Names, characters, places and events are either a product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher.
2 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Dozing in the dark, she drove through the countryside; only when the last house was behind did she become aware of the heaviness in the air. The road to Chatteris led straight and then turned north into the path of the storm; the long lane to Claypole Hall dropped him three miles further.
4 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Comforting herself with her annoyance—it distracted her from the thought of what she could not see through the thick canopy overhead—Honoria put aside the vexing question of the duke's identity to reflect on the attributes Lady Claypole had ascribed to the phantom. The gray lateral joint; Honoria supported him and used the moment to swallow the knot of shock in her throat.
6 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
That's exactly what I was doing,'' she murmured, dropping to her knees and placing both hands on the mat. As for the rest of him, Honoria decided it was wiser not to notice - she needed all her wits to help the wounded man.
10 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
The look she gave him as she dropped to her knees should have upset him; it was wasted—his gaze was fixed on the wounded man's face. You will have to guide Sulieman.''
12 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
She negotiated a tangle of exposed tree roots and decided it was his assumption of command that was most disconcerting - she had never met anyone with his degree of authority, as if it was his indisputable right to lead, to command and to be obeyed. Six years as a governess had honed her instincts - she had no doubt about it.
14 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Those strange eyes held hers, then he looked at the body in his arms. His voice had trembled in the "gathering". She stared at him, an eerie foreboding running through her.
16 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
If you light the fire, I'll heat some water and wash off the worst of the blood.''The suggestion earned her a startled look; she received him with implacable calm. The latch clicked; Honoria glanced around—he stood in the doorway, stripped to the waist, silhouetted by a fiery flash of light—an elemental figure in an elemental world.
18 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
His voice and his touch soothed the dying man. He lay back, visibly relaxing, and concentrated on the older man's face. Half an hour had passed since the boy had spoken; Devil – she had no other name for him – had not left his dying cousin's side.
22 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
In my case, I decided to take control of my life and work towards a more exciting existence.''. One would be unpleasant to undertake such an expedition too young; managing in a way that only required you to spend a year with each family was the ideal way to fill the years.
24 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Then he sat down on the edge of the dais, his eyes fixed on the pale features that would not move again. Half asleep she watched as he laid logs on the fire and made provision for the night.
26 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
He had not realized when he left the place that morning that he was looking for a wife; fate knew better. Then the storm had risen; he had cut through the woods on his way to the back entrance of the place.
28 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Convincing her that she had no reason to worry would take a lot of effort, which he didn't need to spare at the moment. He would admit his identity in the morning—he wondered what she would say.
30 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
He reached down, put on his jacket, and draped it carefully over his wife-to-be. He had been right about Vane—his cousin, mounted on a black hunter, had just pulled up.
32 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Truly, Margery -'' An Eye on the Devil's Face Lord Claypole struggled to prevent his wife from committing social suicide. How kind.’’ The fiend’s purring mutter held enough steel to succeed where Lord Claypole had failed.
34 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
They shared one, definitive characteristic - the simple act of turning his head was imbued with the same fluid elegance that characterized all of the Devil's movements, a masculine grace that thrilled the senses. Brother?'' Honoria mixed the image of a heavy man with that of a dead young man.
36 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
His muscles had already tensed to make him run towards the barn when a flicker of movement caught his eye. Eyes adjusting to the glare, he saw the Devil pacing back and forth a few steps to the side of the beam.
38 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
He could also feel the stiffness that had taken hold of her—not surprisingly—the moment he sat in the saddle behind her, he had wrapped a muscular arm around her and pulled her against him. Headlines.'' Shalloni tried to turn to the side of the lane, but was held relentlessly on course.
42 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
You only said that to sharpen Lady Claypole's guns.'' When he didn't respond, only meeting her gaze flatly, she looked forward and haughtily shrugged her shoulders. With his body lying on the bed, no one will think that something untoward has happened.'' Convinced that she had played a winning card, Honoria was not surprised by the silence that followed.
44 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Regardless of all orders from her appointed husband, Lady Claypole will not be able to resist telling her dearest friends the latest scandal involving the Duke of St. No matter what they say to your face, not a single soul will believe in you. innocence.
46 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
It was never wise to get involved with autocrats, but since she had no choice, she had to remember that it was absolutely fatal to admit that he had any power over her. Riding in the shadow of the Great Sphinx?' He pictured her on a camel, along with a floating horde of Berber chieftains who looked remarkably like him and thought like him.
