Suzi Love Read Free Page A

trifle embarrassing really. This agreeable ladybird promised all sorts of delights if we could offer a warm and dry gathering place nearby.” He laughed, self-consciously, and again forced. “My fault. Muddled the directions. You know how it is when you’ve overdone the wine with dinner. Head and stomach rebel.”
    Cayle, his eyes pinned on Bennett, nodded at Mitchell. Jenner’s ironic words of wisdom echoed in his head. ‘Gentlemen who seek mindlessness by over imbibing frequently suffer embarrassing afflictions of their anatomy the next day.’
    “ — agreed to meet at our friend’s house.” Mitchell gestured vaguely. “Down the square. Blow me down if Bennett doesn’t sight the silly girl entering the wrong townhouse.”
    “It was this house.” Bennett dipped his umbrella, wielded it like a battering ram.
    Cayle scowled and stood his ground. “No, not this house.”
    “B-but I saw her. She slipped inside. Through someone’s open door.”
    So, they weren’t positive which door she’d entered. Excellent. Plus, Bennett’s habitual cowardice could be played upon.
    “Brown cloak. Brown hat,” Mitchell said, using his hands to indicate the woman’s size. His tone of voice had sped from conspiratorial to annoyed in a matter of moments.
    “I-I was certain she came through this door,” Bennett said.
    Better and better. If he was to shield the hiding woman, so near he could smell her floral bouquet, he needed to sound convincing over Bennett’s confusion.
    “Gentlemen. I too may have over imbibed on the brandy this evening, but not so much that I wouldn’t notice a harlot walking through my door. A delightful one at that.”
    “Where’s your butler?” Bennett said. “Perhaps he let her in by mistake.”
    Cayle drew himself upright to stare down at Bennett using his most ducal scowl, and was delighted when his adversary looked away first. “My butler makes no mistakes. Besides which, he’s retired for the night. Only me here, and I’m for my bed.” He grasped the door handle but Bennett, in a rush of bravado, thrust a booted foot into the opening. Cayle snorted, shifted his knife forward to touch Bennett a few inches above his trouser-clad knee. “Step back, or I won’t be held responsible if it slips.”
    Bennett sucked in a loud breath. “You wouldn’t dare.”
    He laughed. “Ha! Remember, I’m now Sherwyn. I’d dare anything.”
    He shoved the door closed though he resisted the temptation to slam it in their faces. He listened with his ear to the door until he heard their footsteps on the pavement. He spun around and bumped into the woman who stood directly behind him, oblivious to the water dripping from her lank hair and forming a puddle at her feet.
    “Are they gone?” Her breath caught a little on the question.
    “I think so.” She heaved a heartfelt sigh.
    • • •
    “Thank you for not giving me up.”
    “Apart from loathing that particular man, I’d not let anyone take a woman against her will.”
    “There were two of them. One of you.”
    “I’ve a knife.”
    “Oh, please,” she said in cultured tones that dripped with sarcasm.
    Though her hat shielded her face, he sensed that his visitor was rolling her eyes. “As your breath reeks of brandy, I suspect that you are foxed. Fortunately, I came prepared to protect myself.”
    Something jabbed his thigh. He looked down, squinted, frowned, and then grimaced. Cursed himself again. Ignoramus! Lack-wit! Dunderhead! From between her cloak’s front folds, he caught the bright shine of metal.
    A pistol, the type men concealed in coat pockets when traveling, pointed directly at his groin. Held by a small, yet remarkably steady, hand. Blind-sided by a slip of a girl! How his educators on the continent would laugh at all his novice missteps tonight.
    “So I see.” Every nerve jangled and his body readied for fight, or flight. “As I value the sector of my anatomy at which your weapon is pointed far too much to argue, I’ll