"Those are weapons, alright."

Beckett frowned at the box they'd uncovered, which was filled with various weaponry that looked all too familiar.He would have thought it was taken right from his ship if he hadn't known better.

"I knew this location would be too hard to pass up," Penelope said smugly. "It is on the fringes of the property, and there is a road that runs along the woods and leads straight to the port in Southampton."

Beckett nodded. He gave Penelope credit.

"It is possible, however, that it is a coincidence," Beckett said, regretfully dimming Penelope's glow with his words. "I do not think we can pinpoint the guilt on Lawton until we have further evidence that he is involved."

When he was met with silence, he glanced to see Penelope with her arms crossed.

"He was coming from this direction," she pointed out. "And I told him of this location!"

"I understand." Beckett closed the distance between them, wrapping an arm around Penelope in a way that felt far too natural. When she leaned into him without hesitating, he felt his heart lurch. The damn thing. "And I think that circumstances definitely point in his direction, but...."

Penelope sighed, snuggling against his weight. "I suppose," she muttered.

"You are a very impressive woman, Lady Hutton," he said, unable to keep from grinning. Beckett lowered his head, resting it on top of hers for a moment before kissing her hair.

She really was impressive—for so many reasons. Beckett was unsure why he had never thought of planting ideas in Lawton's head like she had.

Well, that was not entirely true. Beckett did know why. All he had been able to think about for weeks was Penelope.

She peeked up at him. "You truly think so?"

He nodded.

A smile graced her face. "You know, Colonel, you can be quite sweet when you want to be. I am starting to wonder if you have gone soft."

"I have," he said without hesitation. He brushed her hair back from her face. "I am quite soft for you, Penelope."

The wideness of Penelope's eyes told him that she had not been expecting him to admit that. But then her gaze narrowed again, twinkling with mischief.

"Usually, you are telling or showing me how hard you are."

He chuckled. "Yes, well, that is rather hard to avoid when you always insist on undressing in front of me."

"You like it," she teased.

Beckett snorted. "Hell yes, I do."

Penelope's lips spread wide, but he could not help but notice a nervousness pass over her expression. When she started to look away, Beckett grabbed her chin.

"Should I show you how soft I am for you, Penelope?"

She nodded slowly, biting down on her lip.

"Fine." Beckett tugged her lip out with his teeth before brushing a kiss over her mouth. "Soon, I will."

Beckett whole-heartedly planned to marry her. Now that the thought had been planted in his head from the conversation with Griffin, he did not know how to shake it.

He did not care if it would cause scandal or talk; he would find a way to keep her forever. Just seeing Lawton touch Penelope had wreaked havoc on his system, not to mention how he had reacted this morning at the thought of Penelope carrying his child. It had been a mixture of horror and bliss.

There was one way to ensure Penelope be treated with care by men, and that was to do it himself.

For the first time in his life, Beckett imagined a life with a wife and children. He could wake every morning beside a warm but witty woman and then teach a little child with auburn hair how to ride a horse. The thought stirred something he hadn't known existed.

But he did not know how to survive the months leading up to the birth or the birth itself. If anything happened to her...

Beckett shuddered at the thought.

Regardless, he knew he wouldn't be able to simply leave at the end of this. Especially knowing that some other man might come after him. The thought of someone else sleeping where he had slept made Beckett see red, all hazy over his vision.

It took effort to push his thoughts aside, but he noticed Penelope still staring at him...so he cleared his throat.

"I shall reach out to the queen and inform her that we have uncovered the weapons, but we are still attempting to identify the traitor," he said.

Penelope's eyes sparkled. "We?"

"Aye, we."

As much as he hated to bring Penelope close to anything that might be dangerous, it did not feel right to exclude her at this point. She had done this, uncovered thousands of pounds worth of weapons that were undoubtedly intended to be shipped elsewhere. Not to mention, it was her estate. Her property which they sat on. So yes, we.

It should have been we from the beginning.

From here on out, it always would be we.

"How will we confirm it is Lawton?" Penelope asked.

"I have ideas," he said, "but let us leave before someone comes. I should like the advantage of a surprise and not the other way around."

Penelope nodded, and he hated having to let go of her as they left. It would be another night of enduring frivolous activities while pretending he wasn't ridiculously besotted with Lady Hutton.

Beckett had always been skilled at keeping his cards close to his chest, but he was playing a losing game when it came to Penelope. Everyone would likely know his hand soon enough. It was exceedingly hard to keep it hidden.

****

"I am concerned." Griffin burst into Beckett's bedchamber as he signed his correspondence to Her Majesty. "May we speak?"

Beckett did not even bother looking up. He busied himself with sealing the envelope. "I do not wish to speak about Penelope."

Griffin did not like that response. He threw his fist down on the table where Beckett sat. "She's my damn sister, and we'll speak of her if I damn well want to."

Beckett sighed heavily, knowing he would be unable to put off this conversation. He glanced up, ensuring that the door that attached his chambers to Penelope's was closed, as well as the door to the hallway. Penelope had been having tea with Lady Farrington, but she could return any moment to prepare for the evening.

"Fine," Beckett grunted, "but can it wait until after we've discussed the weapons we've just discovered in the shed?"

Griffin stopped short. "You uncovered the smugglers?"

"We cannot say for certain who is to be blamed, but we have a good indication that it is, in fact, Lawton. Penelope and I were in the shed on the far end—"

Griffin narrowed his gaze. "Could you please refrain from dragging my sister to shady corners of the estate during her own bloody house party?"

Beckett shrugged. "We did far less in that shed than we did in her bed this morning."

Griffin's jaw dropped like Beckett had known it would. He was speechless for a long moment before shaking his head, his face growing red.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't punch you," he seethed.

Beckett had two good reasons.

"Because your sister is happy, and I intend to marry her."

"Beckett." Griffin ran a hand through his hair, looking like he was about to rip it off. "It will not work for you to marry her. That is what I wished to speak with you about."

"Why not?" Beckett bristled. He knew many people would believe that they couldn't marry, but he wouldn't think that Griffin should object for those reasons. He had never cared about shit like titles and money. "You of all people should know that Penelope would not care for rank, Griffin."

"No, she does not," he replied testily. "But there is no way in hell that you will find Lord Hutton. He has not returned from the continent in years. Nor will you convince him to a divorce, even if you manage to wrangle him back here."

Beckett's stomach dropped. "What are you talking about?"

Griffin stared at him. His brows pulled together, and when he answered, it was said questioningly. "Penelope's husband."

"Is dead," Beckett snapped. "Lord Hutton is dead."

"No." Griffin shook his head slowly, his eyes widening. "No, Beck."

"What do you mean no?" Beckett's voice had dropped to a dangerous hush. He narrowed his eyes at his friend.

Griffin swore beneath his breath, pushing off the table. "Goddamnit, this was what I was worried about."

"What?" Beckett growled, needing to know what his friend wasn't saying.

"Beckett," Griffin choked out, "Lord Hutton is not dead. Penelope...Penelope is still a married woman."