To Tempt an Irish Rogue Read Free

eyes sparkling. “What was his name?”
    “Declan Reeves.”
    “Declan Reeves?” Lucien Sinclair echoed, pausing with his fork in the air and taking a marked interest in the conversation. Colette’s husband’s dark brows furrowed and he glanced sharply at Paulette. “Are you sure he said the name Declan Reeves?”
    “Yes, I’m positive.” Paulette nodded, wondering what could have captured her brother-in-law’s attention. “His daughter’s name was Mara. She had to be about four years old, and so pretty. But dreadfully sad. Why do you ask?”
    Lucien set his fork down. “I just read something in the paper about him yesterday. He’s Lord Something-or-other, but it must be the same fellow.”
    Now it was Paulette’s turn to question. “What did the paper say about him?”
    “Nothing good, as I recall,” Lucien explained. “I won’t slander a man’s name based on gossip, but there are those who are suspicious of him and the manner in which his wife died.”
    A cold shiver raced down Paulette’s spine and she suddenly sat up straighter in her chair. The uncomfortable feeling she had in the shop when she met the man now did not seem so far-fetched. There had been something dark and rather sinister about Mr. Reeves. She dared to ask, “How did his wife die?”
    “There was mention of a fire, I believe,” Lucien said with a slight shrug of his shoulders. “I don’t know all the details as I was just skimming the article in the Times and didn’t pay much attention to it, but the name stuck in my head for some reason.”
    Paulette’s heart ached at the thought of the little blond girl who would not speak and a wave of sadness washed over her. The child had lost her mother in a fire and it must have been quite traumatic for her. Was there a possibility that her father was responsible for her mother’s death?
    “Well, let’s talk about something more cheerful, shall we?” Yvette added while wrinkling her nose. “I don’t care for morbid stories.”
    “No, I’m sure you’d rather discuss fashion and handsome gentlemen,” Paulette pointed out, oddly relieved to be changing the topic of conversation. Although she wished to know more about the mysterious and brooding Declan Reeves, learning that he might very well have killed his wife left her feeling unnerved. But somehow, after seeing how kindly he treated his little daughter, she did not think him capable of such an act, no matter how forbidding he looked.
    “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with talking about pretty clothes. Or handsome gentlemen,” Yvette countered with an enigmatic smile. With her blond hair styled in an attempt to appear older than she was, she added, “And one of these days I’m going to be wed to the richest and handsomest gentleman of all.”
    Lucien gave her an amused look. “And just who would that be?”
    Yvette paused in deep thought. “I’m sure I don’t know. I have yet to meet anyone who catches my fancy.” Her dainty chin went up defensively. “I’m still looking.”
    “And you keep looking until you find him, Yvette.” Lucien gave his youngest sister-in-law an indulgent smile.
    “I have every intention of doing so.” Yvette disregarded the skeptical looks of her two sisters. “Mark my words.”
    “Well, I’ve no doubt you will when you are old enough,” Colette said. “You are only eighteen, Yvette.” As the eldest sister, Colette had taken over the role of parent to her younger siblings after their father died and their mother had been unable to care for them.
    “Yes, I’m eighteen now and old enough,” Yvette responded eagerly, tossing her blond curls with an air of superiority. “And Paulette is twenty-one.”
    “I’m almost twenty-one,” Paulette amended, as always careful of the little details. She wouldn’t reach her twenty-first birthday until September.
    Ignoring her correction, Yvette pointed to Paulette. “ She should be married by now!”
    “Don’t drag me into this,”