Free An Invitation to Sin by Jo Beverley, Sally Mackenzie, Kaitlin O'Riley, Vanessa Kelly Page B

Delabury thought every word she wrote absolutely perfect. She had just married Delabury, an excellent catch for her, and the poor man was besotted. She had everything.”
    He lapsed into thought, and Anna chanced a question. “What was in the note she left, my lord?”
    “Some stuff about despair because she could not hold her husband’s affection.”
    “He was unfaithful?” Anna asked, knowing she was turning pink at discussing such matters with a gentleman.
    “Most unlikely. As I said, he was besotted. One reason I left the country was because fool Delabury was convinced I was his wife’s lover and murderer. Having failed to get me sent to trial, he was intent on calling me out.”
    “Oh, my.”
    “I did hope that by now he’d found a new bride and no longer felt so keenly on the subject. I have just heard that he is on his way to town with dueling on his mind.”
    “Oh, dear!”
    “Quite. Which is why I want to solve this mystery.”
    “I wish I could help. Truly. But I think I’ve told you all I know.”
    He rose to his feet. “I think so, too.” He was suddenly standing quite close to her. “I have enjoyed this, though.”
    She looked up at him, delight at their shared amusement still fizzing in her. She had never known an instant bond such as this. “So have I, my lord,” she admitted shyly.
    For a moment she thought he had something important to say, but then he turned sharply away. “Would you permit me to glance into your room, Miss Featherstone?”
    Anna swallowed her disappointment. “By all means, my lord. I’ve wandered all over your house, so it seems only fair that you should see a little of mine.”
    As they went through the door, he said, “It is not at all the same. You should not invite men into your bedroom.”
    She glanced back over her shoulder. “For fear that the very sight of my virginal couch will turn them into ravening beasts?”
    “Something like that,” he said vaguely, but he was staring around the room. “Good God. The solution is obvious. The woman was mad.”
    “A convenient assessment, my lord, but hard to prove.”
    “This room is proof.” He poked a finger into the grinning mouth of a gargoyle. “I suppose one could keep small coins and buttons in places like that.”
    Anna giggled, but placed her fingers over her lips. “Hush, my lord. I’m not at all sure your voice cannot be heard in other rooms!”
    “And that would set the cat among the pigeons, wouldn’t it?” he said softly. He turned to look at her. “Farewell, Anna.”
    Her heart skipped a beat. “No more secret meetings?”
    “No more secret meetings. It would be very foolish.”
    “No one need know …”
    “Except us.”
    Anna gripped her hands tight together. “I … I like you, my lord.”
    There was the merest twitch of his lips, but his eyes looked rather sad. “I like you, too, Anna Featherstone.”
    “Well,” said Anna, after swallowing a lump in her throat. “I suppose if you marry Maria, we will meet occasionally.”
    “I have no intention of marrying your sister. I’ve only been paying court to her to get access to Maggie.”
    “Oh. And that was just because you wanted to know about the secret door.”
    “Exactly.”
    It was all rather deflating, but that magical time of intimacy and laughter could not be entirely dispelled. Anna gathered her courage and looked up at him. “If you were feeling grateful for my help, you might perhaps … might kiss me once, my lord, with kindness, before you go.”
    “Kindness? Was I not kind the other night?”
    “It was hard for me to tell. I was very frightened.”
    “It may be hard for you to tell now. Why aren’t you frightened?”
    Anna considered it. “I trust you.”
    “If I were truly kind and trustworthy, Anna, I would leave.” But he held out a hand.
    Breath catching in her throat, Anna placed her hand in his, touching him for the first time in weeks. His hand was firm, warm, smooth … All in all, it would be