Saving the Scientist (The Restitution League #2)(59)

Chapter 17





“Are you going to eat that?” Edison’s hand hovered over the last of Ada’s bacon.

She slid her plate toward him. “Be my guest.”

Ada studied his well-made hands, his strong chin, his beautiful mouth, as he tucked into her food. There was no time to waste. She might never belong anywhere but her laboratory, but for now, she could pretend.

If she could convince Edison to play along.

An evil smile threatened to bloom. She tamped it down with ruthless efficiency.

Edison knew stealth. It drove his inventions.

Being on the receiving end might do him good.

She allowed a small smile to surface. Silently, and with the utmost deliberation, she pressed her leg against his beneath the tablecloth.

He inched away, as if believing the touch had been accidental, but she followed, increasing the pressure, until she could feel the warmth from his skin through her skirts.

His breath hitched in his throat.

When she rubbed her foot up and down his calf, the hitch morphed into a gusty exhale.

He dropped his last slice of bacon.

But he didn’t pull away.

His leg leaned into hers, allowing her to massage his calf with her instep. Above the table, both she and Edison appeared to be giving the ongoing conversation their utmost attention.

“Thanks to Henry here, we’ve got something to go on,” Inspector Burke was saying. “We just need to decide how best to dangle Mrs. Templeton’s battery as bait.”

“How do we ensure the killer hears about it?” Meena asked.

Briar snapped her fingers. “Offer it for sale.”

“We could put out that it’s been stolen,” the inspector said. “That way it would be in the papers.”

Edison stopped, mid-chew, and shook his head. “We go back to the beginning.”

He spread his hands wide as if framing a picture with his half-eaten slice. “It started at the Admiralty. That’s where we’ll finish it.”

“What do you mean?” Meena asked.

While Edison paused to formulate his answer, Ada took the opportunity to run her hand down his thigh. She cupped his knee, massaging the hard muscles of his lower thigh with the heel of her hand.

“I’ll request a meeting,” Edison explained, an odd break in his voice. He cleared his throat. “Make certain the staff and all the lackeys know I’m coming.”

While the others nodded, Edison slid his own hand beneath the table.

Ada bit back a gasp. That very hand now rested at the juncture of her thighs. His fingers pressed into the crevasse between her legs, requesting entrance.

Her breath came faster as her skin flushed with heat. She let her thighs fall open, welcoming his caress.

His skills at this game of seduction far outstripped her own. She’d forgotten that.

As if he were reading her thoughts, Edison shot her a teasing look. Then he grinned like a school boy who’d just made the game-winning score, and slowly, languidly, brought his hand back to the table top.

Body aflame, Ada inched away from him. Playing with fire required skills she didn’t possess.

Ada took a moment to calm her breathing, to allow the flashes of heat surging through her body to dissipate before she delved back into the world around the dining table.

Burke was staring out into the room, his brow creased in thought. “Take the game back to the beginning indeed.” He nodded firmly. “It’s a solid move.”

“Brilliant,” Spencer agreed.

“It’ll have to be you,” Meena said to Edison. “You were there from the first.”

“Makes sense,” he agreed.

“What are you talking about?” Ada asked, once it became clear no one had thought to fill her in.

“Edison’s going to be the bait,” Briar explained. “He’s the only one—besides you—who could have it now.”

“Of course.” Ada felt decidedly thick-headed. She should have known that.

“It’s been a very long week,” Edison said. “Hard to keep up.” He patted her hand as if consoling an elderly pet. “We’ll let the old man know I’ve got the device,” he said to the others. “I’ll make sure to be seen heading in and out.”

“If you need a coachman, I’m your fellow,” Henry said.

“It would add a good touch. Make me look the part.” Edison grinned at the boy, who sat up straighter, like a limp plant soaking up water.

Briar batted her eyes at her brother. “And what part would that be? You’d make a terrible solicitor. I’d venture to guess you can’t even spell it.”

Edison feinted, as if planning to launch his last bit of scone at her, but before the pastry left his fingers, the business end of a small knife pinned his sleeve to the table with a distinct thunk.

Ada gasped.

Henry jerked back in his seat, a broad grin showing a pleasing set of white teeth. “Cor! That’s a bit of all right.”

None of the others batted an eye.

Edison yanked the knife out of the wood and set it calmly next to his plate. He inspected the small cut in his shirtsleeve and glowered at his sister. “This is my favorite shirt.”

Clearly immune to his intimidating glare, Briar brushed a golden curls off of her shoulder. “It’ll end up in the rag bin in a week anyway. They always do.” She caught Ada’s gaze. “He’ll stain it or rent it or set it on fire.”