Sinful Possession Read Free

house. Because she was surrounded by what looked to be hundreds of
worried relatives, he hung back to wait for his chance.
    Lila mustered a brave smile. It didn’t matter
that now was not the time nor the place. His gaze skimmed her décolletage as
she leant in and spoke with someone. Those golden curls spilling over creamy
skin only intrigued him further. No doubt she was receiving so much attention
because of her looks, but it was the bold tilt of her chin and the brave set of
her shoulder that drew him completely in. He’d have expected most women to have
fallen into a swoon by now.

Chapter Two
    Her rescuer lingered in the hallway, resting against the
wall with his arms folded. Now, after the shock and the images of blood and the
cry of the poor man were dissipating, she could appreciate the attractiveness
of her rescuer. Ash had a strong chin with a slight dip in it and a little
stubble. Her gaze dropped to the blood stain on his shirt, and she forced it
back up.
    Yes, handsome indeed. A
little mussed but that might have been from the tussle. She’d been too preoccupied
with keeping that terrifying dagger from plunging into her chest to notice if
he had been well turned out beforehand.
    Oh dearie dear, what an
evening. Lila should never have slipped out of the ball, but she had longed for
a little space from her many, many suitors. It was all terribly good fun
receiving attention from so many men, but it was wearying after a while and she
had only been in London for a week. It was certainly a big adjustment.
    After a quick nip of brandy
given to her by her grandmother, she was beginning to feel like her usual self,
but she did wish all these people would leave her be. Exhaustion edged into her
mind, and she resisted the desire to yawn. Her aunts and uncles were still
crowded around her as though she might faint at any moment, when really all she
longed to do was escape her tight corset, pull down her hair fully, and curl up
in bed with a nice cup of tea and maybe a slice of cake.
    Hmm, yes, that was an
appealing image.
    She bit back another
encroaching yawn.
    Lord…oh she couldn’t
remember his name so she called him Lord Curly Wurly due to his ridiculous moustache,
was being particularly attentive. Lila kept catching the look her grandmother
swung her way. This look said Lord Curly Wurly would be a fine husband .
Lila wasn’t so sure. How did one kiss someone with such a ridiculous moustache?
    After all, once she was
married, she intended to do much kissing. She’d dreamed of kissing men for
years, and she could not wait to find herself a handsome husband who adored her
and longed to kiss her every moment of the day.
    Lila tried not to stare at
the moustache as it moved with his words. She missed most of what he said, but
he spoke of her courage and if she needed anything...
    She snapped her gaze up. “Thank
you, L—my lord. I will be quite well.”
    Lila would. She’d been
waiting for her time in London for forever, and not even a murderer would spoil
that. Being trapped in the countryside with only her dogs for company, she’d
dreamed of what it would be like to be in London. When her parents had
announced they finally wanted her to seek out a husband—at the grand old age of
one and twenty no less—she’d hugged her father so tightly he’d nearly fallen
over.
    By the time she’d extricated
herself from her concerned suitors and family, her rescuer’s brow had deepened with
grooves of annoyance. She swallowed. Why had he remained lingering in the
hallway if he had not wanted to stay?
    Lila approached, feeling a
little like the lion tamer stepping carefully toward the beast. His top lip was
almost raised in a snarl as he eyed the hordes of suitors while they made their
way out of Spencer House. However, when his gaze landed upon her, his stance
and lips softened.
    Of course, she’d heard of
the Cynfell brothers. They were notorious, and women were warned to stay well
away, even if the marquess was one