited, but he imagined dousing the flames with ice-cold water. She did not need him to fawn over her. She needed comfort, kindness, and a few hours of peace. "Very well," he nodded and she stepped back for him to enter.
Later that night they rode down to the village.
"By the sound of it, a large number of people have decided to venture out this evening." Anna glanced across the road at the bustling inn, noting the sound of jovial singing and the golden glow spilling out of every window. "Tell me again what we're doing here?"
Marcus pulled her back into the shadows. Even in the dim light, his eyes sparkled with mischief, with a wicked sensuality. "We're here to enjoy ourselves, relax and have a drink."
"This time, I do not need to pretend to be your mistress." She felt her face flame as the words left her lips. The memory of their coupling warmed her heart. The memory of the hours spent sleeping in each other's arms warmed her soul.
"Don't say it like that." His tone held a hint of reproof. "You're not my mistress, Anna. The word implies something undignified, something shallow and self-serving, and in no way defines what we've shared."
Her heart fluttered at his response. Was he trying to be kind or had their joining meant something to him too? Could he ever care for her the way she cared for him?
"I simply meant things are different now." She refused to say anything more. To explore the topic of conversation might lead her to divulge her true feelings and she couldn't think about that now. "Besides, I thought we were here to investigate. I thought you were desperate to discover the identity of the intruder."
"We're here to relax and observe. To wait for the culprit to reveal himself."
"I doubt he's going to jump up, throw his hands in the air and confess all," she said as they stared at the stone building. While she saw the logic in Marcus' plan, the likelihood of finding the comte's accomplice sitting in full view of half the village was minimal at best.
"Obviously not, but I've often found the criminal mind to be rather predictable. Where best to find information than an inn full of loose-mouthed drunkards?"
Anna gasped. "You think Victor's accomplice has been staying here, that he has talked to the villagers?" How she managed to get the words out without shrieking was a mystery. The blackguard could have been watching her for days. The thought caused her to shiver, and Marcus drew the edges of her cape tightly across her chest, rubbed her upper arms.
"We don't know if the intruder is Victor's accomplice." He raised his hand when she opened her mouth to protest. "I know what you're going to say, that he must be, else how could he have known your name, your previous occupation."
"Exactly," she said with an element of frustration. "There is no other explanation."
A frisson of fear shot through her as she realised the gravity of her words. A man, just as cold and as callous as Victor, had come to seek his revenge.
Marcus raised an arrogant brow. "There is always another explanation, and more often than not it is glaringly obvious. We've missed a vital piece of the puzzle and tonight a casual conversation will lead us to the culprit."