Page 41 of The Seduction of Lord Sin
—“Don’t say you have Bella. She’s not much of a guard dog. I walked straight in and she barely moved.”
“She likes you.”
“She likes everyone.”
“That’s not true.” Well, if she were honest, she had no idea if it was true, but she’d like to think that if anyone was trying to hurt her, Bella would become a ferocious protector.
He raised his hands in defeat. “All I’m saying is that I have John hidden in an alcove just down the hall. I don’t wish to place my faith in a dog who loves her belly being scratched by anyone. Scream out if you are in trouble.”
She merely shrugged and looked into the fire.
“I have another favor to ask. When we take the men fishing tomorrow, can you and Flora search their rooms?”
She uncurled her legs and sat up straighter. “What am I looking for?”
He leaned against the mantle, as if he owned her room. “I’m not sure, really. Correspondence. Anything that might look suspicious.”
“If they are clever enough to kill Toobury, I doubt they’ll keep anything in their room. They’ll take it with them.”
“Probably. But we should still investigate.” He stood looking at her and she couldn’t help running a hand over her hair. “I should leave. The last thing I want is to be caught in your room.” Her heart plummeted, and he must have noticed her jaw tighten. “Only because we announced your engagement to Devlin.” He moved swiftly to crouch at her feet. “Have no doubt I desire you. I’m very conscious there is an enormous bed right over my shoulder.”
She looked into his eyes and she let herself believe his words. Was that heat and lust staring back from their dark green depths? She licked her lips this time. But as his lips moved close for a kiss, a kiss she wanted with every bone in her body, she whispered, “I’m an engaged woman.”
He pulled back, a frown invading his handsome face. “It’s only make believe.”
But it wasn’t. She’d given Devlin until Christmas. If she had to marry him, would he expect her to still be chaste? Before she could reply, Bella rose to her feet on a growl and raced toward the door, barking as the doorhandle rattled.. She scratched at the door, her bark deepening. The handle ceased its turning and they could hear heavy feet rushing away down the corridor.
“I told you she is a good guard dog.”
Sin jumped to his feet and ran for the door, very quietly, for such a large man. “I’ll see if John saw anything. Lock your door after me.” Then he was gone.
She slowly walked to where Bella sat quietly now at her door. The dog licked her hand and whined. “I know, sweetheart. I like Sin too.” She crouched down and wrapped her arms around Bella. “He can’t give me what I want. Someone hurt him very badly and now he protects his heart. He’s afraid to love. And guess what, Bella? I want someone to love me. If there is one thing this silly house party has taught me is that I can’t spend the rest of my life in another arrangement. Especially if I have children. What example would that be to them? So we will have to let him go.” Bella licked her face.
Finally, she rose and locked the door as advised. It was only then she realized she’d have to get out of this dress on her own.
This night was a disaster in more ways than one.
* * *
Sin met John in the entrance hall three floors below, just as the lad was coming back inside. “Well, did you see who it was?”
“No, Your Grace. He came from the other end of the corridor and was wearing a cloak with a hood. I chased him downstairs and outside, but he disappeared into the fog. I can tell you he is shorter than you and I.”
“All three suspects are shorter than you and I. I find it strange he fled the house. But I suggest we search the three men’s rooms to see who is missing.”
The two men hurried up the stairs. Sanders’ room was the first and Sin managed to open the door with no noise and peer inside. The room contained a huge four-poster and the damn bed curtains were closed. He backed out of the room.
“Let’s check the other rooms first and see if the men are there, then come back here. I don’t want to wake Sanders if he’s not our man.” Sin was sure it would be Bann. He didn’t like the man, and it was obvious he was desperate.
Vernonte’s room was next. Thankfully, when Sin opened the door, he could clearly see Vernonte in the bed and hear the snores. Sin could feel his body tense with each step he took toward Bann’s room. It had to be him. He couldn’t wait to string up the man.
He was just about to put his hand on the door handle when it opened and there Bann stood in his nightshirt and robe, with a lamp in his hand.
“Sinclair, is something the matter? I usually love night time visits, but I prefer them from the more beautiful of the sexes. Speaking of which, there is a lovely milk maid waiting for me in the cowshed.”
Bann brushed past him, and Sin took a step back. There was no way Bann could have circled back to the house through the fog, gotten back to his room, and changed into his nightshirt and robe in that time. Besides, his hair was dry, it surely would have been damp even with a hood.
“That leaves Sanders,” John said from behind him.
