On A Wicked Dawn Read Free

shoulders was the only thing keeping him upright. He stared, astounded, utterly bemused . . . waited for the effect of her touch to subside . . .
    She made an angry, frustrated sound, dashed back to the door, grabbed it, and propelled it shut. The loss of the moonlight left him blinking, eyes adjusting to the dark. The door closed, she swung around; her back to the panel, she glared—he felt it.
    â€œWhat the devil’s the matter with you?” she hissed.
    â€œMe?” Easing his shoulders from the wall, he managed to find his balance. “What the damn hell are you doing here?”
    He couldn’t even begin to imagine. Moonlight streamed in through the fanlight, passing over their heads to strike the pale tiles of the hall. In the diffused light, he could just make out her features, fine and delicate in an oval face, framed by golden curls tumbling under her hood.
    She straightened; chin rising, she set the hood back. “I wanted to speak with you privately.”
    â€œIt’s three o’clock in the morning.”
    â€œI know! I’ve been waiting since one. But I wanted tospeak with you without anyone else knowing—I can hardly come here during the day and demand to speak privately with you, can I?”
    â€œNo—for a very good reason.” She was unmarried, and so was he. If she wasn’t standing before the door he’d be tempted to open it and . . . he frowned. “You didn’t come alone?”
    â€œOf course not. I’ve a footman outside.”
    He put a hand to his brow. “Oh. Good.” This was getting complicated.
    â€œFor goodness sake! Just listen. I know all about your family’s financial state.”
    That captured his immediate and complete attention. Noting it, she nodded. “Exactly. But you needn’t worry I’ll tell anyone—indeed, quite the opposite. That’s why I needed to speak with you alone. I’ve a proposition to put to you.”
    His wits were reeling—he couldn’t think what to say. Couldn’t imagine what she was going to say.
    She didn’t wait, but drew breath and launched in. “It must be plain, even to you, that I’ve been looking about for a husband, yet the truth is there’s not a single eligible gentleman I feel the least bit inclined to marry. But now Amanda’s gone, I find it boring in the extreme continuing as an unmarried young lady.” She paused, then went on, “That’s point one.
    â€œPoint two is that you and your family are in straitened circumstances.” She held up a staying hand. “You needn’t try to tell me otherwise—over the past weeks I’ve spent a lot of time here, and generally about with your sisters. Emily and Anne don’t know, do they? You needn’t fear I’ve told them—I haven’t. But when one is that close, little things do show. I realized a few weeks ago and much I’ve noticed since has confirmed my deduction. You’re in dun territory— no! Don’t say a word. Just hear me out.”
    He blinked—he was barely keeping up with the flow of her revelations; he didn’t at present have any brain left over to cope with formulating speech.
    She eyed him with typical acerbity, apparently reassuredwhen he remained mute. “I know you are not to blame—it was your father who ran through the blunt, wasn’t it? I’ve heard the grandes dames say often enough that it was a good thing he died before he crippled the estate, but the truth is he did bring your family to point non plus before he broke his neck, and you and your mother have been carefully preserving appearances ever since.”
    Her voice softened. “It must have been a Herculean task, but you’ve done brilliantly—I’m sure no one else has guessed. And, of course, I can see why you did it—with not just Emily and Anne, but Portia and Penelope, to establish, being