Free His Scandalous Kiss: Secrets at Thorncliff Manor: 6 by Sophie Barnes

gracing the front. Signor Antonio .
    Crossing to one of the armchairs, he lowered himself onto the seat. Holding the letter between both hands, he hesitated opening
     it, unsure of whether or not he wanted to know what it said. It had to be from her. But how had it arrived in his room? The
     only explanation he could think of was that Lady Duncaster must have gotten involved, but how Lady Eleanor had managed to
     convince her to defy Lady Foxworth’s wishes, he could not fathom.
    He slid his finger beneath the wax, breaking it. Considering the way in which they’d parted last night, he supposed the letter
     would insist upon some sort of explanation. As much as Lady Eleanor deserved one, he knew it wasn’t something that he was
     prepared to grant. Unfolding the letter, he started to read, his heart kicking up a notch at the recognition of her voice
     delivered to him so clearly in the form of writing.
    Signor,
    I dearly hope this letter will somehow manage to make its way into your hands. If it does, then I would like to tell you how
     well I enjoyed your company last night and how saddened I was by your departure. Please understand that my aunt feels a great
     responsibility toward me, for you see, my parents have entrusted me entirely to her care. She is my sponsor—a position that
     she takes most seriously. And while I was honest with you when we spoke, regarding my position on marriage, I—
    A soft knock at the door drew Richard’s attention away from the letter. Muttering a curse, he folded it back up, got to his
     feet and placed it securely in the pocket of his breeches as he went to the door and unlocked it. Moving away, he went to
     stand by the window, drawing back the curtain so he could look out at the garden while his brother entered the room and closed
     the door behind him.
    “It was quite a lively event last night,” he said, staring toward the part of the garden where he’d first spoken with Lady
     Eleanor.
    “I wish you could have participated,” Spencer said.
    Richard heard him walk over to a small table and setting something down—a tray with food, no doubt. Turning slowly away from
     the window, Richard offered his brother the side of his face that remained unscarred. “Such things no longer interest me.”
    Sighing with resignation, Spencer indicated the carafe on the side table. “Mind if I pour myself a glass?”
    “Be my guest,” Richard told him. Stepping toward the armchair he’d recently vacated, he asked Spencer to pour him one as well.
     His thoughts rested on the letter in his pocket and what the rest of it might say, but he could hardly throw Spencer out of
     his room in his eagerness to discover this.
    “I do not understand you,” Spencer said as he placed a glass of brandy in front of Richard and sat down across from him. “You
     are still an eligible gentleman.”
    Studying his brother, Richard raised his glass to his lips and took a slow sip. “You know how untrue that is. One look at
     me and all the young ladies will have a fit of the vapors.”
    “Sarah did not,” Spencer reminded him. “If you recall, she told you that the scarring is not as bad as all that.” Richard
     grunted disagreement. “And besides, the ball last night was a masquerade. You could easily have been there without anyone
     being the wiser.”
    For a fleeting second, Richard considered telling Spencer that he had been. Sharing his encounter with Lady Eleanor was especially
     tempting, but he resisted. If Spencer knew, he would probably become more adamant about Richard going out in public. There
     was also the added risk that he would mention Richard’s attendance at the ball to their parents and sisters, which would only
     make Richard’s situation more difficult. “To what avail?” he asked instead.
    “I do not know,” Spencer murmured with a shake of his head. “You have always loved music.”
    “True.”
    “You would also have had an opportunity to meet someone.”
    “I presume