The Sinister Heart by Lancaster Mary & Publishing Dragonblade

Author:Lancaster, Mary & Publishing, Dragonblade
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Medieval
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2019-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

“Verne and I have decided we should leave the day after tomorrow,” Lady Barnaby told Cecily in her bedchamber that evening.

“So soon?” Cecily blurted before she could help it. “That is, I thought we were to increase credibility by staying longer.”

“We both believe we have achieved enough. As it is, we give the impression of a sudden but shallow passion which quickly dies when you are apart. Verne may return to his own debauchery, and you may break the engagement with barely a ripple of gossip. We shall go straight to Mooreton Hall and explain all to Alvan.”

“Should we do that?” Cecily asked. “I don’t want to spoil his friendship with Lord Verne.”

“I don’t believe you could lie to your brother, whether or not you should.”

Cecily walked restlessly to the window. “You are probably right,” she allowed, though she seemed to have difficulty telling the lies from the truth. Perhaps Aunt Barny was right and it was time to leave. Only it piqued her that Lady Barnaby and Verne had decided on this between them without consulting her. It refuted the closeness she had imagined forming between herself and Verne.

*

She did not see him at breakfast the following morning, and so made the bold move of knocking on the library door. It opened almost immediately and Verne stood there dressed for riding. He didn’t look particularly pleased. Something twisted inside her.

“You’re going out,” she said stupidly.

“Yes, I have estate matters to attend to. If you need anything, speak to Mrs. Longstone or Daniel.”

“I merely wished to inquire after Mr. Jerome,” she managed.

He stepped out, closing the door behind him. “Walk with me,” he said abruptly.

They left the house by the side door and he turned immediately toward the stables. Clearly it was not to be a lovers’ stroll for anyone’s benefit.

“I’ve sent Jerome out of harm’s way,” he told her when they were clear of the house.

“Are you sending us away for the same reason?” she asked, keeping her voice light.

“Yes. Partly. And partly it’s time to end our charade. Our lives are complicated enough.”

“But surely it’s you who are in danger?” she objected. “Not us.”

“Yes, but I can’t do anything about it while you are here. I want rid of Jane and the Longstones, too.”

Rid. However fine the motive, it was brutally said and she felt her face whiten.

“I almost feel I should apologize for putting myself in the way of your abduction,” she drawled.

He glanced at her then, frowning.

“Enjoy your day,” she said carelessly and walked away toward the garden.

It was luck that she caught sight of Lord Torbridge there, but she seized on the opportunity, her pride forcing her to show Verne she cared nothing for his company above any other’s.

Still, she strained to hear his voice to call her back, for his footsteps to hurry after her. Instead, they faded, and before she even reached Torbridge, Verne and Jupiter galloped out of the stable yard and away.

*

Cecily found it hard to leave Finmarsh House—which was odd considering how hard she had tried to escape it when she had first arrived.

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.