The Thorn and the Thistle by Kendra Corbeau

Author:Kendra Corbeau [Corbeau, Kendra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-12T16:00:00+00:00

Four

Heather wasn’t sure how she had pulled herself away from the warmth of Revan’s embrace, but she must have managed it, because he was once again following her through the dark forest.

She took deep breaths of the cool night air as she walked, trying to clear her head. Revan was bewitching. He was alluring and interesting and, worst of all, totally aware of his appeal. She had come far too close to releasing him from that spell, and for what? Promises of romance? She had heard such promises before, and forever had turned all too easily into never again.

Heather pushed her desire aside for now, determined to focus on the business of the night. There would be plenty of time to take the measure of the marquis and enjoy his attentions after they had dealt with Duke Arnel.

In order to get to Arnel, they needed to get to Bettany Holloway. Widow Holloway, as she was known in society, was a savvy businesswoman who had stepped up to take over her husband’s shipping (and smuggling) business when he had died in a bar fight with an off-duty guard. Heather privately suspected that Bettany had always run the business anyway, but now she did so openly. The Widow Holloway wore her mourning clothes like armor and wielded rumors like knives. Her business pit her naturally against the duke and his tax collectors, but she was too rich and well-connected for Arnel to get rid of her easily.

The important thing was that Bettany, as an owner of caravans and trader of foreign goods, kept a manor house outside of the city walls.

Heather led Revan toward it through the woods, eventually coming out of the trees on the edge of a wide, meticulously maintained back garden.

Stone paths curled between copses of manicured shrubs and decorative trees. Beds of flowers, their buds closed against the night, rippled in the breeze that carried the smell of roses and wildflowers. On the far side of the garden was a handsome two-story house, many of its windows still lit up, and from an open window, the sounds of a pianoforte carried across the lawn.

Bettany’s manor was always occupied and lively. She had never remarried, nor had she had any children with her late husband, but she didn’t want for companionship—she had several equally influential lady friends who lived with her, or who spent nights in her company.

Heather had even been invited to join them, once. It had been flattering, and she often wondered if she should have given it a try … but Heather was not here to dive into memories or might-have-beens.

“Of all the things I thought you might be leading me to,” Revan said, his voice low in her ear, “this was not one of them.”

She turned her face to find his close to hers. “And what did you expect me to lead you to, my lord?”

“Oh, a sketchy tavern, perhaps. A humble farmstead. Dark alleys or the like, where criminal elements might gather.”

“You’ll find more criminals in fine houses than in dark alleys these days,” Heather said.

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.