They’d travelled three miles on their journey to Witham, and still Daphne couldn’t tear her gaze from Thorpe’s square jaw. There was something superior about his countenance now, dare she say something aristocratic.

Lord, he’d curse her to the devil if she ever said that aloud.

Seated opposite with his eyes closed, Thorpe exhaled deeply. He seemed so content in sleep, not nearly as intimidating. Not that she found him to be so anymore. During the last two days he’d mellowed, his tone conveying warmth and humour whenever he spoke to her. With others, he was still abrupt and cold of manner. The beard had served to enhance his menacing aura. Would he behave differently now stripped of his disguise? Would he still use arrogance as a shield?

Would the real person reveal himself?

Occasionally, and for the purpose of work, Daphne had worn a wig. And it was true. A mask of any sort gave one a sense of invincibility, gave them licence to be daring, to be someone new. Did Thorpe don his disguise to help with his work? Or did it stem from a need to distance himself from the man inside?

Perhaps he’d loved someone once, and the lady had broken his heart? It would certainly explain his obsession with duty, his need to ease his frustration with women paid to give pleasure rather than seeking commitment.

It all proved puzzling.

Even Lily Lawson failed to attract his attention. What did Daniel Thorpe dream about if not a golden-haired beauty with porcelain skin?

Daphne stared at his handsome features. He had incredibly long lashes for a gentleman.

“Is there something you wish to say?” His voice startled her. The corners of his mouth curled up although he didn’t open his eyes. “I can feel the heat of your penetrative gaze.”

Thank heavens he’d not got the ability to read thoughts. In a moment of fancy she’d imagined running kisses along that smooth jaw.

“I was just thinking …”

“Is that not a dangerous pastime?” he teased.

Daphne sighed. “Do you think there was more to Lily’s relationship with Thomas than she led us to believe?”

Thorpe’s eyes flew open. “Yes, it’s possible, although that would make Thomas a fool.”

A fool for finding love elsewhere? Or a fool for choosing Lily? Could Thorpe not see the woman’s merit?

“But you must admit, Lily possesses all the attributes men desire in a woman. You must have thought her attractive.”

“Me?” He pointed to his chest. “I thought this conversation was about Thomas.”

“As he is not here to answer, you may do so on his behalf.”

Thorpe raised an inquisitive brow. “Despite being his friend, I cannot presume to comment on his preferences.”

“Then comment on your own. Did you find Lily Lawson attractive?”

He seemed confused for a moment. “And you want me to answer truthfully?”

“Of course.” Thorpe had never lied to her. “You have no need to spare my feelings.”

“Very well.” Tugging the sleeve of his coat, he straightened. “Yes, Lily possesses a certain beauty I imagine most men drool over. But while she has the face of an angel, she has the body of a child.”

“Oh, I see.” Daphne didn’t really see at all.

“To please me, a woman must be curvaceous.” His heated gaze skimmed the length of her body, travelled slowly back up to linger on her breasts. “I have large hands and prefer them full. To please me, a woman must have hair as dark as night, possess intelligence, and a tongue as deadly as a blade.”

“Oh.”

“In short, you are the most attractive woman of my acquaintance.”

A hard lump formed in Daphne’s throat. A molten heat pooled between her thighs. She wasn’t sure how to respond and so the truth was the only option open to her.

“And it would be fair to say you are the most handsome gentleman of my acquaintance.”

He inclined his head. “Is that with or without the beard?”

“Both.”

They were silent for a moment. Daphne’s mind was engaged in trying to decipher what that meant. They shared a mutual attraction, a hidden passion that once released burned with ferocious intensity.

“I remember the first time I met you,” Thorpe suddenly said. “I’d missed the wedding, what with it being a small family affair, and Thomas brought you to London.”

“We went to the theatre, I recall.” Daphne had fond memories of the evening. She’d found Thorpe friendly, charming. A true gentleman. “A wealthy merchant lent you his box even though you hate opera.”

“I despise any expression of sentimentality.”

“But Thomas told you I’d always wanted to go.” The emotive performance had stolen her breath, surpassed all expectation. “It was kind of you to take us. From what I remember you were thoroughly bored.”

