It Takes a Spy...: A Secrets and Seduction book (15 page)

Cecilia’s horse trotted into the alleyway. She was moving at a slower pace now. The narrow twisting streets must have forced her to rein in her mount.

Devin widened his stance and tightened his grip on the case. He wasn’t going to let Kenning take it from him.

Not now.

Not ever.

Devin waited, carefully timing his next move. When Kenning was just a few feet away Devin whirled, swinging the case exactly as Evangeline had, throwing all his strength and weight behind the blow.

It slammed squarely across the side of Kenning’s head with a satisfying thwack, and the jolt of the blow radiated up Devin’s arm. The lid to the case popped open, and something fell from it, landing in the filthy alleyway.

Kenning hit the ground hard. Hiss head bounced off the grimy brick pavers with a thump. He slumped, motionless.

Cecilia pulled her horse to an abrupt stop next to Devin and jumped from its saddle.

She gripped the reins with one hand as she approached Kuenning’s prone form. “He isn’t dead, is he?”

“I don’t know.” He glanced down and immediately focused a spattering of blood near Kenning’s head. The trail of red drops seemed oddly bright in the low light of the alleyway. In fact, the blood had an unusual luminous glow about it. Devin’s perception suddenly shifted, and he realized he’d misidentified what he was looking at — it wasn’t blood at all. It was a ruby necklace, its dark red gems glowing with retribution and satisfaction.

Devin grimaced. Perhaps he was projecting his own feelings onto the object.

Cecilia moved closer. “He needs to stay alive so he can clear your name.” She slid her reins through the looped handle of a door that looked as though it hadn’t been opened for years. The accumulated rubbish lying in front of it would ensure that it remained closed.

Devin crouched on the pavement next to Kenning and checked. “He’s alive, but he smells awful.”

Conflicting emotions flickered across her face—relief, anger, satisfaction—all battling one another. “Serves him right,” she said, apparently having settled upon satisfaction. “His smell matches his personality. That man is foul both inside and out.”

Devin chuckled as he picked up the ruby necklace and rose to his feet. He dangled the fiery stones in his outstretched hand. The gems glinted between them in the morning light, incongruous in these filthy surroundings.

Cecilia let him drop the necklace in her hand, and then quickly hid it in her pocket.

She seemed calm. Oddly accepting of the events of the past few minutes. This took him by surprise for a moment. But he paused. Should it have? After all, her creative solutions to their problems and her level-headed thinking had carried them through the night.

He was lucky to have her. Lucky indeed. Slowly, a smile spread across his face. This was an amazing woman.

Perfect.

“Cecilia Paring,” he said, reaching out and pulling her into his arms, “you are the most daring, inspiring, and infuriating woman I’ve ever met. I don’t know what I’d do without you in my life.”

She stared, her eyes round with surprise. “I believe the infuriating part. But inspiring and daring?” The sound of a police whistle in the distance made her turn slightly and glance back at the entrance to the alley. “I think they’ve found Evangeline and LeCompte.” Her entire body tensed in his arms. “You need to leave—,” she turned to face him and gave him a pleading look, “disappear. If the police see you here, they’re likely to jump to the wrong conclusion. After all, you
are
a fugitive.”

Devin frowned and shook his head. “I can’t simply leave you alone with him. What if he wakes up?”

“I’ll be fine,” she said.

How could she be so cavalier? He tightened his hold on her arms. “He’s already shot LeCompte, and apparently he’s murdered others. Be rational. What makes you think he’d stop at killing you?”

Cecilia looked thoughtful and then nodded as she laid a placating palm on his chest. “What do you think we should do? I don’t want you going to jail. Once they have Kenning in custody and can question him, we’ll be able to clear your name, but until then, I’m worried that the police will treat you harshly. That sergeant seemed to hold you in particular disdain.”

“That may be true, but I won’t leave you here. I’m done with running and hiding.” He dropped his hands from her arms and took a step back, looking down at Kenning’s motionless form.

“Please. For me. Just this one last time.”

Her words pierced him. Devin raked his fingers through his hair. How could he say no? “I’ll go. But it goes against my grain. I hate hiding this way.”

“Thank you,” she said softly as she took a step closer to him. “It won’t be for much longer.”

“We need a plan to keep you safe until the police arrive.” Devin glanced around the empty street and tugged at his collar, but he couldn’t see a solution. Then, he suddenly lifted his chin and grinned at her.

Devin yanked at his collar, loosening his neckcloth and quickly removing it. He knelt next to Kenning and tied his hands behind his back. He pulled off Kenning’s neckcloth as well, and used it to bind the man’s feet.

He quickly surveyed the ground, looking for any other stolen jewels that might have fallen to the ground. There were none.

He stood and gave Cecilia a brusque nod. “You should be safe now.” He picked up the case and handed it to her.

“Be careful.”

He nodded at the case. “You be careful, too. The latch broke when I hit Kenning. Make sure nothing else falls out.”

She nodded, peered down at the broken case, and pulled the loose top aside to look inside. Devin followed her gaze. Even in the alleyway, he could easily see the glittering, tangled mass of jewelry.

“The auction doesn’t begin until ten o’clock,” Devin said. “You should have plenty of time to return everything to the hotel.”

The police whistle blew again. This time, it seemed much closer. Cecilia’s brow knitted in consternation. “How will I find you?”

He moved closer to her again, hating that he had to leave. “I’ll make my way back to the hotel during the auction. If my luck continues to hold, my name should be cleared by then.”

Cecilia tensed. “But what if they still think you had something to do with the theft?”

