Forbidden Fantasy by Cheryl Holt

Author:Cheryl Holt
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Chapter FOURTEEN

“I know who you are, Mrs. Blake.”

Britannia stared at the notorious woman. She was very beautiful, but in a deadly way—as three prior husbands had discovered to their peril.

With her lush red hair and her piercing blue eyes, she was very striking, and Britannia thought that men would lust after her like dogs in a barnyard. She was too attractive, and for someone so young, she exuded a sensual air that was disturbing.

Britannia hated her on sight.

“Shall we sit?” Mrs. Blake rudely asked, since Britannia hadn’t had the courtesy to suggest it.

“No. I have no idea why I stooped to granting you an audience—curiosity, I suppose—but I intend for your appointment to be extremely short.”

As if she hadn’t just been insulted to high heaven, the annoying child chuckled. “I guess the gossip is accurate.”

“And what gossip would that be?”

“You, Lady Derby, are an irrepressible shrew.”

Britannia couldn’t remember when she’d ever previously been so offended.

“Get out of my house.”

“I’ll go in a minute. As you said, this won’t take very long.”

Blake sauntered to the sideboard and, without invitation, poured herself a drink.

Britannia sputtered with indignation, huffed to the hall, and bellowed, “Jenkins! Come at once! I need you.”

As usual, the slothful butler didn’t appear, so she stormed over to Mrs. Blake, ready to pick her up bodily and toss her out on the lawn.

“Speak your piece,” Britannia seethed. “Then be on your way.”

“Won’t you join me in a whiskey? You’re going to require fortification.”

“Jenkins!” Britannia shouted again.

“Very well.” Blake sighed. “Do you know where your daughter was last night?”

“My … daughter?” The remark caught Britannia off guard. “You mean Lady Caroline?”

“Have you another daughter of which I’m unaware?”

“She was in her bed, fast asleep.”

“Was she?”

Blake raised a brow with such aggravating confidence that Britannia could only surmise that whatever the harlot was about to impart would be the truth. There wasn’t a person alive who could barge in with such cool poise unless they held all the cards. Not that Britannia would ever let on that she believed any stories.

“I hear that you’re set on her marriage to Mr. Shelton,” Mrs. Blake mentioned. “In fact, it’s rumored that you’re so determined it’s almost an obsession with you.”

“You hear many things, Mrs. Blake. I would recommend that you consider the source of your information. When you roll in the gutter, it’s common for rubbish to stick.”

Jenkins took that moment to haul himself into the parlor.

“You called, Lady Derby?” he inquired.

“Show Mrs. Blake to the door, and if she ever returns, summon the law and have her dragged off as a vagrant.”

Blake didn’t move. Neither did Jenkins. Then Blake flashed such a wicked grin that Britannia blanched. Whatever would next spew from Blake’s mouth was nothing that should be voiced in front of a servant.

“I’ll just be off,” Blake said. “I merely stopped by to advise that you have Lady Caroline checked by a midwife before the wedding. You ought to be positive that she’s … well…” She halted and giggled, looking so innocent, so lethal.

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