An Heiress by Midnight by Clair Brett

Author:Clair Brett [Brett, Clair]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CB Publishing

Chapter 13

Louissa snuck past the sleeping dogs with ease. Knowing them as pups, they paid no heed to her when she was about. The youngest stirred only long enough to open one eye, stretch, yawn, and flop onto her other side and begin snoring straight away.

She smiled at the thought that Lord Breakerton was under the assumption that his holdings were protected by the beasts. She would make sure to leave the scraps she brought with her when she left.

Louissa had learned many things after her last visit to the manor. Among the most interesting and off-putting was the fact that while she was certain she could seduce the Lord in residence, she could by some fault of her true character be just as easily enamored with her prey. The other and more pressing matter tonight was currently nestled safe in the walls of the gallery, her immediate destination. She knew Lady Margaret had been protecting her family and had proof she said would save Louissa, if it came down to it, but Louissa had almost given up in the finding of the proof, until the day when Lord Breakerton had taken her on a tour. She had been to the gallery many times, but allowed him his due and obediently followed. It was there that he kissed her rather soundly, and at the same time, she noticed a painting that had been Lady Margaret's favorite. One she had commented on more than should have been considered casual, but it wasn't until Louissa's senses were otherwise occupied that she was able to put it together.

She stood now in the gallery with only the moonlight streaming in through the floor to ceiling windows as her guide. The painting hung majestic with a stray moonbeam calling attention to it. It was so obvious now that she felt foolish not thinking of it before. Walking up to the painting, she noticed what she had previously. The frame just seemed to hover a tad away from the wall, and when she tugged on the bottom corner, it smoothly swung wide. Her breath hitched a notch and her heartbeat followed.

She could still save her family name, her brother, and by doing so, herself. The painting now blocked the moonbeam leaving the indentation in the wall in the shadows, but Louissa was not frightened. She reached out into the blackness and grabbed... nothing. The space was empty. To make sure, she patted around all sides, the top, sides, and bottom. Finally, her hands landed on something soft. She pulled out a single red rose by the soft, petal flower head. She squeezed it with frustration, and the clean, sweet rose scent released into the air. She dropped it to the ground and reached way in the back, hoping to find a false back. Nothing.

Breakerton.

She knew Lady Margaret. She knew the painting of the ship would have been her hint. It had been there. She would make a wager on her life that the proof was tucked safely in there when she last visited the gallery, which meant only one thing.

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