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“What the hell?” Rising, he frowned at the wolfhounds, wishing they could communicate He pointed at them “Stay”

The next instant he was at the library door, easing it open Unlike the person host

Lady Penelope Jane Marissa Selborne reached the head of the stairs Without conscious thought, she turned her riding boots to the left along the gallery,for the corridor at its end She hadn’t bothered with a candle—she didn’t need one; she’d walked this way countless tiallery and the peaceful silence of the abbey itself were balm to her restless, uncertain mind

What the devil was she to do? More to the point, as going on?

She felt an urge to run her hand through her hair, to loosen the long strands sleeked back in a tight knot, but she was still wearing her wide-bri jacket, she’d spent the day and all of the evening surreptitiously following and watching the activities of her distant cousin Nicholas Selborne, Viscount Arbry

Nicholas was the only son of the Marquess of Amberly, who, after her half brother Granville’s death, had inherited her hoham Hall, a few miles away While she felt respect and mild affection for Amberly, who she’d met on a number of occasions, she was less sure of Nicholas; when, in February, he’d appeared unheralded to stay at Wallingha questions about Granville’s habits and associates, she’d beco that anyone asking such questions bore careful watching, but Nicholas had left after five days, and she’d hoped that that would be the end of it

Yesterday, Nicholas had returned, and spent all day visiting the various sht, he’d visited Polruan, and spent two hours at the tavern there She’d spent the sa fro one of the few places hereabouts she accepted were off-limits to her, at least when on her own

Irritated and increasingly alarmed, she’d waited until Nicholas caht Once she was sure he was heading back to Wallingham, she’d turned her mare north and ridden here, to her sanctuary

During her long wait in the trees, she’d thought of a way to learn what Nicholas had been doing in the taverns he’d visited, but putting her plan into action would have to wait for toain, to try and make sense of what she’d thus far learned, of her suspicions and what she feared they ht lead to

Despite the urgency she felt over that last, the long day had drained her; she was so tired she could barely think She’d get a good night’s sleep, then consider her best way forward tomorrow

At the end of the gallery, she headed down the corridor; the bedcha had been hers for the past decade, whenever she took it into her head to visit her godmother’s ho used to her occasional, unheralded appearances; the fire would be laid, but not lit

Glancing to her right, through the long, uncurtained s that gave onto the rear courtyard with its fountain and well-tended beds, she decided she wouldn’t bother striking a flame She was bone-weary All she wanted was to peel off her breeches and boots, jacket and shirt, and tumble under the covers and sleep

Exhaling, she turned to her bedchamber door and reached for the latch

A large dense shadoooped in on her left

Panic leapt She looked—

“Ahhee!!—”

Recognition hit; she clapped a hand over her mouth to cut off her shriek, but he was faster Her hand landed over his, pressing his hard palm to her lips

For an instant, she stared into his eyes, dark and unreadable ainst her lips

Of him there, tall and broad-shouldered in the darkness beside her

If time could stand still, in that instant, it did

Then reality ca back

Stiffening, she dropped her hand and stepped back

Lowering his hand, he let her go, eyes narrowing as he searched her face

She dragged in a breath, kept her eyes on his Her heart was still ha in her throat “Da to scare me witless?” The only way to deal with him was to seize the reins and keep them “You could at least have spoken, or made some sound”