Free if hes wicked by Hannah Howell Page A

through her. She was alone in a room with Arthur Kenwood, a man who thought nothing of murdering his own nephew, even his own
    great-nephew. Chloe had no doubt that she would be in danger if he found out she had overheard him and Conrad. She was eyeing the window to see if
    she could easily, and silently, open it and run when someone else entered the room.
    “I just saw that fool Conrad. Did he agree to help us?”
    This had to be Beatrice, Chloe thought. She fought the temptation to ease open the drapes just enough to peek out at the woman. She had only
    seen Julian’s wife a few times, either from a distance or in a crowd, and was not exactly sure what she looked like. Her curiosity was pushing her to risk
    discovery just so that she could see what kind of woman could do al the things Beatrice had done, but she beat it into silence. She would wait to get a
    look at the woman when it was a lot safer to do so. Chloe reluctantly admitted that a large part of her curiosity was born of a keen need to see what kind of woman could make Julian Kenwood plunge himself into a year of debauchery.
    “Very unwil ingly,” replied Arthur. “After this, I fear he may be more trouble than he is worth. He becomes more angry than afraid.”
    “Ah. Dangerous. So be it. No one wil real y miss the fool.”
    “Except, perhaps, for young George.”
    Soft laughter trailed behind the couple as they left the room. Chloe did not move for several moments, frightened that one or the other might return.
    Final y, she eased the drape aside enough to peer into the room. Seeing that no one was there, she stepped out from behind the drape and wondered
    what to do next.
    The first thing she needed to do was find Leo. He would know who Conrad was or, at the very least, know how to find out that information. Once
    they knew who the man was, they would have some idea of what he was being forced to do for Arthur. Despite her lingering fear, Chloe felt rather pleased
    that she was the one who had some helpful information this time.
    She reached for the latch on the door only to see it move. Chloe yanked her hand back and frantical y tried to think of some excuse for being in the
    library. Discovery meant that two very dangerous people might learn that she had been in the room, possibly even at the same time they were. She was
    fighting a rising panic when the door opened and Leo stared at her in surprise. Relief swept over Chloe so quickly, she felt a little unsteady, but Leo
    caught her around the waist and helped her to a seat.
    “Are you il ?” he asked even as he lightly touched her forehead and cheeks for signs of a fever.
    “Nay. I was afraid I was about to be caught lurking in here, and the relief I felt when I saw you briefly overwhelmed me.”
    “Who did you fear would discover you?”
    “Arthur and Beatrice. They were in here only a short time ago. So short a time ago that I am surprised you did not meet them on your way here.”
    “Nay, I did not see them. Just where were you?” He glanced toward the large desk set near the far wal .
    “Not under there. I was behind the drapes.”
    Leo ran a hand over his tightly queued hair and stared at her, his concern for her actual y making him grow a little pale. “God’s tears, Chloe. They
    could easily have found you.”
    She nodded and wrapped her arms around herself as a chil of lingering fear rippled over her. “I know. When someone came into the room I began
    to think on how I could graceful y step into view without causing myself a great deal of embarrassment. Then the two men began talking and I realized one
    of them was Arthur Kenwood. I stood as stil as a statue and hardly dared to breathe.”
    “Who was the other man?”
    “Conrad. That was the only name spoken.” She told him everything else she had heard. “Do you have any idea who Conrad is?”
    “I have an idea, or two, but I wil need to look closely at the matter.”
    She sighed, disappointed that there would not be a quick