Sinful Possession Read Free Page B

me? I am never alone, even if I wish to be—”
    “You were alone tonight,”
Ash interjected and took a step closer as if to intimidate her.
    Lila squared her shoulders.
While she might look every part the delicate debutante, growing up on her parent’s
estate had taught her much. She was not unused to dealing with boorish
creatures—usually in the form of a horse or a farmer’s stubborn pig—but she
would not be intimidated by Ash Cynfell, even if his chocolatey eyes had turned
thunderous.
    “I made a mistake and I
shall not make it again,” she assured him coolly.
    “And you think your family
can protect you?”
    “Protect me from what? My
lord, if I were a murderer, I would be halfway across the country by now, not
waiting around to commit another crime.”
    “ You are not a serial
killer.” He’d inched closer again at some point and now perhaps only a pace
separated them.
    Lila placed a hand to the
delicate marble-topped console table next to her to steady herself. “A serial
killer? L-like the Ripper?”
    He nodded slowly.
    A laugh escaped her. “Do not
be silly. This was a horrible, horrible act, but surely someone would have
said. The papers would have written something about it by now.”
    “I should imagine after the
Ripper murders, they are wanting to keep it quiet. After all, they won’t want a
panic or to risk any of those copycat murders.”
    A chill ran through her, and
she wished for the subtly scented comfort of his jacket. She recalled tales of
the Ripper, even though she had been but a young girl when the murders took
place. But her older brother, who had left to study in Europe many, many years
ago, had loved to terrify her with stories of him.
    Her head spun a little and
nausea rolled in her stomach as flashes of blood and the cry of a dying man
raced through her mind. Ash put a hand to her arm to steady her.
    “Let’s get you some air.”
    Though tempted to reply with
something pithy about her safety, she had grown too light-headed so allowed him
to lead her out. He kept a hold of her arm while they made their way down the
steps and along the side railings. Ahead, she could see the police around the
man’s body and a few people lingered while they waited for their carriages to
be brought around. What had started as an exciting, wonderful evening of
dancing and flirting had become so very grim. She sighed. Oh deary dear.
    Lila concentrated on drawing
in breaths while Ash helped her rest against the stone plinth in front of the
house.
    “Can I get someone for you?”
he asked, concern etched into his brow.
    She wondered then at the
lines in his brow. He wasn’t an old man so what had him so pained in life. He
must take things seriously indeed. It was hardly the right circumstances, but
she was willing to wager he rarely smiled even in the best of them.
    Lila shook her head. The
last thing she wanted was her aunts and cousins fussing over her. She’d had
enough of that tonight and was weary of it.
    “I just need a few moments.”
    He nodded stiffly and set to
pacing slowly in front of her, like a sentry guard at Buckingham Palace.
    “You’re making me dizzy,”
she told him softly, although that wasn’t really the truth.
    He made her uncomfortable.
In an odd sort of way. In a she longed to tear off her bodice and press
herself against him sort of way. It made her feel hot and fidgety and did
not help with the whole struggling to breathe and feeling sick thing.
    He paused. “Forgive me.”
Hands clasped behind his back, he eyed her. “You should leave London.”
    “Yes, you said that, and no,
I will not. I will not let some madman ruin my time here.”
    “I suppose you do not wish
to be taken away from your suitors.” The bitter tone to his voice surprised and
riled her.
    “No, I do not,” she snapped.
“By the time my stay in London is at an end, I fully intend to be engaged.”
    His eyes flared. But why?
    “You should have caution,
Miss Radley. Marriage is not something