Free Blood Marriage by Regina Richards Page B

after our business was concluded and wanted to make an early start." Dawes glanced down at the body. His skin grayed and he pressed the back of his hand to his mouth. "I fear I must be excused," he sputtered before dashing back through the sea of furling laundry, the morsel of kidney pie still riding his sideburn.
    Lennie scowled at the retreating man, then spat tobacco hard at the ground. "No sign of a struggle," he said. With surprising gentleness he cupped his rough hand against the parlor maid's jaw and turned her head to one side, exposing her neck. "Same as Madame Nanette's shop girl."

Chapter Fourteen
     
    Elizabeth left her mother in Margaret's care and returned to her own room through the connecting door. Katie, who'd been finishing the unpacking, set aside the clothes to peek out the hallway door.
    "He's waiting for you near the stairs, miss." The maid cocked her head at Elizabeth. "I was right about the violet gown. It matches your eyes. If I had eyes like yours, I'd make sure that new footman, Lennie, never gave Margaret a second look." Katie closed the door to return to the unpacking. She picked up a white negligee and carried it through the clutter of boxes littering the room, opened a drawer, but didn't tuck it inside. Instead the young maid let the material glide over her hand. "It's like mist," she said and giggled.
    Elizabeth blushed. The negligee was so sheer it was indeed little more than mist. Her hand sought her neck; her fingers tracing the line Devlin's lips had so recently traveled. A tingling sensation, one that was becoming too familiar, fluttered below her stomach.
    After Devlin had left, she and Katie had spent almost an hour opening boxes, marveling at each new item. There were dresses for every occasion: day dresses, riding habits, evening gowns, and ball gowns. There were shoes, hats, ribbons, purses, and lacy under things. There was a robe and slippers. But the most shocking of the boxes was the one they'd opened last. Three scandalously sheer negligees had been nestled within: one black, one white, and one a stunning shade of red. Elizabeth had stuffed the night things back inside the box and shut the lid firmly, insisting it was time she dressed for dinner. Katie had dimpled prettily, but she'd gone in search of an appropriate gown.
    Now Elizabeth smoothed guilty hands over the violet silk she wore, delaying the moment when she would go into the hall to meet Lord Devlin. Meet him and tell him the truth. 
    "He's waiting. Are you well, miss?" 
    "Yes, of course." Elizabeth hid her shaking hands by pretending to pat her hair into place. Katie had piled it high at the back of her head, allowing a few dark coils to escape to brush one shoulder. 
    "You look pale, miss. Perhaps I should pinch some color into your cheeks." Katie reached out. Elizabeth ducked away, escaping across the room. She'd no wish to be bruised at dinner tonight or to have to explain to Devlin's guests why she was.
    "I'm fine, Katie. Fine," she insisted, palms out to ward off the maid. Katie looked offended. 
    "Perhaps," Elizabeth said, both to make peace and delay facing Devlin, "I should have a shawl. Or a ribbon about my neck."
    "It isn't cold and you need no ribbon. Really, miss, it's good to keep a man waiting, but not too long." Katie opened the door and waved Elizabeth through. "He'll be pleased." The maid closed the door so close behind Elizabeth it actually tapped her bottom, propelling her into the hall.
    "She's right." Lord Devlin stood near the stairwell landing. He'd exchanged his traveling clothes for formal dinner attire. He came down the hall and offered her his arm. "I am pleased."
    Elizabeth couldn't meet his eyes. In a few moments she would tell him the truth. How would he react? She pressed her lips together, willing the trembling in her limbs to stop, and placed her hand on his arm. Together they walked to the landing. Elizabeth hesitated. The stairs seemed to descend endlessly into the cavernous entry