Silver Deceptions by Sabrina Jeffries

Author:Sabrina Jeffries
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, History
ISBN: 9781476761053
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2014-12-30T05:00:00+00:00

ANNABELLE KEPT SILENT and tried to hide her increasing nervousness as Colin’s carriage inched along crowded, stinking Grub Street. Colin sat across from her, staring out at the jostling crowds, and she watched him with a growing despair in her heart. She wished Charity were there to break the tension, but they’d agreed that Charity should remain at Annabelle’s lodgings while Annabelle was temporarily ensconced at Aphra Behn’s house.

The carriage jerked to a stop before a ramshackle lodging house. Annabelle glanced out but couldn’t believe her eyes. His friend actually lived in Grub Street? She’d assumed the woman was some nobleman’s widow who spent her time hopping from one wit’s bed to another now that her husband’s money had made her independent. But no nobleman would leave his wife to live in such a disreputable place.

Annabelle cast a quizzical glance at Colin, but he was already climbing out of the carriage and shouting commands to the coachman. Then he handed her out of the carriage and brought her inside and up the stairs.

When Mrs. Behn herself greeted them at the door, she met Annabelle’s expectations in one respect. She was in her late twenties and quite pretty. Though she was olive-skinned and had a rather longish face, masses of dark reddish curls fell over her shoulders and she had a pouting, heart-shaped mouth that would tempt most men. Nonetheless, the effect was somewhat ruined by the dust smeared across one cheek, over her pert nose, and along her wide forehead.

“Come in, come in,” she said, swiping her hair back with one dirty hand and putting a fresh smear across the other cheek. Then she sneezed. “I’m sorry, Hampden. There’s dust everywhere. I’ve been putting the place to rights since you came by this morning, but I’m not much of a housekeeper.”

She flashed Annabelle an apologetic glance. “Can’t afford a servant, you see, so I do it all myself, and I truly detest cleaning.”

Still uncertain if she even wanted to be here, Annabelle didn’t know how to respond. Yet breeding and a natural tendency toward courtesy made her say, “You shouldn’t have gone to any trouble.”

“Nonsense.” Mrs. Behn ushered them into what was apparently her drawing room and motioned to the coachman to start bringing in Annabelle’s luggage. “If you’re letting a room from me, it ought to be clean, don’t you think?”

Annabelle’s startled gaze flew to Colin, but he was already reaching into his vest and withdrawing a small purse. “This should cover Annabelle’s expenses while I’m gone,” he murmured, pressing the purse into Mrs. Behn’s hand. “You know where to reach me should you need more.”

“Colin,” Annabelle began, “I’m perfectly capable of paying for—”

“No,” he said quickly. “ ’Twas my idea to move you from your own lodgings, and the cost is a trifle. Don’t worry yourself over it.”

Looking amused, Mrs. Behn tucked the purse into a pocket of her apron, then winked at Annabelle. “It might be a trifle to you, Hampden, but for women of the world like your friend and me it’s bread and wine for some time to come.

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