“Then I’ll need to face them.” He placed his hands lightly on her upper arms and stroked up and down, trying to soothe her. “I can’t hide forever. If they still believe I’m involved, it will go better for me if I turn myself in. It won’t come to that, though. Things will work out. I promise.”

He shouldn’t make a promise like that. Not when the outcome wasn’t completely in his control. She must know it too, but even so, she seemed to relax at his words. He could sense the tension fleeing her body. He could see the evidence in every line of her face. She believed him. Or perhaps it was more that she believed
in
him. But after the events of the past twelve hours or so, perhaps he’d earned a little faith. After all, they’d escaped the police, recovered the jewels, and caught the criminal, hadn’t they?

But he never could have done it without her by his side.

He slipped his arms around her back and pulled her toward him again. He lowered his head so that their foreheads almost touched, and for a moment, all he could think about was her mouth, and the way she made his heart thud in his chest when she gave him the lopsided grin she was giving him now.

But then that grin smoothed away. Her eyes darkened, her lips softened, and he knew she wanted him to kiss her.

And oh, how he wanted to kiss her—not just now, but to kiss her every day for the rest of his life.

He lowered his head so their lips touched. Pleasure flooded his senses. She opened her mouth under the pressure of his lips and their tongues touched—softly at first, and then more deliberately, more purposefully. A soft moan slipped from deep within her, and the wanton sound surprised him.

When he heard footsteps running closer on the street behind them, he stopped. He was torn by indecision. He wanted to stay but needed to leave. Before he could choose for himself, Cecilia pulled away. “Go.”

He hated the words but knew she was right. Even so, he couldn’t leave without telling her. What if their luck didn’t hold? What if everything fell apart? “I need to tell you something.”

“They’re coming. Go.”

“It will only take a moment.”

She widened her eyes, imploring him to leave.

“I love you,” he said. “I wanted to make sure you knew that. Just in case you had any doubts.”

Her eyes focused sharply on his face as her mouth snapped shut. She exhaled through her nose. “You have horrible timing, but I love you too, Devin Montlake. Now go. Run.” She pushed him toward the horse.

Devin grinned, turned, vaulted onto the horse, and tore toward the entrance of the alleyway.

As he turned the corner, he glanced back.

Cecilia’s gaze was on him. She lifted the case and clutched in in her arms.

“Be careful, Devin Montlake,” she called out, her eyes full of determination. “Our wedding is a month away, and I fully intend to spend a lifetime with you.”

He touched his fingers to his forehead in a salute. “As you wish. Far be it for me to disappoint a lady.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

One month later

Sunlight streamed in through the window at Mivart’s Hotel. On a nearby table, light bounced off the crystals dangling from a pair of small lamps, sending prisms of reflected light dancing around the room.

Unfortunately, since Devin was seated in a position of honor at a long table facing the room and the bank of windows, one of those bright flashes of light kept shining directly into his right eye.

He shifted his chair to the left, inching closer to Cecilia. Lord Babbage shot him a censorious glare from his end of the table until his wife poked him in the ribs and whispered something in his ear. To Devin’s surprise, Lord Babbage reddened and looked away.

Devin grinned and glanced at their guests, but no one else seemed to have noticed the exchange.

The large crowd milled about the room, smiling and chattering. They were a stark contrast to the crowd who had been assembled here a moth ago. Today, the room brimmed with friends and family, all of whom wished them well. Few of them had been among the prospective buyers assembled the night of the theft.

Cecilia’s arm brushed against Devin’s as she sipped her champagne, and it caused a rush of awareness to course through his body. She was so close to him now, in more ways than one.

She glanced at him, and when he met her gaze she smiled. “Penny for your thoughts,” she said.

He considered his possible replies. They ranged from the sensual to the mundane, but since they were currently on display, he chose the most circumspect one. “I was considering when we could make our escape.”

Her smile deepened into a grin. “What? Don’t tell me you’re eager to leave our wedding breakfast and move on to our honeymoon.”

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and pulled a pocket watch from his waistcoat. It was as though she’d read his mind. But then again, he’d made no secret of his feelings for her. “It’s already half past one, and we have a train to catch.” He tucked the timepiece back in his pocket. “Plus, I’m beginning to suspect your father might still change his mind and steal you away to France with him.”

Cecilia leaned forward to glance down the table at her parents. Her breast brushed against the back of his hand, sending a jolt of awareness though his body. “I see your point.”

“He’s been staring daggers at me all day. Even at the wedding.”

“We’re married now. He can stare all he wants and it won’t make a jot of difference.” She locked gazes with her father and then tipped her chin and cocked an eyebrow at him in challenge. Lord Babbage grimaced but managed to look abashed.

“Don’t tell me your own father is afraid of you.”

She looked rather like a satisfied pussycat as she settled back in her chair. “I threatened not to visit him in France. I’m still rather irritated with him. He’s known you all your life, yet he still believed you were a thief. I’m appalled at his poor judgment.”

“I think his reaction was influenced by the preponderance of evidence against me.”

She scowled. “He’s still being troublesome, despite the fact you've been exonerated.”

“That’s because he’s losing a daughter. He must find it doubly difficult since he’ll be in the south of France. You should be more forgiving.”

“How can
you
be so forgiving?”

Devin leaned closer to her. “I’m beginning to see his point of view.” He took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips, pressing a kiss on it. “After all, I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you either. Now that you’re mine, I don’t want to imagine my life without you in it.”

The smile that spread across Cecilia’s face was even brighter than the sunlight shining through the window, and her cheeks took on a rosy hue. “In that case,” she said, rising to her feet, “perhaps you’re right. It’s time to take our leave.”