“Don’t tell me.” But Josie could see by the look on Ashley’s face that she’d already made the connection.
“That’s right. Stephen Doubleday, the new Lord Westman. Grandson of my grandfather’s partner.” “That must be who that man is, then.” Ashley pointed at the window, and Josie followed the path of her finger.
And found herself staring directly at Lord Westman, standing at his library window. Josie clamped a hand on Ashley’s arm and pulled her down to the floor, then hastily tugged the heavy draperies closed again.
“What was that about?” Ashley coughed from the dust she’d kicked up when she landed on the floor.
“Shh! I don’t want him to see me.”
“Then why—”
“Shh!”
Ashley sighed. “Stop shushing me. He can’t hear us, and if you didn’t want him to see us, then why were we standing in front of the window directly opposite his library?”
“I didn’t know that was his library.” Josie got to her knees and made a small slit in the window coverings. “I’ve never seen his drapes open before. I rarely open these.” She peeked through the slit until she caught sight of Westman again. He’d moved away from the window and was standing at his desk, looking down. His shoulders were broad and his waist narrow. His wavy brown hair fell in a queue long past his collar. Josie licked her lips.
She felt Ashley beside her and moved over a bit, so her cousin could see as well. “Now, that is a handsome man,” Ashley said finally.
“I know.”
Ashley poked her. “What are you about saying ‘I know’ in that tone of voice? I thought your families disliked each other.”
“We don’t dislike each other. We hate each other with a passion. We’re sworn enemies.”
“Hmm.” Ashley looked back out the window, and Josie followed. Westman was in his chair now, his feet propped on his desk and a snifter in his hand. He’d loosened his cravat and Josie thought she could see an inch of the bronze skin at his throat.
“So you’re sworn enemies,” Ashley said. “There’s something about a man who is off limits that makes him irresistible. Don’t you agree?”
Josie grinned. This was why she loved Ashley. “I do. And what makes him even more irresistible is that he has the other half of this map.”
Ashley’s eyes narrowed and she sat back on her heels. “Oh, no. I know that look. What have you planned now?”
“I’m going to sneak over there and steal the other half.”
“But you aren’t even certain Westman has it, much less whether he keeps it at his town house.”
“That’s why I have to sneak in and rifle the place. Care to join me?”
Ashley laughed. Josie frowned. She’d been certain Ashley would be excited at the prospect of such an adventure, but it should have been her cousin Catherine here with her. The two had schemed to run away together, find the treasure, and use part of it to help Catie escape her horrible father. But now Catie was married, and Josie needed a new partner. “Why not?” she asked Ashley. “You love adventure.”
“Because this is a crusade, not an adventure.”
Josie shrugged. “A crusade is just an adventure for a good cause.”
Ashley laughed. “Well, it’s your cause, not mine. Besides, I’ll only be in the way when Westman catches you. You can seduce him far better on your own.”
“Ashley! I’m not going to seduce him.”
“Well, you should. After all, you’ve been looking for a lover—in particular, one who would never want to marry you.”
“I made a pledge,” Josie said.
“Pledge?” Ashley shook her head. “The Spinster’s Club was a game we played when we were children.”
“The ideals of our club still stand. I plan to be an independent woman, and once I have the treasure, I won’t answer to anyone for my actions. Until then, I need a lover who won’t trap me.”
“There you go.” Ashley gestured out the window. “Westman is a safe enough choice. With your families’ history, he’d never want to marry you.”
