Free The Devilish Mr. Danvers: The Rakes of Fallow Hall Series by Vivienne Lorret

holds Greyson Park hostage, I would have to be precise.”
    “It must be thrilling to come from such a family.” She turned toward the window and clasped her hands. “The freedom. The acceptance.”
    Rafe was about to respond to her overly romantic ideals of artists, when Valentine appeared in the doorway.
    “Sir?”
    “I left a parcel in my chamber,” Rafe said. “Would you be so good as to send a footman to retrieve it?”
    The butler bowed and summarily left them alone again. Valentine’s presence added to the reminder of how removed from society this young woman was. She hadn’t even known how to address a butler. A swift rise of irritation flooded him when he thought of how she’d been kept a secret. He had to wonder why.
    Turning his back on the door, Rafe crossed the room to her. This time, however, he kept his distance. He’d learned his lesson.
    “You have it wrong about freedom and acceptance for artists. Not only that, but there was a time when I would have preferred an invisible family.”
    She shook her head. “You shouldn’t wish that upon anyone.”
    Her expression was so tortured that he had an overwhelming urge to put his hands to her face and blot away those furrowed lines on her brow with his lips
    But he didn’t. Even so, he found himself drawing nearer.
    “Not everyone casts such a pleasing light over artists. In fact, many in society—including those in your family—see artists as a disgrace.”
    Her eyes widened. “I don’t understand.”
    Had she not even heard the reason for Ursa’s abandonment? He was beginning to wonder if Hedley wasn’t simply kept a secret from society, but if her own family hadn’t separated themselves from her as well.
    “As a member of the peerage,” he said, pushing those thoughts aside for the moment, “my father’s portrait skills were in high demand among his set. One day, however, it became known that he wasn’t solely painting the ton ’s elite but their servants as well. These were not flattering portraits either, but displayed the grittier side of those fine houses.”
    As if she were an expert on the matter, she pursed her lips. “And they were ashamed of what they saw.”
    He admired her quick understanding but then wondered . . . Was shame the reason that her family kept her dressed in rags? He wanted to solve the mystery more than he cared to admit.
    “Because of one portrait in particular, he was cast out of society—along with my family.”
    “And Ursa did not stand by your side,” she said, matter-of-factly.
    Rafe gave Hedley credit for her skills of observation. For someone who had been virtually invisible during his visits to Sinclair House, this surprised him. Yet he reasoned that someone who was kept hidden would have learned to be watchful.
    Still, the idea disturbed him. “Your sister loathed me and my family, only I’d been too besotted to realize in time.” And blind to Ursa’s true nature—the avarice that ruled her every action.
    “I apologize for my family’s behavior toward you.” That open cornflower blue gaze revealed her sincerity.
    No . He did not want her taking responsibility for what her family had done. That would be too convenient for them. “That does me no good, because until very recently, I did not know you existed. It will take me some time before I am able to harbor enough ill will toward you,” he teased. “As long as you hold Greyson Park, however, we are off to a good start.”
    It pleased him when her eyes narrowed. He would rather have her annoyed with him than tilting those lips at such a tempting angle. Strangely, he wasn’t certain he would be able to resist if she renewed her unspoken invitation for a kiss.
    “Since we are already speaking of unpleasantness,” Hedley began, “I will state the purpose of my visit here.”
    He didn’t like the sound of that. And liked it even less when she didn’t immediately continue. Instead, Hedley adjusted the threadbare shawl around her