Notorious by Iris Johansen

Author:Iris Johansen [Johansen, Iris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, General, Man-Woman Relationships, Suspense, Trials (Murder), Actresses
ISBN: 9780553593440
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 1989-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

“Did you wear that for me?” Sabin’s gaze went over Mallory slowly, lingering on her bare shoulders framed by the violet chiffon gown.

“It’s only polite to try to please one’s host.” Mallory avoided his stare as she came into the salon. “This is my last night here, and you said you liked violet.”

“I do.” He held out her glass of white wine. “Thank you.”

“Where’s Carey this evening?” Mallory carefully avoided looking at Sabin as she sipped her wine.

“I told him to make himself scarce.” One corner of Sabin’s lips lifted in a lopsided smile. “In my usual diplomatic fashion.”

“I hope you weren’t rude to him.”

“Carey’s used to me. I assure you he’s not sulking in his room. He knows this may be my last chance to be alone with you at Kandrahan.”

She felt the same poignant pang of sadness she had experienced this afternoon. “It will be strange leaving here. These weeks have been very restful.”

He chuckled. “Do you know how weird that sounds? I tricked you into coming here, took your virginity, and forced you into staying another three weeks. You should be seething with resentment.”

“I’m not good at resentment or anger,” she said lightly. “I believe it’s better to try to understand than to beat my fists bloody fighting.”

His smile faded. “I know. You have the sweetest nature of any man, woman, or child I’ve ever encountered.”

She was embarrassed. “Nonsense.”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t believe it either.” He looked down at the wine in his glass. “I didn’t want to believe it. It disturbs me.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Because I suppose your vulnerability roused any tatters of chivalry that remained in me.”

“I think you may be more chivalrous than you think,” she said quietly. “You’ve been very kind to me since that first night.”

“Ah, but that’s because I wanted to chain you to me in all the ways there are.” He lifted his glass to his lips. “You should know by now that kindness isn’t one of my more salient qualities.”

And he had succeeded in chaining her, she realized suddenly. Why else had she been torn between wanting her freedom and maintaining some kind of bond with Sabin. “You’re not as calculated as you pretend.” She put her glass on the table beside her. “Isn’t it time to go in to dinner?”

“Not yet.” He set his own glass down and grasped her wrist. “I want you to come to the library with me.”

She stiffened. “Why?”

He was pulling her toward the door. “Are you getting a flash of déjà vu? Don’t worry. I’m not stupid enough to try a repeat performance of that first night.” He propelled her down the hall and threw open the door of the library. A small fire burned in the fireplace, casting a cozy glow over the book-lined room. Sabin didn’t bother to turn on the lights as he released her wrist and closed the door. “They’re on the mantel.”

“What?”

He strode across the room toward the fireplace. “Come on. Let’s get it over with.”

She frowned in puzzlement as she slowly followed him across the room.

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