“The opera holds no fascination for me. Watching the look of joy and wonder on your face proved to be far more captivating.”

Heat crept up her neck to warm her cheeks. He had studied her without her knowledge. “The music carried me away. The beauty in their voices brought a tear to my eye more than once.”

“I remember,” he said softly. After averting his gaze for a moment, he looked up at her. “There is no need to be jealous of Lily. Whatever happened between them must have had something to do with the nature of their work. Thomas was a loyal man. I cannot imagine him ever having a reason to hurt you.”

Thorpe could not have said anything more damning. Thomas had every reason to despise her. Tears formed and the silly things trickled down her cheek before she could wipe them away.

“You must miss him,” Thorpe continued.

“It’s not that,” she said searching in her reticule for a handkerchief.

“Then what is it?” He reached across the carriage and handed her a navy-blue cotton square embroidered with his gold initial. “Here, take mine.” Seeing the solitary letter D reminded her that Thorpe was but one of many names he used to protect his identity when working. But he’d always been Daniel.

Daphne brought his handkerchief to her nose and sniffed. The aromatic scent of nutmeg, wood and lavender flooded her nostrils. It was a smell she would never forget.

“They are tears of guilt, not sorrow,” she said.

“There was nothing you could have done to save him.”

“Oh, there was.” It didn’t matter what she said or did, Daniel believed her capable of nothing but good. “If I’d loved him as he’d wished perhaps he might have confided in me.” It felt good to confess her sins. “I married him because that was what my father wanted. I made a promise to him on his deathbed, agreed to honour the pledge he’d made to Thomas’ father many years before. Our parents knew that once they were gone, we were both alone in the world, without siblings and cousins to support us. It brought our fathers peace to know that Thomas and I had each other. Sadly, love was never a factor in our decision to wed.”

Daniel sat back in the seat. “Did Thomas know that is how you felt?”

“He did, but he always hoped our friendship would grow into something deeper, more profound. As did I. But it wasn’t to be.” Daphne hung her head in shame. She’d let Thomas down. Wiping the tears away she looked up at the man she’d grown to trust. “Not all friendships blossom into love. Not all lovers become friends. We both soon realised that the secret ingredient was missing. That no matter how hard we tried we could not force the feeling.”

Daniel scratched his head. “But when Lily opened the door, I saw the way you looked at her. Jealousy is a trait most people struggle to hide. And from your questions earlier, one would assume the thought that Thomas was attracted to Lily bothers you.”

What was she supposed to say? That she was so heartless she cared not for the husband she’d lost, only for the man who caused passion to flame in her chest?

“As always your instincts are correct. But Thomas was not the cause of my unease or my resentment towards a rival.” Her cheeks felt so hot they must surely be glowing. “I was jealous because of the way Lily looked at you. I asked the questions to gauge your reaction to her. Do you find her attractive? Do you want to kiss her the way you kissed me?”

There was a moment of silence as they stared into each other’s eyes. The sound of their laboured breathing filled the air.

“Then I defer to my earlier answer.” Daniel sat forward. “You are the most attractive woman of my acquaintance. I have no desire to kiss anyone but you.”

The sudden rush of excitement clouded her vision. She felt drunk, a little dizzy. The fluttering in her stomach sent shivers shooting through her body. Only in Daniel’s arms did she feel at peace, and she so desperately needed to banish the ghosts of the past.

“I seem to recall talk of an experiment,” she said, the need to lose herself in Daniel’s sinful mouth her only thought now.

“An experiment?” A sinful smile touched his lips. Lord above, it was the most spectacular thing she’d ever seen. He crossed the carriage to sit at her side. “And what might it involve?”

“Well,” she began but her hands were shaking and she struggled to form a word. “We … we must determine if physical desire always leads to a moment of madness.”

“As any man of science will tell you, when it comes to experiments all working conditions must be the same.” He cupped her cheek and ran the pad of his thumb over her lips. Molten heat pooled between her thighs. “Sit astride me, Daphne.”

Those words were her undoing.

Without another thought she gathered her skirt to her knees and did as he asked. Heavens. Never had she experienced the urge to take a man into her body.

“Purely for scientific purposes I will let you kiss me first.” His rich drawl sent tingles down her spine and she almost jumped when his large hands settled on her hips.

