To Love a Dark Lord by Stuart Anne

Author:Stuart, Anne [Stuart, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, General, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781472012678
Publisher: Harlequin Mills & Boon, Limited
Published: 2013-03-15T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Killoran stood in the front hallway, watching Emma as she dashed up the long, curving stairs, practically falling in her effort to get away. He felt an odd, momentary unease. Had he hurt her when he’d killed that creature? Had she sat stiffly in his arms in pain, bleeding, saying not a word?

He shook his head, discounting the image. Emma was not the sort to suffer in silence. If he’d managed to hurt her, she would have informed him of that fact most bitterly. He found he could smile at the notion. For some reason, Emma made him uncharacteristically light-hearted. If such a thing could be said of a man who possessed no light, and no heart at all. And therein lay the very real danger she posed for him. She started making him feel things he had no right to feel.

“What happened to the poor lady?” Mrs. Rumson demanded with her usual temerity, wiping her hands on her apron. “Did you hurt her, my lord? For if you did, you may have my word on it that—”

“She was attacked by ruffians, Mrs. Rumson,” he said wearily. “In fact, I presume I saved her life.” He forbore to mention that he was the one who’d put her in danger in the first place. He had no conscience, and the uncomfortable twinges that were assailing him must have more to do with an inferior lobster sauce than with guilt.

“The poor dear. I’ll see to her.” Mrs. Rumson started for the stairs, and Killoran almost stopped her. He controlled the urge, once more wondering that he felt it at all.

“Do that,” he said lightly. “And where is young Nathaniel?”

“Lady Barbara came by, sniffing after you,” she informed him in stern tones. “I can only presume she decided to make do with young Mr. Hepburn.”

“You sound disapproving.”

“It’s not my place to pass judgment on my betters.”

“Remember that,” he said pleasantly.

Mrs. Rumson sniffed.

There were candles burning in the library, and a crackling fire lent a specious warmth to the room. He stood in front of the grate, staring into the flames, and wondered whether Nathaniel was enjoying himself. It was a fairly certain thing that Barbara, despite her noisy groans of pleasure, would not be. He could have warned Nathaniel. Warned him that her sultry glances, her touches, her provocative smiles and indecent clothing were nothing but an act. That no matter how many times she gave her body, at heart she was as cold as he was.

But Nathaniel was young enough that he might not even notice. He could take quick pleasure in Barbara’s flesh and not realize he’d been duped. Few of Barbara’s lovers were so perspicacious. It was unlikely that a twenty-three-year-old country bumpkin would prove more discerning.

Killoran closed his eyes, leaning against the marble mantel. He’d had no qualms about sending Emma out alone. John Coachman had been warned, though his attempts to protect her had been worthless. And he himself had been right behind, fully armed. She’d come to no harm, and a little blood and gore wouldn’t send her into a state of shock.

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