48 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
You can put your mind at ease, Miss Anstruther-Wetherby.'' He glanced down, the planes of his granite face hard. Society, as far as we are concerned, can think what it wants - it does not regulate.''
50 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
A thought crossed her mind; even though she knew he was watching, she allowed herself to imagine for a moment that she had taken in what might have been. Honoria wondered what the widow—his mother, after all—would do if she wanted to make a point.
52 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Don't count on it.'' With that he opened the door wide and let her through. She looked up, then smiled—the most glorious welcoming smile Honoria had ever seen—and held out her hand.
54 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
The magistrate had come; while Devil dealt with him, Vane broke the news to the widow. She had barely finished her story when the screeching of wheels on gravel heralded the Devil's reappearance.
56 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Good morning, Honoria Prudence.' He took her hand smoothly, placed it on his arm and deftly turned her back towards the house. In that case,” Devil said, looking ahead, “I need your help.” Another crepe-draped carriage came into view, rolling slowly toward the stairs.
58 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Anchored by the side of her hostess, the keeper of the lists, she introduced herself with a soft vague air by the Dowager. The family viewing of the body was held late that afternoon; Honoria remembered her promise and fetched Tolly's sisters from the far wing.
60 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
No one said anything as they slowly walked out and followed the widow's parents and Tolly into the drawing room. In the vestibule the Devil pulled Honoria aside into the shadows of the stairs.
62 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
When she looked up, she fleetingly met the Devil's gaze; she could have sworn she saw a satisfied gleam in his eyes. He released her, covered Clara's hand with his, and bent down so she didn't have to look so far up.
64 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
So, you see, miss, I don't know what we're going to do with all these visitors and not even enough biscuits to go around.'' Very good - we have cream for those who want it and we will also have cheese scones and spiced scones.''
66 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Incidentally,' she continued in the same gentle tone, 'I give you fair warning that whatever conjectures you and your mother invent, I will not marry you.' She felt his gaze on her face; when he spoke, the words ran down his spine.
68 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
She heard Tolly's voice in the cottage, heard the relief he felt when he realized he had reached Devil. The scales fell from Honoria's eyes late the next morning, right in the middle of Tolly's funeral.
72 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
The devil stood in the drawing-room, with his back to the open terrace doors; others roam the crowd, occasionally either stopping silently by the Devil to give some information or catching his eye. After reaching the spot just behind the Devil's back, she assumed the upper position, with her back to the waiting room.
74 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
That was Vane's drag; Honoria knew the moment the Devil turned and saw her—she felt his gaze on her neck, her shoulders. About you and-'' She broke off, her gaze rising to a point beyond Honoria's left shoulder, eyes wide with joy.
76 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
He was definitely older than Devil, making him the oldest of the Cynster cousins. Presumably Devil sent Charles to persuade her to leave Tolly's death to the Cynsters.
78 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Of course, my estate is nothing compared to Sylvester's; however, it is not inconsiderable.''. You will be pressured to accept Sylvester's offer—both by the Cynsters and your own family.''.
80 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
He could do nothing to avenge Tolly's death – and he could not put Honoria Prudence to bed. However, there was one point he could discuss: he could do something about her chin.
82 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Honoria tried to suppress her indignation, an impossible task as he lowered his head and nibbled gently on her lips. Just kiss me.'' He whispered the words against her lips as he pulled her tightly against him.
84 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
He frowned and took her hand, but remained silent as the little procession approached and then passed the summer house. The devil's frown deepened as the dense shade of the trees swallowed them up; there could be little doubt about their destination.
86 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
It was a perfect day – he wanted to be out surveying his fields across his cake-eating demon. By the time she realized it wasn't a wise move, it was too late - he had taken full advantage.
90 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
The mare seemed to have an inkling of the fateful place; Honoria pulled on the reins and slipped from the saddle, tying the horse a few feet down the track. Lively and full of purpose, she crossed the lane – the clatter of hooves reaching her.
92 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
As Devil kicked back the undergrowth near where Tolly had fallen, Honoria peered and peered at the ledges further down the track. We were just talking—she doesn't suspect anything.'' His sensory expression did not change; she gestured airily and shrugged.
94 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Honoria took a deep breath; the cool air under the oaks revived her sanity – and sharpened the final minutes. This must be the horse that Tolly was riding - he was found fully saddled in a field near the woods the day after the storm.
98 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
She took the twins in her hand and encouraged them to turn their thoughts to the future ahead of them. There was a group of my laborers in the field under the bush—any wagon going that way would have passed them.
