Kleypas, Lisa - Then Came You.html by Then Came You

Author:Then Came You [You, Then Came]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-11-25T23:59:12+00:00

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Ignoring the raucous congratulations being thrown at him, Alex fought his way through the crowd to the hall. He hesitated as

he glanced in the direction of the coffee rooms and libraries, wondering where Lily had gone.

"Lord Raiford?"

Alex turned to see Worthy emerge from the riot in the gaming room.

Derek Craven appeared at the same time. There was something coarse and hard in his expression that made him look more

than ever like "flash-gentry," a thief who had flourished but could never escape his sordid past. Green eyes locked with gray in

a challenging stare. There had been no contest between them, and yet there was a definite feeling of violent discord, masculine uneasiness.

"Milord," Derek said calmly. "I just told Miss Gypsy she brung it on 'erself. Worvy dealt straight, 'e did, an' no one can say—"

"Where is she?" Alex interrupted.

"First I 'as somefing to say."

"What?" An odd look crossed Derek's face. He seemed to search for words, as if he wanted to say a great deal but was afraid of betraying himself. "Ride 'er easy," he finally said, his voice laced with cool menace. "Nice an' easy, or I makes you pay for

it but good." He made a gesture to his factotum, who waited silently nearby. "Worvy will show you to the upstairs room,

milord. Lily is . . ."He paused and his mouth twisted impatiently. "She's waiting there."

"Convenient," Alex said curtly. "Not only will you share your woman, you'll provide the bed as well."

Derek gave him a humorless smile. "I don't share nofing what's mine. Understand? Yes, I see you does."

Alex stared at him in bewilderment. "Then you and she aren't—"

"Narrow a once," Derek said in guttural cockney, with a shake of his head.

"But before you must have—"

"I only takes whores to bed." Derek smiled hu-morlessly at Alex's blank expression. "Lily's rum goods. I wouldn't touch

'er with these 'ands. She's too fine for that."

Frustration and amazement collided in Alex's chest. Was it possible that the rumors were false and there had been no affair between them? God help him if he allowed himself to believe something so implausible. But what purpose would they have

for lying? It made no sense. Dammit, was he ever going to find out who or what Lily Lawson was?

Craven snapped his fingers at the factotum. "Worvy," he muttered, and walked away quickly.

Stunned, Alex watched Craven's hasty departure. "What's going on between those two?"

Worthy regarded him impassively. "Nothing, exactly as Mr. Craven told you. Mr. Craven has always felt it would be prudent

to keep his friendship with Miss Lawson platonic." With that, he gestured for Alex to follow him along the twists and turns of

the hall.

"Why?" Alex demanded. "What's wrong with her? Or is it him?" He stopped and grabbed the factotum's lapels, spinning him around. "Tell me, or I'll wring it out of you!"

Gently Worthy disengaged the fine worsted cloth of his coat from Alex's fists. "My personal opinion on the matter," he said

quietly, "is that he's afraid of falling in love with her."

Alex's hands dropped. He felt as if he were hovering on the brink of some momentous disaster.

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