A Notorious Love Read Free Page A

bother pretty women?”
    She continued to stare woodenly beyond him at the cracked mantel. “I assure you, Mr. Brennan, we have our share of nasty men in Stratford-upon-Avon. And they have no compunction about making our lives a misery. Indeed, that’s why I’m here.”
    That brought him up short. “What do you mean? Has somebody been causing you trouble?” Though it wouldn’t surprise him. When she was vexed, the woman had a tongue that would strip bark from a tree and draw any man’s ire.
    “No, not me, not exactly.” Focusing her gaze on her fingers, she toyed with her sketch pad. “I mean Juliet.”
    “Juliet?” Why, the little innocent was scarce out of the schoolroom. Would some wretch dare to hurt her?
    Apparently Lady Helena mistook the reason for hissurprise. “You remember her, don’t you?” Her gaze glittered bright with self-righteousness. “My youngest sister? The one you pretended to court while your employer seduced Rosalind?”
    So she still hadn’t forgiven him for that. “My former employer,” he reminded her. “And yes, I remember your sister very well. She was the one who didn’t hold my mistake against me. Come to think of it, you’re the only one in your family who does.”
    “Because I’m the only one in my family not foolish enough to be taken in by every smooth-tongued rascal who lands on our doorstep.”
    That tore it. Leaning forward, he planted his hand on the table scarce inches from hers. “For a smooth-tongued rascal, I’ve been mighty accommodating of you this morning. And so far you haven’t given me a single reason for being so.”
    She swallowed convulsively, then averted her gaze. “I’m sorry—you’re right. You have been very obliging. I don’t mean to be so ungrateful, but I’m worried sick.”
    “About what, damn it? What has happened to your sister?”
    “Juliet’s been kidnapped.”
    The second Helena spoke the words, she regretted them. They were a trifle misleading, and judging from Mr. Brennan’s shock and fury, they were liable to send him off in the wrong direction.
    “What?” he roared, straightening to his full height. “By who? What villains would dare? Have they sent a demand for ransom yet? Surely your father went to the authorities in Warwickshire—”
    “No, no, I didn’t mean to imply it was done against her will.” She paused. “That is…well…”

    His gaze narrowed ominously on her. “What the bloody hell did you mean?”
    Her fingers curled into a knot. “Juliet has run off—has eloped—with a man.”
    He looked more astonished than alarmed. “Hold up now—are we speaking of the same lass? Your shy little sister, the one who jumped like a scared rabbit whenever I spoke to her this summer?”
    “Yes.” Her tone hardened. “But believe me, she didn’t jump when that…that villain who carried her off spoke to her.”
    His expression altered, sharpening his features to flint. “Ah, I see. Lady Juliet has run off with an unsuitable sort, one beneath the touch of your family.” His sarcasm made it only too clear that he thought any of them lucky to find husbands at all.
    She shook off that lowering thought. “I’m almost certain he’s a fortune hunter,” she said defensively, “and I fear that he’s worse.”
    There was a long pause. Then he crossed his arms over his chest with a belligerent air. “I’m not sure what any of this has to do with me.”
    “That should be obvious: I want you to help me find them before it’s too late.”
    “Me? Why not hire a Bow Street runner?”
    She looked blankly at him. “A Bow Street runner? What is that?”
    He sighed. “I forgot you’ve spent most of your life in the country. Well, m’lady, Bow Street runners track down missing persons, among other things.”
    “Oh. Still, I wouldn’t have the faintest idea how to find one.”
    “You found me, ” he put in dryly.
    Was that unusual? Did he hide himself away in St.Giles because he didn’t want anyone to see his