Page 65 of His Improper Lady

“And Gregory’s just as rigid and self-absorbed,” Con responded. He let out a sigh and plopped down in his chair. “I suppose now we have a new suspect for thievery.”

“He certainly didn’t appear to know anything about the break-in,” Tom commented.

“No. And I wouldn’t think our cousin is a tremendous actor,” Alex added. “I imagine he’s right—it’s a new will. I wonder what it says.”

“I wonder why anyone would send it here,” Con said.

“A lawyer giving a new will to anyone except the heir seems suspicious,” Tom said. “Maybe he thought it would be safer at a detective agency.”

“Yes, it would be easy for the heir to tear it up if it wasn’t to his liking,” Con agreed. “It doesn’t seem likely, though, that Alistair would have cut out his only legitimate heir.”

“Maybe Alistair left something for the Malones,” Alex posited. “Or acknowledged them, at least. Gregory wouldn’t like that getting out, obviously.”

“Or maybe the will wasn’t written long ago,” Tom mused. “Alistair could have sent it to his lawyer from America or wherever they went. He and Stella could have had a whole other family that he wanted to leave money to. After all, there’s nothing to say when Alistair died. In fact, he could still be alive. Alistair wouldn’t even be as old as your father.”

Tom’s mind went to Desiree’s wild theory that her father had returned to England, but he didn’t say anything. It was exactly the sort of idea that would intrigue Con and make him run with it, which Tom feared would only wind up hurting Desiree. And, as much as Tom liked Con, there was a selfish urge in him to keep the investigation to him and Desiree only.

Con nodded. “If that’s true, it would certainly create a problem for Gregory’s plan to have him declared dead. It didn’t sound as though Gregory knew for sure there was a will in that envelope. It might be something else. Maybe proof that Alistair is alive.”

“I should tell Desiree.” Tom jumped to his feet and started toward the door.

He caught the look that Alex and Con shared as he left the room. He knew they were sure that he simply wanted to go see Desiree again. But that wasn’t it. Well, only partly it. Desiree should know this latest development. Still, he couldn’t deny the eagerness rising in his chest as his hack pulled up in front of the Malone house. Tom bounded out of the carriage and up the steps to the front door.

The butler admitted him, saying, “Miss Malone was about to leave, sir. I’ll see if she is available.”

Before Templeton could even turn, there was the sound of footsteps on the stairs, and Tom looked up. Desiree was coming toward him. And she was wearing her formfitting acrobatic costume.

Tom swallowed. Maybe this hadn’t been such a good idea after all.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“TOM!” DESIREE SMILED, happiness surging in her chest when she saw him standing in the entry. “I didn’t expect you this early.”

“Yes, well...” His eyes ran down her form before he pulled his gaze back to her face. He yanked off his cap, holding it between his hands. “I, ah, something came up. I mean, I had a bit of news I thought I should tell you.”

A warmth spread all through Desiree at the look on his face, a little stunned and wholly hungry. She suspected she was blushing. Her costume had only a short skirt, revealing her legs in the clinging outfit from her midthigh down. The bodice was equally fitted to her body. She had never worn the costume around anyone but her twin, as they’d always been alone together on their jobs.

Desiree was fully aware of how revealing the outfit was and what the look in Tom’s eyes meant. She wasn’t sure if the heat inside her was more from embarrassment or pleasure at having his gaze linger on her. Desiree took the cloak she was carrying over her arm and pulled it on as she continued down the stairs.

“I was about to practice. Would you like to come along? We could talk there.”

“Of course.”

Desiree led Tom through the house and down the alley to the converted mews where she practiced her skills. She kept her eyes on Tom’s face as he followed her inside, and it filled her with delight that he gazed around the room in awe.

“This is amazing,” he said. “It’s like—well, I don’t know what it’s like because I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“Brock renovated the mews for Wells and me so we could continue doing what we enjoyed. We were both terribly bored when Brock rescued us and we quit ‘the life.’” Tom walked around, looking at all the various ropes and bars and barriers. Desiree followed. “Would you like to try some of it? I could teach you a few things.”

Tom threw a laughing glance at her. “I’m afraid I’m long past the age of learning how to tumble.”

“Somersaults aren’t terribly useful, but you could climb.” She pointed to the wall dotted with handholds, and to the center, where a rope hung from the ceiling. “That’s quite useful.”

“If I’m going to be around you, I suppose so.”

“Take off your shoes and jacket. That waistcoat, too.”

Desiree watched as Tom did as she suggested, something deep within her responding to the sight of him undressing. He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and unbuttoned the top button, revealing a tempting V of his skin.