Daphne stared at his smooth jaw, leant down and pressed her lips to the cool skin. The exotic yet utterly unique scent filled her head.

Daniel’s head fell back against the leather headrest and he closed his eyes as Daphne ran kisses along his jaw and nipped at the sensitive skin below his ear. Anticipating what was to come was more than she could bear. But she craved a reaction. Only his unbridled response had the power to unleash the passion buried within.

“To create a moment of madness, there must be two willing partners,” she whispered in his ear.

“Oh, trust me. I’m willing.”

“Then kiss me, Daniel.”

“With pleasure.”

The atmosphere thrummed with suppressed desire: a vibrant energy desperate to burst free. And so when Daniel claimed her lips she’d expected him to devour her mouth, for his movements to be urgent, frantic, unrestrained.

But no.

He cupped her face gently between both hands and closed his eyes as their lips met. The tender kiss spoke to her in a way words never could. He kissed her as though she was the answer to a question that had plagued him for so long. He kissed her as though the memory had to last him a lifetime.

The kiss was slow, soul-deep, heaven-sent.

The waves of pleasure rippling through her body were so profound she felt them deep in her core. Only once he’d sated some deep-rooted need, savoured every second, did she notice a change in mood and tempo.

One hand moved to cup her neck. The other caressed her thigh beneath her skirt as his tongue penetrated her mouth. Pure carnal lust burned in her veins.

“Daniel,” she moaned against his mouth and pressed her body to his, desperate to satisfy the undeniable craving. The first soft, passionate kiss had left her feeling bare, exposed. This wild, erotic dance awakened every fibre of her being.

Things progressed quickly then. His hands were everywhere all at once. Caressing. Stroking. Daphne couldn’t get deep enough into his wet mouth to taste him as she needed to. The urge to run her hands over his bare skin took hold. Clothing became an annoying encumbrance, and she pushed his coat off his shoulders.

“Bloody hell,” he cursed, dragging his mouth away, “my arm.”

“I’m sorry.” Daphne gasped. “I forgot all about it.” She tried to slide off his lap, but with one strong arm he held her there.

“Don’t move.” A wicked smile touched his lips. “If you wish to undress me, just have a care.”

Excitement bubbled in her chest. “Does that mean you want me to continue?”

The hand on her thigh slid up past the ribbon securing her stocking, up to the intimate place where she’d never thought to feel a man’s touch again. Daphne gasped as his fingers brushed the sensitive spot between her legs.

“Do you want to continue what we’ve started, Daphne?” His voice had a husky tone that spoke of decadence and sin. It was a sound she’d not heard from him before, but it was one she would never tire of.

“Continue?” Brazenly, she moved her hips to rub against his hand. A soft moan left her lips. “I’ll not stop until I’ve had everything you have to give.”

A growl resonated from the back of his throat. “Damn, why could we not have the luxury of a bed?”

“Where is the madness in that?” she said, divesting him of his coat. He continued to stroke her, offered a grin of satisfaction when her breathing grew ragged. “Where … where is the spontaneity, the … the danger?”

“You want impulsive?”

“Yes,” she panted as he slipped a finger inside her, and then another. Nothing had ever felt so wonderful, and she bore down until he could go no deeper. “I want you.”

“Love, you’re so wet.”

“Oh, Daniel. Don’t tease me. Don’t make me wait.”

“Make you wait?” he sighed. “You wouldn’t believe how long I’ve waited for this moment.” He withdrew his fingers, and a groan left her lips. With his strong arm he anchored her to his body while he leant forward and drew both blinds. “Now, where were we?”

The urge to taste him was upon her again, and she devoured his mouth, sucked his tongue, licked his earlobe. Heaven help her. Never had she wanted anything as much as she wanted him. Had her luggage been accessible, she would have torn her dress to shreds so that he could run his hands over her bare skin.

“Touch me,” she said, though it didn’t sound at all like her voice. “Claim me.”

“Please tell me you just said that, and it wasn’t my rampant imagination.” He fumbled with the buttons on his breeches, his solid manhood bursting free.

Good Lord! She’d always known he was a big man, but …

“Oh, this is real,” she said, recovering from the shock. “Like I said, touch me and see.”

