Free Perilous Risk by Natasha Blackthorne

breath. They were crossing lines here. Lines that wouldn’t be so easily uncrossed. Was that wise? Was it what she really wanted?
    The sudden tension in her body must have communicated itself to his, for his muscles tightened against her. “I’ll go and get you something to drink,” he said.
    His embrace loosened and she pulled away and nodded. As she watched him leave, her mind swirled with the conflicting feelings of relief and yet disappointment at the loss of his closeness. He returned quickly with a cup of the wine punch and a quill and paper.
    He handed all the items to her. “The footman says you asked for writing materials.”
    Again she nodded numbly. She took the cup from him.
    Under his gaze, she attempted to drink the punch slowly, though again, its wetness made it hard for her to resist the urge to down it as fast as she could.
    As he set the writing materials on a small table, he watched her speculatively. Then he took the empty cup from her. “What’s all this about, Rebecca?”
    “The Duke of Saxby has died.”
    He nodded and brushed a strand of her hair off her face.
    “The duchess says she will have her maid testify that I poisoned him—then, then smothered him. That she saw me do so…no, no, that her maid saw, that’s what Maria said.” Rebecca’s breath came quicker, made her words sound breathy and broken. “I am innocent. Completely innocent.”
    “She’s not a kind or trustworthy woman.”
    At his dry tone, Rebecca startled.
    He stared at her with a blank expression. Then a hint of a smile graced those sensual lips. “She’s a right nasty bitch.”
    With her chest still tight from anxiety, she gave a harsh, barking sort of laugh. “To say the least.” She took a deep breath. “She asked me to come and have a look at His Grace to see what I could do. My father owns an apothecary. I help him with the shop, but as an experienced nurse, I also do consult with people from time to time. Midwifery mostly, but sometimes other concerns.” She put her hand to her forehead and rubbed for a moment. “How stupid of me to have allowed myself to become entangled with her.”
    She lowered her hand and found him studying her intently.
    Did he not believe her? Had she been wrong to trust him?
    Her heart began to pound again.
    “What?” she finally asked.
    “What indeed?” His dark brows drew together. “What does the Duchess of Saxby really want from you?”
    She gaped at him. “She wants to protect herself from the accusation of murder by pointing the finger of accusation at me.”
    He shook his head. “No, that’s not what she wants.”
    He sounded so certain. It unsettled her. “What makes you so certain?”
    “No matter Maria Seymour’s disgraced reputation, she is a wealthy duchess now. And Saxby has—” he paused then made an ironic expression. “ Had no close relatives save his cousin, the Countess of Ruel. Well, she has not been on speaking terms with him for years.”
    “Of course she wouldn’t be…” Rebecca bit her lip.
    Stephen was watching her very closely. “You think they were lovers?”
    “I don’t know. Some people say they were.” It was none of her business and certainly not her place to spread gossip.
    ”She’s quite a reserved lady.”
    “That’s putting it mildly again.”
    He raised his brows. “Should I have dubbed her an ice-queen like the gossips?”
    Rebecca inhaled sharply. “Ice-queen is a most unkind way to put it.”
    “And not likely true, elsewise you’d be safely tucked away with Ruel tonight, not out playing nursemaid to the Duke of Saxby. Don’t you think?” He gave her a penetrating and, was it…yes, it was a rather challenging look.
    She sat up and pulled her shoulders more square. “I don’t like to speculate.”
    “As I was saying, it is highly unlikely anyone ever will publicly raise the issue of murder in regard to the Duke of Saxby’s death.” Again, that hint of a smile. “At least, no one would do so without