On a Wicked Dawn (Cynster 9)

"I've set dinner for six," Amelia said, as they bobbed to her.

"Oh, good!" Emily said. "We'll be famished by then."

Anne smiled softly. "It's so good to be home."

The instant they'd quit the room, Minerva glanced at Luc. "You may expect a letter from Kirkpatrick — by my guess, within the week."

Luc raised a brow. "He's that serious?"

Minerva's lips twitched. "Impatient, my dear, as I would have thought you'd appreciate."

He let that comment lie.

Minerva added, more seriously, "An invitation to visit here would be appropriate, but I didn't want to say anything until I'd consulted with you."

Her gaze had shifted to Amelia — who suddenly realized the implication; she waved. "Of course." She glanced at Luc. "Late July or early August, perhaps?"

He met her gaze. "Whatever you decide. We'll be here until late September."

Amelia looked back at Minerva.

Who relaxed in her chair. "We can decide once he writes — he definitely will." Her lips curved. "So that's Emily all but settled." Minerva glanced at Luc, then back at Amelia, her smile deepening. "I won't ask how you two are getting on — I'm sure you've been settling in and finding your feet without any great difficulty. Has it been very warm up here?"

Cursing her memory, which immediately focused on that long afternoon she and Luc had spent rolling on their bed, Amelia prayed she wouldn't blush. "We did have a day or two when it was quite hot." She fought not to glance at Luc.

Minerva rose. "The chaos must have subsided by now. Time for me to go up and rest for an hour or so. Six, you said?"

Amelia nodded.

Minerva inclined her head to them both. "I'll see you in the drawing room."

She glided toward the door, then halted. Turned back, frowning. "Actually, while we're alone…" She glanced briefly at the door, then continued, her tone serious, "While I was packing, I found I was missing two items. A grisaille snuffbox — you know it, Luc — and a perfume flagon with a gold collar. They're both small things, but old and quite valuable." She looked at Luc. "Both were in my sitting room, and yes, they're definitely gone, not misplaced. Do you have any ideas?"

Luc frowned. "We haven't taken on any new staff."

"No. That was my first thought, too, but what with running shorthanded for years, everyone still with us has been with us all those years. It seems inconceivable it could be anyone within the house."

Luc nodded. "I'll check with Cottsloe and Higgs — it's possible we had someone through for the chimneys, or something similar."

Minerva's face cleared. "Of course — you're quite right. That's sure to be it. Still, it's a sad day when one has to guard such items every time someone unknown steps over the threshold."

"I'll look into it," Luc said. Minerva nodded and left.

Amelia set aside her empty cup and rose. Both she and Luc remained standing, watching until his mother had passed out of sight beyond the open drawing room door.

Then they glanced at each other; their gazes met, held. They stood a foot apart. Luc reached out, sliding his fingers down over her wrist to twine with hers.

This close, in this light, and because he let her see, the desire that prowled behind his dark eyes was impossible to mistake.

Again she sensed his welling need to kiss her, to touch her — to take her in his arms; like a wash of heat against her skin, it awakened her, drew her to him. A shimmering aura, desire hung between them until, once again, she sensed him rein it in, suppress it.

His gaze still locked with hers, he lifted her hand, pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "I'd better go and check what's going on in the kennels. Portia and Penelope have their own ideas about everything, and they're both termagants at heart. And then I really have to do some work in the Office."

She accepted what he was telling her with an easy smile, but when he released her hand, she linked her arm with his and turned toward the French doors. "I'll come to the kennels with you — I want to make sure your sisters don't spoil Galahad."

When they stepped onto the terrace, she murmured, "Let's go via the shrubbery."

It was the longer way to the kennels; Luc hesitated, but acquiesced.