Weak-kneed, she clutched his hand as he led her to the back of the building, seeming to trace the same path they’d taken the week before. He was cautious, looking from side to side and up at the thankfully empty terrace before taking her into a side door that led into a back stairway.

Fiona held onto him as they walked along a narrow corridor lit with sconces. “This is convenient.”

“We sometimes have parties in the garden. This provides direct access for the employees to come and go from the kitchens downstairs with food and drink.” He inclined his head to the stairs that led down, moving quickly to turn the corner where he took her upstairs.

She hesitated, pulling on his hand. “You know far too much about this club to be an ordinary member. You must be on the membership committee. Don’t bother denying it.”

He turned, the light from the sconce illuminating the resignation in his features. “I’m supposed to deny it. The committee is very secret.” A smile teased his lips. “How did you know?”

“You’ve said things that made me wonder, but I really should have known the day that I was here as a maid. You said there was a meeting to decide if a member’s family could attend assemblies. How would you know that if you weren’t part of the Star Chamber?” She dipped her voice as she uttered the last two words and shook her head. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize it then. Was everyone else who was here also on the committee?”

“That I won’t say.” He pressed his lips together, then led her up to the second landing. As they ascended, he continued, “And you must promise to keep the secret. If not, Lucien may toss me out.”

“My lips are sealed.”

When they reached the landing, he pulled her into his arms and gave her a wicked smile. “For this, I would ask you to unseal your lips.” He kissed her again, his tongue licking into her mouth with delicious strokes. She moaned softly, eager to get wherever they were going. They needed to be fast. They would be missed if they were gone too long.

Except their absence was likely already noted. Could they explain it away as a lengthy promenade in the garden? Naïve as she was about most of what went on in London, Fiona had no idea. Nor did she particularly care in this moment. It was hard to be concerned about rules that had never applied to you before.

Tobias swept her into his arms, and she let out a soft squeal. Laughing, she encircled her arms around his neck as he dashed up the rest of the stairs. At the top, he set her down gently and put his finger to his lips before opening the door carefully.

Glancing about, he took her hand once more and quickly guided her to another closed door. “Please let there be no one inside,” he murmured.