She didn’t need to ask a second time.

He cupped her breast, his thumb brushing over the nipple aching beneath the material. “Next time, I intend to worship your naked body for hours.”

“Mmm … then let us hope that is sooner rather than later.” Feeling far bolder than any other time she could remember, she reached down and wrapped her fingers around his impressive shaft.

It was his turn to groan and jerk his hips as she pleasured him until he covered her hand. “Stop, else this will be over too quickly.”

Shuffling forward and raising herself up on her knees, Daphne positioned him at her entrance. “Then join with me,” she whispered. Every nerve in her body tingled at the prospect. She lowered herself down slowly, took every hard, thick inch and sheathed him fully.

The sound of their laboured breathing filled the carriage. Their gazes locked. His dark eyes were warm, brimming with desire. His large hands edged under her skirt, gripped her bare buttocks and held her there.

“Love, you feel so good,” he hissed through gritted teeth.

Just those few words caused the muscles in her core to pulse around him. When he moved … well … the coil in her tummy wound tighter and tighter as each slow, delicious slide became vigorous thrusts.

Daphne clutched his shoulders, writhed in his lap and rode him hard.

“Damn,” he complained as he struggled to touch her and thrust inside her at the same time. “I’d give everything I own for a blasted bed right now.”

“I can turn around.”

“No. I want to watch you.”

Daphne leant back, allowing him easier access to the place throbbing for his touch. “Then we shall just … just have to work harder.”

Daniel’s fingers found her sweet spot. A few expert strokes, coupled with the movement of him filling her full, brought her to the point of release.

“Oh, Daniel,” she cried as her muscles tightened and she drew him deeper inside. “Say we’ll do this again.”

“Give me a minute and I’m game.” He thrust twice, withdrew and finished the job with his hand. “Forgive me,” he panted. “Had I known you were going to ravish me, I would have been prepared.”

Daphne was still riding high on a wave of euphoria to understand his meaning. As her breathing settled, she looked down at his handsome face. The grin stretching from ear to ear was the most marvellous thing she’d ever witnessed.

Exposed, and needing the use of his handkerchief, the moment should have been awkward, embarrassing, but it felt as natural as taking a breath.

She reached down and grabbed the blue cotton square lying on the seat. “Here, take this. You have more need of it than I.”

“Had we the luxury of a private bedchamber,” he began, taking the cloth and gesturing for her to look away, “we might have been more adventurous.”

With interest, she watched him go about his ministrations. The dusky pink head of his manhood glistened in the dark confines of the carriage. “Would you like some assistance?” She’d never taken a man into her mouth. The idea had never appealed to her until now.

“Another time,” he said with a chuckle. “Perhaps tonight.”

“Well, our experiment certainly proved effective. It’s fair to say that passion in a carriage leads to moments of madness.”

“I’d spend a month in Bedlam for another chance to bury myself inside you.” He stared at her mouth and moistened his lips. “Next, we should test the theory that the power of one’s release is more profound in different positions.”

With his erection diminishing, he tucked the object of her desire back into his breeches.

“What a fascinating theory,” she said, eager to experience all the wonders of her newly awakened passion. She kissed him once on the lips and moved to the opposite side of the carriage. “We must test your hypothesis at our earliest convenience.”

“The next two nights might give us ample opportunity.” The smile that had been a permeant fixture for half an hour faded. “But first, we must pay a visit to Lord Gibson’s house. It’s approximately two miles from the coaching inn in Great Baddow.”

Daphne sighed. She’d been so engrossed in her amorous liaison with Daniel Thorpe she’d almost forgotten about the case.

“Well, we’d be foolish not to take advantage of the opportunity.” She yawned and settled back against the squab. Partaking in such vigorous activity had left her weary. “How long until we reach the inn?”

Daniel leant forward, raised the blind and peered out of the window. “Another hour at best.”

“Good. I’m struggling to keep my eyes open.” She covered her mouth and yawned again. “The events of the last few days seem to have caught up with me.”

A smirk touched his lips. “Perhaps it’s the events of the last few minutes that have taken their toll. Use this time to sleep. I doubt you’ll have an opportunity later.”