Free Wicked Whispers by Tina Donahue Page A

your books to my estate.”
    She looked at them longingly, almost as much as she had him.
    “I assure you, your volumes will be safe.”
    She searched his face and nodded finally. “I should tell Isabella my plans. If anyone asks about me, she can always say I left the convent to stay with her and Fernando. When friends visit, she can claim illness has kept me in bed or that I returned to the convent.”
    “You have no reason for concern.” He’d never allow gossip to force her into a marriage she claimed not to want but also seemed drawn to. When he made her his, the moment would be because she couldn’t endure the thought of anything less. “I promise, no one will find out you and I are living together.”
    She took her candle. “We should go back to our bedchambers before anyone misses us.”
    “Dressed as you are? Tell me where your room is. After I bring your clothing, you can change down here, then leave.”
    She bit her lip.
    “I promise to be careful.”
    “You had better. My chamber is on the second level, the last on the right with a large wardrobe. My gowns, kirtles—”
    “I promise to bring one of each.” Enrique was well aware what women wore. He’d undressed enough of them. “Swear to stay here until I return.”
    “How long will you be?”
    With guests possibly milling about, who knew? “Please stay here.”
    She hesitated then nodded.
    After taking a candle, he considered kissing her farewell, but he didn’t want to press his good fortune. Swiftly, he crossed the passageway and climbed the steps to the hidden door. With his ear pressed against the wood, he listened for footfalls or voices but heard nothing more than his blood rushing in his ears.
    His pulse hammered at the promise of being near Sancha from dawn to dusk, smelling her sweet fragrance, feeling her heat, drowning in her gentle smile that could turn wanton in a moment. He’d witnessed the transformation and longed to have her behave the same again, impetuous and unashamed.
    He opened the door a crack. No one on the left. The right was also empty. After making certain he’d sealed the passage entrance, he put the candle in its holder, then rushed down this corridor to the next and reached the stairs in scant minutes.
    Halfway up the flight, footfalls rang out behind him. “Enrique.”
    Luscinda.
    Poised to run, he nevertheless forced himself to face her.
    She’d dressed in bright blue silk. The corners of her lush mouth turned up wantonly. “ Buenos días. ”
    “Señorita.”
    His cool greeting did nothing to diminish or extinguish her smile.
    Not wanting to drag out the moment, he inclined his head. “Please excuse me.”
    “Did you have a pleasant night?” She climbed the stairs, taking him in. “Did you sleep at all?”
    He frowned at her intrusive questions.
    “You seem tired.” She studied every part of him. “You haven’t changed your clothes from yesterday. Your doublet and robe are such a beautiful blue I decided to wear the same color today.” She laughed softly. “We match.”
    Not in any way.
    Before he could move from her, she was on the same step as his and rested her hand on his arm. “Accompany me to breakfast.”
    “Your mamá can.” He pulled his arm away. “Please ask her, as I have no appetite.”
    “Perhaps not, but during my repast you can tell me what you were doing at dawn. How strange to see you riding about in the shadows, holding on to what appeared to be a boy.”
    Bile rose to his throat. “You surely saw another man. At dawn, I was in my chamber.”
    “How curious. Is that where your clothes became so dusty?”
    He glanced at the whitish streaks on his sleeves from the secret room.
    She touched one quite daintily. “If you were in your bedchamber, why did you fail to answer my knock?”
    He stared. “Why would you come to my door?”
    “Why not?” She stroked his arm.
    He backed away until the railing stopped him.
    She blocked him from leaving, her hand trailing down the