A Dream of Desire (Daring Hearts Book 3) by Nina Lane

Author:Nina Lane [Lane, Nina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781954185159
Publisher: Snow Queen Publishing
Published: 2021-04-20T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

James paced to the windows and back, rubbing the nape of his neck. For the past day, he’d been wrestling with all that Tasha had divulged, and he kept coming back to the same conclusion.

He was bound to tell Northwood about Tasha’s involvement with this new school. He’d always been honest with North, the one person who knew the complete truth of his parents’ marriage. North had never betrayed that confidence and never would.

So how could James break a promise to his oldest friend?

At the same time, how could he look into Tasha’s green eyes and tell her he couldn’t keep her secret? That he wouldn’t?

He cursed and went to the sideboard to pour himself a brandy. He downed it in one swallow and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

He didn’t like the idea of Tasha’s disappointment over failure, but that would be easier to bear than watching her venture into London’s slums to consort with criminals, young though they might be. Even if Peter Colston had killed a man in self-defense, that didn’t mean the boy wasn’t dangerous.

His spine tensed at the memory of what Tasha had told him. He hadn’t been here. He couldn’t have protected her. And he couldn’t bear to imagine her terror as some bastard forced her into an alley with the intent to…

Rage speared him.

“Milord?”

James took a hard breath to calm his turmoil before he turned to face Polly. The girl hovered uncertainly in the doorway.

“There’s a lady here to see you, sir,” she said.

“Who is it?”

“She didn’t say.”

James sighed. “Would you ask, please?”

Polly blinked, as if the thought hadn’t occurred to her, and went back to the foyer.

“Lady Sally Shaw ’ere to pay you a visit, milord,” she announced as she returned to the drawing room.

“Show her in, please.” James ignored a flicker of disappointment, which told him he’d been hoping his visitor was Tasha.

He pasted a smile on his face as he crossed the room to greet Lady Sally, who bustled into the room like a little white-haired squirrel. Her bright blue eyes sparkled as she took his hands in greeting. She glanced around at the furnishings—the dusty curtains, worn sofa, frayed rug—with an air of disapproval.

“I don’t pass much time here,” James said by way of an explanation.

“Yes, I know.” Lady Sally settled back in the chair. “Does your maid intend to serve me any tea?”

“Of course. Please forgive me.” James went to ring the servants’ bell, but Polly didn’t respond to the call.

“She seems a bit…inexperienced,” Lady Sally remarked.

“She is, rather,” he agreed. “She was the wife of a crewmember who accompanied me on an Arctic expedition three years ago. The poor man died in a wagon accident shortly after our return, so I offered Polly the maid position.”

“You could find someone far more skilled,” Lady Sally said.

James shook his head. Though Polly wasn’t terribly adept at her job, she was pleasant enough to have about the place, and he felt a certain degree of obligation toward her.

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