100 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Fortunately, his son-in-law, Hersey, is a reasonable man - he's my fickle man and actually does all the work. Except in special cases - and with Sulieman's treatment - Melton's position is merely titular.''
102 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
The sight of the meal he had unpacked—the two glasses of wine, the champagne, chilled in a white linen shroud, the flavors designed to tempt a lady's palate—all testified to his purpose. He lay sprawled on the carpet, propped up on one elbow as he worked steadily through the bin.
104 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
A deliciously warm, relaxed sense of peace permeated her - she was loathe to break the spell. She had reached that conclusion when the horizon dropped abruptly, leaving her flat on her back, staring up at the cloudless sky.
106 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
The shock of his touch, the gliding caress of long, hard fingers, was drowned out by the cambric of her carriage dress. There was nothing to silence the shock of her reaction—like lightning that shot through her, an incandescent fire coursing through her veins.
108 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
That I will look at your face when I fill you, when you take me into you, when you surrender to me.'' The moment she did, his fingers cupped her chin; he turned her towards him.
110 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Chatham has just entered, Your Grace, the gentleman who expected you is waiting as directed. ''. At the top of a low slope he saw a carriage standing still, while one of his grooms was talking to the coachman.
112 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
As to the former, I suspect she will become more determined with age; after all, she is an Anstruther-Wetherby, a family known for its stubbornness.
114 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
She made no sound; the tears just rolled down her cheeks, as if her grief was so deep she couldn't even sob.'' That's the sum of it: we sorted things out and moved on with our lives.
116 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
In that case, it should be clear that there is no need for any marriage talk between me and Saint. He has behaved exactly as he should—no one can blame either of you, yet the circumstances remain and call for the prescribed response.' '.
118 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
I dare say this may sound pompous, but I have seen more of our world than you have – that is why I am so sure that the course I want you to follow is the right one.'' She plans to do so in a few weeks to go to London; you go with her and she will introduce you to the barrel.
120 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Cynsters never let anything that became theirs be taken away - she was too wise to become his on any level. And there was no denying the pleasure she had experienced so far in Devil Cynster's hands had a special thrill.
122 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Michael informed me that you have agreed to stay with my mother for the next three months.''. Reaching the balustrade, Honoria lifted her hand from his sleeve and swung at him.
124 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Well, that won't work.''When his second eyebrow joined the first, Honoria smiled, extremely confident. There is much for you to learn about seduction, Honoria Prudence, and this time you will be dealing with a master.''.
126 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
The latter was more disturbing than the former - he was sure they would eventually track down Tolly's killer. As far as she was concerned, he felt like one of his conquering ancestors preparing to lay siege to the much-desired prize.
128 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Are you hiding here, Sylvester?' The widow came up the stairs in a foam of black lace. London?'' The exclamation came from two throats; two heads shot up, two pairs of eyes on his face.
130 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Honoria nodded to Sligo as she walked down the hall, wondering about Devil Cynster's quirks. He was fanatically devoted to his former captain; When he broke up, he just kept following him.
132 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Honoria stared at his back until the door hid it, then took another sip of her tea. His step long and stretching, he crossed the sidewalks; cane swinging, he climbed the stairs to his cousin's imposing door.
134 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Devil floated the idea that Tolly personally might not have been in trouble at all. We'll have to check all of Tolly's friends again.'' Under the Devil's direction, Gabriel, Harry and Richard agreed to take on the task.
136 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
For the past two mornings, she had entered the breakfast room with an encouraging smile and one of Celestine's most attractive creations; while the devil had noticed, aside from a certain gleam in his green eyes, he had shown no inclination to commit beyond a mindless nod. On both mornings, in a short space of unhappy time, he excused himself and retired to his study.
138 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
No doubt you will be relieved that I have decided to respect the restrictions wherever possible.'' A quick glance confirmed it; despite the fact that the Devil had not lowered his voice, Sligo's expression remained blank.
140 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
In utter disbelief, Honoria listened to a catalog of projected diversions—the usual divertissements favored by the ton. She had thought he had capitulated—understood and accepted her right to involve himself in solving the crime, or at least accepted her right to know what had been discovered.
142 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
As it is, Old Mick, longtime servant of the other family, has left these fair shores.''. According to Charles, Mick was so devastated by Tolly's death that he decided to leave London and return to his family in Ireland.''
