The Earl and the Courtesan by Raven McAllan

Author:Raven McAllan [McAllan, Raven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Erotic Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Published: 2017-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

#xa0;

Typically, it was later than she had meant it to be before she left Maria’s. Chatting, trying on toiles and drinking wine did that. Plus that amazing red dress. Four sketched-out designs later, she refused her friend’s offer of transport. After all, a hackney could be picked up by standing on Maria’s doorstep and waving. Theresa hadn’t arrived in her own carriage. She and Maria had been to Hatchards and the park before making their way to Bruton Street for a late afternoon meal and she had intended to have an early night and mull over her situation. Now it was more likely going to be the opposite. Mindful of Jamie’s warning to be vigilant, she waited with Paxman, Maria’s doorman, until the hackney drew up and Paxman handed her inside. Deep down, she was somewhat ashamed of putting the jarvey to so much trouble for such a short distance, which during daylight she would have walked, but she accepted it was probably the correct thing to do.

Theresa sat back with a sigh of relief as the carriage drew away. She was twitchy, imagined unseen eyes everywhere and sported an almost constant, nasty prickle on the back of her neck. Something unheard of until recently, and it wasn’t an experience she relished.

A man stood on the corner of the street and Theresa clutched her muff pistol just to reassure herself it was still there. When she saw it was a policeman she relaxed and laughed. She didn’t let go of the gun though.

A few minutes later, the carriage turned into Berkeley Square, and she leaned forward to tap on the roof as they approached her house. Strangely, it seemed Roberts hadn’t heard the hackney, because the door stayed firmly closed. Theresa wriggled her shoulders, suddenly uneasy. However, it was a matter of seconds to pay the man, gather up her reticule, straighten her pelisse and begin to walk toward the flight of wide stone steps.

What on earth could happen a few yards from home? But why was the door still closed?

A clatter made her turn and look down the cobbles. Several yards along the square, a carriage began to move in the opposite direction. Amused at the relieved jolt in her pulse as the vehicle went farther away from her, she turned back to the front door. Why was the house so devoid of activity? Theresa experienced a moment of disquiet and moved rapidly to the first step.

Nothing alerted her to someone close by until hands grabbed her from behind. Startled, she scrabbled to pull her gun out of her muff. It was too late. Idiot. She berated herself as the strong smell of something noxious made her eyes sting. Her muff was torn from her hands and thrown away, and Theresa heard the clatter as the pistol slipped out and skidded over the cobbles. Now if only the damn thing would go off. Typically, it didn’t, and someone began to drag her toward the carriage.

She screamed and bit the hand that tried to cover her mouth.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.