Page 56 of How the Earl Entices

“Does she look familiar to you?” Ross asked as casually as possible, keeping his gaze on his reflection and his face inscrutable.

“No, and I’d remember that scar,” Kit commented, completely unaware of the anger that off-handed comment shot through Ross.

She was stunning, damn it. Even with that scar. No, stunningbecauseof it. He couldn’t think of a better symbol of the contradiction she embodied than that scar—a life of struggle branding the beautiful woman beneath.

“Should I recognize her?”

Ross finished the knot and turned away from the mirror. “I suppose not.” He couldn’t fault Kit for not remembering her when he couldn’t do the same. “Besides, Grace isn’t your worry.” No, she was a problem all his own. A deliciously enticing, incredibly frustratingproblem. “The worry is what we do next. All I have is a handful of stolen documents, and they’re not enough.” He raked his fingers through his hair, his frustration mounting. “I need indisputable proof that puts Wentworth in Le Havre with the French.”

“You’re thinking of his personal diary,” Kit said knowingly.

“Yes.” A man like Wentworth would certainly keep a journal—in fact, he’d keep two. One that he could hand to the authorities in case he was ever questioned, in which he lied about his daily activities and recorded nothing but a fabricated, unblemished existence. And the real one that acted as his account book, in which he detailed all his illegal transactions, including bribery, murder, and treason. “It’s his life. He won’t have it far from his reach.” It would be here in London, and in his private residence. He wouldn’t risk keeping it at his office in St James’s Palace. “The question is, how do we get it?”

Kit stood and turned to look out the window, pulling back the gauzy lace curtain to peer thoughtfully down at the alley below. A quiet gesture, one that could have been confused for contemplation, except that Ross knew that Kit was one of the best agents the Home Office possessed. That glance outside was one of survival, to make certain he hadn’t been followed.

“We can search his house, but you’ll have to wait to do it,” Kit warned.

Hell no. Waiting was the last thing he could do. Not only was his own safety placed at greater risk each day he failed to act, but so was the safety of every man on that list. “I’ll do it tonight.”

“No, you won’t.” Kit let the curtain drop into place and turned away from the window. “The ambassador’s masquerade ball is tonight, and he won’t cancel it, not even in the face of the turmoil you’ve unleashed inside the Court. If anything, he’ll make certain to host it because he won’t want to appear to be anything less than fully devoted to the crown.” He shook his head at the futility of what Ross was proposing. “All of Mayfair will be there. You’ll be walking into a lion’s den.”

“All of Mayfair,” Ross repeated thoughtfully. At the devilish plan forming inside his head, he smiled slowly. “All of them in masks.”Perfect.

“Oh no.” Kit’s face turned grim. “That wasnota suggestion.”

“A crush of masked guests? Seems like the perfect cover to me.” It was also the easiest way to gain entrance to the house. No one would give a second thought to a masked man entering along with the rest of the guests, his face safely hidden.

“Until you reach the front door,” Kit reminded him pointedly. “Something tells me that neither of us made the guest list.”

“Ellsworth most certainly did.” As the most respected peer in England, Dominick Mercer received invitations to nearly every society event held during the season. But as one of England’s most eligible bachelors, he rarely attended in order to avoid marriage-minded mamas and sisters eager to attach him to their families. Most likely he wouldn’t be planning on attending tonight, and Ross could take his invitation. “We’re of a size. Behind a mask, I’ll resemble him enough that no one will suspect I’m not Ellsworth. Once inside the house, I’ll sneak up to search Wentworth’s study and bedroom.”

“That floor will be guarded.” Kit folded his arms over his chest, eerily reminding Ross of their late father whenever he disapproved of whatever antic his sons had done. “How do you plan to sneak past them?”

He frowned. “I’ll need a distraction.”

“You’ll need me,” Grace answered as she entered, putting the last of her hairpins into place.

Ross swept an appreciative glance over her, taking in the way she looked in the morning sunlight in a simple muslin dress, her toffee-colored hair now upswept to reveal a stretch of elegant neck.

He needed her, all right. More than she realized.

Her eyes shined with determination. “I’ll create a distraction for you.”

“Absolutely not.” He’d already placed her into more danger than he should have. The last thing he would do was dangle her beneath Wentworth’s nose like a shiny bauble. “I told you, no more play acting. I won’t let you take unnecessary risks for me.”

“What better idea do you have?” She looked at Kit and shook her head. “Youcan’t do it. Ellsworth will be expected to arrive with a female guest.” Her assessing gaze swept over him from hat to boots. “And I don’t think you’d look attractive draped in ribbons and lace.”

Kit winked at her. “You’d be surprised.”

She laughed softly.

Ross clenched his jaw.Nothingamused him about what the two of them were proposing. If anything happened to her—

“I won’t let you do this.” He fought back the urge to shake sense into her. “This isn’t like pulling the wool over the eyes of some country constable or a group of soldiers. These men are trained guards.” And killers. “They’ll see right through your act.”

“What act? I just need to be female. I think I qualify, don’t you?”

“Nicely,” Kit murmured, raking a glance over her that set Ross’s blood boiling.