144 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Now that I'm here,' Devil continued, 'why don't you come and deliver it?' The invitation was the opposite of encouraging. On the other hand,'' his brow furrowed, ''you might like to hear what my cousins had to say.''
146 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Unfortunately, because it was her first time venturing into society, there were many who were eager to claim her attention. But if a member of the family doesn't seem to satisfy her curiosity, she will attack Louise.
150 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
We keep expecting him to come to dinner – just like he always has.'' Amelia looked down and picked up one last crumb.
152 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
You should ask Helena about that sometime - she has stories that will make your hair curl. As she watched the scene, she felt a warm glow of pride, of satisfaction; she could hear the child's shrill giggles over the deeper rumbling laughter - she could almost reach out and touch them.
154 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Until three days ago, she hadn't considered that decision—she'd never had reason to. Her fear of loss was still there, very real, very deep; losing again would be devastating—she'd known that for eight years.
156 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
What will they say when I don't marry you?'' This question had been bothering her for the past three days. We should start taking that into account.''The tone could be quite sinister; until Lady Osbaldestone's sermon, she viewed him as an adversary comfortably impervious to society's slings and arrows.
158 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
He will know if Tolly was in the branches when he came in that evening.' Honoria opened her mouth. The rhododendrons keep the darlings from sight and sound of their dear mothers.' He half turned to retrace their steps - a deafening cry tore the peace apart.
160 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Fortunately, neither woman knew her well enough to know that her expression wasn't usually so blank. She verified Lady Osbaldestone's theory that she was powerful enough to influence the Devil, even over something he had a deep antipathy towards - such as her involvement in finding Tolly's killer.
162 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
You are undoubtedly the most impossibly arrogant, conceited—’’ His eyes dropped from hers—. The thrill of success met the thrill of joy his kiss sent through her; she parted her lips, eager to learn of his passion, eager to relive the pleasure she found in his arms.
164 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
She dismissed it as nonsense—she could never forget the feeling of being surrounded by him, his thighs hard beneath her, his arms a cage around her, his chest a mesmerizing wall of striated muscle. strong, moving on even stronger bone. Immediately, the tenor of their kiss changed; his tongue slid sensually over hers, then close—she felt his invitation.
166 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Ask any of Maman's acquaintances—I'm sure they'll verify that fact.'' Honoria opened her mouth—he continued before she could speak: ''And as for the others, I didn't.''. I must request that you inform me of the total of Celestine's account and allow me to reimburse you for the amount.''.
170 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
And even if I needed help, I couldn't ask you because'' Honoria took a deep breath and carefully declared, ''we are. If you have a vague idea that I cannot pay such an amount, you are wrong.
172 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Avoiding his eye, Honoria put her fingers in his and let him hand her over, escorting her in the widower's wake. Horatia is close to the conservatory.’’ The duchess touched a scented cheek to the widower’s, then held out a hand to Honoria.
174 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Pure coincidence – I stopped to pay my respects to Miss Anstruther-Wetherby.'' His smile deepened. Honoria's thoughts raced as she studied Chillingworth's strange hazel eyes, but she didn't need to think to know the Devil's opinion.
176 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
But what the hell was he experiencing now - this compulsion she was making him feel. The devil sat in his corner, his shadowy gaze fixed on Honoria's face, pondering the incomprehensible.
178 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
You don't go to Africa and you will do well to avoid this villain.''. These last four words were the devil's bane; he straightened up in a flash, pulled her into his arms and placed his lips on hers.
180 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
His eyes held hers; she didn't dare blink as he stiffly fought the force that threatened to consume them—the passion she had unleashed. She had seen the effort her naive tactics had cost him; remnants of their passion still flickered about them, licking at her nerves and shivering over her skin.
182 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
To appropriate Celestine's account.'' His tone made it clear that if she wanted an apology for what had happened in the morning room, she would wait until hell froze over. But as you rightly pointed out, the only reason such a bill would cross my desk was if you, as my wife, had referred it to me.'' His lips twisted.
184 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
Conquerors did not make polite requests; his instinct was to grab what he wanted; the more he wanted, the more powerful the attack. My dear Honoria Prudence, will you do me the honor of being my wife, my Duchess...' He paused and then added purposefully, 'The mother of my children?'
186 S TEPHANIE L AURENS
He is an earl.' Honoria looked up, frowned, then leaned forward and pulled at the frame. He would stay for half an hour, his long limbs in the opposite corner of the chaise longue, his presence filling the room and dominating her senses.
190 S TEPHANIE L AURENS