Page 16 (1/2)

Finn doubted that Wilkins could handle her kind of breach Finn’s eyes were trained on the pale pink skin that was exposed by her bodice Until she began to snap her fingers in his face He dragged a hand down his mouth in frustration

“I’m up here, my lord,” she reminded him Thin brows that arched as much as her mouth turned down met him when he finally found the ithal to look up

What was up there was as pretty as as down there And everywhere in between B

y God, he was losing hisa coach bound for Bedla mad, Wilkins?” Finn asked

“If you are,with you”

Claire paced back and forth across the Aubusson rug in the chambers where they’d stashed her “Stashed” was the only appropriate word for what they’d done She didn’t have a single thing to wear Nor did she have anyshe could do was shrink herself down to faerie size and then back to huain And apparently, she could paint But that was all she could do She could get everything she needed if she only had soic But she had none

She looked at the tip of the paintbrush and snorted That was the only ic she had? It was left over from more than twenty years before It had allowed her to paint that door handle on the door, and then the door had opened like a beacon on a dark night And she’d walked straight into it Look where it had gotten her She’d paint her way out of it if she could come up with a safe destination But she couldn’t think of a single place she could go

Her chambers were extremely fine, much finer than what she’d had at home From the thick carpet beneath her feet to the tapestry on the wall, this place was ned to her When she caiven a tiny rooed to the Duke of Robinsworth, was et lost in the corridors if she even attempted to bolt

A knock sounded on the door Claire turned just as the door slowly opened “No, I didn’t intend for you to wait for my call to enter,” Claire sniped But a kind face appeared around the door and an old woman walked into the room

“Grams, you’re supposed to wait until she calls for you to open the door What if she were undressed?” Lord Phineas bellowed at the old woman She held an ear funnel up to her ear, and he leaned toward it

The lady shrugged her narrow shoulders and yelled back, “She doesn’t have anything I haven’t seen before, I can assure you” She shot Lord Phineas a telling glance “And I dare say nothing you haven’t seen before either”

His face flushed scarlet He was quite handsome when he was discorin “See here, now,” he began But he just stopped and shook his head He gestured to the woer Duchess of Robinsworth”

Claire curtsied as best she kne “Grareed to act as your chaperone while you’re here”

“I do not need a chaperone”

The dowager lifted a funnel to her ear “Did you say mascarpone? Call for a tray I’ll share it with Miss Thorne”