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

shoulders. Her gloves were worse than before. Now, an entire finger was exposed, the rip too frayed to allow mending.
    She drew in a breath and met his gaze. “I have recently learned—through Mr. Tims—that my family believes Greyson Park houses a treasure.”
    Rafe went utterly still at this announcement.
    She hesitated, as if waiting for him to absorb this first bit before she went on to explain the history of the manor and the belief that the goldsmith had left something behind.
    “I know the story,” he said, clenching his teeth so hard he expected his jaw to shatter.
    “Is that your reason for wanting it?”
    He sidestepped the question. “To imagine that the estate hosts a treasure of gold is ludicrous.”
    It held a different sort of treasure, though nothing that the Sinclairs would deem of worth. It was his family’s legacy—historically significant art, fashioned by his ancestor hundreds of years ago.
    She nodded. “That is exactly what Mr. Tims and I believe. Unfortunately, my sister is not likely to be swayed from her quest.”
    “Your sister.” Rafe swallowed down a sudden rise of bile up the back of his throat. “What does she have to do with this?”
    Hedley turned toward the window. The curling tracks of rain on the glass cast blurred shadows on her face. “Ursa has returned. She came to Greyson Park yesterday.”
    He raked a hand through his hair and began to pace the room. “She must have had this notion for some time, then. Time enough to book passage from the American colonies.”
    “Had she known I was to inherit Greyson Park, she would have come sooner,” she said with quiet resolve. “I’m certain Ursa will attempt to find a way to nullify my inheritance and revert it back to being part of her dowry, as it was previously.”
    Rage tore through him. The only reason Greyson Park had ever been part of Ursa’s dowry was because he had bargained for it! Or begged , more like. The Sinclair family had humbled him on too many occasions.
    After Ursa had sailed off with her new husband, Rafe remembered the relief he’d felt that the manor had been removed from her dowry. Neither Greyson Park nor Rafe had been prestigious enough for her. Which had suited him and his purpose in the end.
    And now, she wanted to take it back? He wouldn’t allow it!
    Pivoting on his heel, he stared at Hedley’s silhouette. During all this, it had not escaped his notice that everyone—including him—was trying to take Greyson Park away from her. A fact which must be weighing on her mind. After all, she’d come here to tell him of Ursa’s plans. “Why come all this way to tell me ?”
    “I would like your help,” she said without facing him. “I know my sister. She will stop at nothing to find the treasure. Greyson Park is already in disrepair. I cannot imagine that destroying a wall to enter a room would be beneath them. She has already said as much.”
    It seemed that the Sinclairs were put upon this earth to destroy everything. “And you believe I could stop them?”
    “I thought you knew more about the manor. Perhaps you even acquired the original drawings during your betrothal. They weren’t among Grandfather’s papers.” She turned her head. Her beseeching gaze compelled him to listen, despite the unpleasant reminder. “There are many doors that will not open. Neither Mr. Tims nor I have the strength. If I could simply show them that there is nothing hidden, no secret rooms, then they might leave Greyson Park alone.”
    “And what happens if you find a treasure?”
    She shook her head. “I have no interest in it. All I want is to live at Greyson Park in peace. I don’t want to see my home destroyed because of their greed.”
    Damn it all , he believed her—an entirely foolish inclination. Hadn’t he been burned by the Sinclair women enough in this life to ever trust one of them again? And yet, guilt niggled at the corners of his conscience. While Hedley might want to live at Greyson Park in