Free Lovers' Lies by Shirley Wine

face against the cool glass before she turned to face him.  
    "How old were you?"
    "How is that your business, Logan?" Her chin jutted stubbornly. "Nor do I appreciate being lured to Darkhaven under false pretenses."
    For long moments they traded glares and then with a shrug, he capitulated.  
    "Okay. I know when I’m trespassing. Wash your face and braid your hair and we’ll have breakfast. I'll wait for you."
    Victoria winced. The thought of facing the other house guests filled her with trepidation.
    She picked up her hair brush and seeing Logan's expression, retreated to the bathroom and shut the door.  
    There was no way she wanted to give him any fuel to keep pressuring her to marry him.
    As she brushed her hair, she paused.  
    Logan's attraction to Piper Daintry was obvious, so why had he asked Victoria to marry him? It didn't make sense. Did all the occupants of Darkhaven have a skewed idea of marriage?
    When she reappeared, they went down stairs.
    "What did Davina say to make you slap her?"
    When Victoria told him, he grimaced with disgust. "What does Keir see in her?"
    "I much prefer Piper." She smiled when he reddened. "You are a devious man. How much does she know?"
    "That you were a friend I wanted her to meet."
    "I hope she fries your brains," Victoria murmured. "At least you won't suffer genital frostbite."
    "Meow!" Logan’s choke of laughter preceded them into the breakfast room.
    Caine strode across the room to meet them. "Victoria, I must apologize for that disgraceful scene. It won't happen again."
    "It wasn't your fault." Victoria extended a hand and touched his, warmed by his concern.
    "Come and have breakfast."
    He led the way to the table and Logan hovered at her elbow as she selected bacon and tomato from the hot plates on the side board. Piper beckoned her and Victoria sighed with relief as she slipped into the vacant chair at her side.
    Logan sat on the other side.
    "Did you give her a black eye?"
    Piper looked so ridiculously hopeful Victoria couldn’t stifle a giggle. And that quickly, her spirits and appetite were restored.
    The dread of facing the other guests vanished.
    Breakfast was an informal, relaxed affair and Victoria enjoyed the witty, adult company she so often craved.
    A hush descended when Keir entered the dining room. He crossed to Victoria, expression shuttered.  
    The other house guests studiously averted their gazes. Victoria wished for nothing more than the ground to open up and swallow her.  
    Was Keir about to rehash that ugly scene in front of everyone here? She inhaled a shaky breath struggling to remain composed.  
    "I'm sorry." He laid a hand on her shoulder for a moment. "I was out of order. Davina asked me to relay her apologies."
    I'll just bet she did.
    Not!
    "Apologies accepted." She turned away to speak to Piper and, to her relief, Keir moved away, walking to the sideboard to serve himself breakfast.
    Normal conversation resumed and she exhaled a shaky breath. With studious care, she never once allowed her glance to veer in Keir’s direction.
    Her reaction to him was a potent time bomb.
    When it exploded would any of them survive?

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
    A t Darkhaven, most of the women had retired to their rooms. The men were out on the estate with Logan and Caine, touring the stables and talking horses.
    This evening, the Donovans were hosting 'A Musical Soirée' to raise funds for The Child Cancer Foundation.
    Although somewhat bemused by the pretentious name, Victoria couldn’t fault the cause.
    Nothing so common as a 'fundraiser' for the Donovans.  
    A guest speaker from the foundation was to address the gathering and later, The Tin Roof Toms were to entertain.
    The Donovan family opened Darkhaven for events several times a year to raise money for charity, and as a patron of the arts, they supported local talent.
    Invitations to these events were coveted.
    The Tin Roof Toms were a pizzicato quartet who plucked their string