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Harry undressed her, his efforts hindered by the fact that Poppy was trying to undress hiled with their clothing, and despite the intensity of their hter escaped as they found thele of fabric and li

Harry hooked a hand beneath her knee, widening the spread of her thighs, and he took possession of her in a forceful plunge Poppy cried out, quivering in surprise at the power of his rhyth thrusts Her brsts were cupped in his hands, hisa taut peak, and he suckled her in ties of his hips

A deep flush ca exquisite relief and erotic torled to h her, stronger and stronger until she couldn’tlove to her until she eventually quieted, her body replete with sensation

Harry stared down at her intently, his face gleaht Poppy wrapped her ar him as close as physically possible "I love you, Harry," she said The words h his body "I love you," she repeated, and he surged inside her, hard and deep, and found his release She curled up against hiently in her hair They slept together, dreaone

And the next day, Harry disappeared

Chapter Twenty-six

For alate was not only unusual, it was akin to atrocity Therefore, when he didn’t return to the hotel fro club, Poppy was more than a little concerned When three hours had passed and her husband still wasn’t back, she rang for Jake Valentine

The assistant came at once, his expression perturbed, his brown hair in disarray as if he’d been tugging on it distractedly

"Mr Valentine," Poppy said with a frown, "do you know anything about Mr Rutledge’s whereabouts at present?"

"No, ma’am The driver just returned without him"

"What?" she asked, bewildered

"The driver waited at the usual tie didn’t appear after an hour, he went inside the club to e was nowhere to be found on the pre club asked various o off with soe, or evenafter Mr Rutledge finished his practice" Valentine paused and drew the side of his fist over his esture Poppy had never seen him make before "He seems to have vanished"

"Has this ever happened before?" she asked

Valentine shook his head

They stared at each other in the o back to the club and search again," Valentine said "So"

Poppy steeled herself to wait Perhaps it was nothing, she told herself Perhaps Harry had gone somewhere with an acquaintance, and he would return anyhad happened to him It seemed her blood had turned to ice watershe was shaky, numb, terrified She paced around the apartments, and then she went downstairs to the front office, where the receptionist and concierge were si had settled deeply over London by the time Valentine finally returned "Not a trace of him anywhere," he said

Poppy felt a chill of fear "We must notify the police"

He nodded "I already have I once received instructions fro like this ever occurred I’ve notified a Special Constable orks from the Bow Street office, and also a South London cracksar"

"Cracksman? What is that?"

"Thief And froar is familiar with every street and rookery in London"

"My husband instructed you to contact a constable and a criminal?"

Valentine looked a bit sheepish "Yes,to calhts A painful sob rose in her throat before she could s it back down She dragged a sleeve across her wet eyes "If he’s not found bythe handkerchief he handed to her, "I want to post a reward for any information that leads to his safe return" She blew her nose indelicately "Five thousand--no, ten thousand pounds"

"Yes, ive a list to the police"

Valentine looked at her blankly "A list of what?"

"Of all the people who ht wish to do him harm"

"That won’t be easy," Valentine muttered "Most of the time I can’t tell the difference between his friends and his enemies Some of his friends would love to kill him, and one or two of his enemies have actually na should be considered a suspect," Poppy said

"I had thought of that," Valentine adht of the recent threats he’sat the War Office yesterday--Harry said they were displeased with hi about Mr Kinloch, that he wanted to lock Harry away soo tell the Special Constable i the way Poppy’s eyes flooded and her mouth contorted, he added hastily, "We’ll find hie is dealing with, he kno to take care of himself"

Unable to reply, Poppy nodded and pressed the wadded-up handkerchief to her nose

As soon as Valentine had departed, she spoke to the concierge in a tear-clotted voice "Mr Lufton, may I write a note at your desk?"

"Oh, certainly, ed paper, ink, and a pen with a steel nib on the desk, and stood back respectfully as she began to write

"Mr Lufton, I want this taken toto help e"

"Yes, ma’am, butdo you think that wise at this hour? I’e would not want you to coht"

"I’m sure he wouldn’t, Mr Lufton But I can’t wait here without doing soo mad"

To Poppy’s vast relief, Leo came at once, his cravat askew and his waistcoat unbuttoned, as if he’d dressed hastily "What’s going on?" he asked shortly "And what did you ?’ "

Poppy described the situation as quickly as possible, and curled her fingers into his sleeve "Leo, I need you to take me somewhere"

She saw from her brother’s face that he understood ih "I had better start praying that Harry won’t be found for a good long while Because when he learns that I took you to see Michael Bayning,Michael’s manservant as to his whereabouts, Leo and Poppy went to Marlow’s, a club so exclusive that one could only belong if his grandfather and father had been counted a its former members The ennobled crowd at Marlow’s looked down on the rest of the populace--including less-privileged bluebloods--with undiluted disdain Having always been curious to see the inside of the place, Leo was

"You won’t be allowed past the door," Poppy said "You’re precisely the kind of person they want to keep out"