Lies and Misdemeanours Read Free

that their unexpected guest would make an appearance but, to her disappointment, both men remained fast asleep. When she couldn’t delay her departure a moment longer, she donned her cloak and eyed Simon balefully as she stepped over him on the way out of the front door.
    She couldn’t resist slamming it behind her in disgust.
    I hope it wakes him up, the oaf she groused as she stalked down the driveway.
    Although she went about her chores as quickly as she could, by the time she returned later that afternoon, both men had gone.
     
    She was still feeling a little deflated about the fact that she hadn’t managed to see Charlie again two days later. She moseyed around the various market stalls in the village, but her mind was miles away. The basket of provisions she carried was heavy but she paid no attention to it as she wandered aimlessly from stall to stall. Her thoughts were very firmly locked on the one person she knew she ought to forget.
    The strength of the disappointment she had felt when she had returned to the house the other day, and found Charlie gone, disturbed her. She had never felt this instant attraction toward anyone else before, and wasn’t sure what to do about it. He seemed be everything she thought about. The more she tried not to think about him, the more she thought about him. It was ridiculous, and completely unstoppable.
    It didn’t help that the memory of his long, muscular limbs draped so carelessly in front of the fire, was the last thing she thought about before she went to sleep, and the first thing that came into her head when she awoke the next morning. It was driving her to distraction; to the point that she was now tired, grumpy, and decidedly out of sorts.
    “Good morning,” a husky voice drawled in her ear.
    Hetty spun around in surprise, and gasped when she saw the very man who had consumed her every waking thought over the last few days.
    It was as though her thoughts had summoned him up.
    “Good morning.” She found herself smiling back at him without even realising she was doing it and, suddenly, all of the discontent that had dogged her over the last few days simply vanished.
    “How are you today?”
    She blushed prettily. “I am fine, thank you. I take it that you have recovered well from your excesses of the other night?”
    He had the good grace to look a little abashed, which made her smile widened teasingly.
    “I wanted to speak to you about that.” He coughed, clearly a little uncomfortable at mentioning the embarrassing interlude. “I wanted to apologise if my behaviour offended you in any way. I can’t remember what happened exactly, but I can remember waking up in a disgusting heap in front of the fireplace.”
    Hetty smiled, and quickly blanked out the mental image of his masculine stature sprawled out in front of the hearth.
    “You and Simon both,” she replied obliquely, and valiantly tried to ignore the tell-tale blush that stole over her cheeks.
    “Is Simon around today?” he asked. He glanced enquiringly around the busy market square.
    Hetty nodded toward the blacksmith’s establishment in the far corner of the square. “He has gone to Warders to get some straps mended.”
    Charlie nodded his thanks, but didn’t take his eyes off hers. The intimate way he looked deeply into her eyes while he listened to her reply made her quiver. She made no attempt to move when he shifted infinitesimally closer.
    “Will I see you at the tavern tonight?” he murmured hopefully.
    Hetty smiled. She tried to appear unconcerned, but just couldn’t quite keep the delight from her face. “I should hope to be there, yes.”
    She opened her mouth to say something else only for a loud whistle to shatter the moment. Charlie took a step back and looked up, and lifted a hand to acknowledge Simon’s call before he turned back toward her.
    “Later then,” he drawled huskily. He hovered close to her for a few moments more before he slowly, reluctantly, moved away.
    Hetty