Sweet Deception Read Online Free

heightened his own awareness of how close his body was to hers, nearly touching. How fragile she seemed…how diminutive, and yet so uncommonly tough. He’d already been the recipient of her tart tongue and sharp appendages. Now, thinking back, he remembered that when they were children, Emma had always kept up with him, no matter how he’d tried to lose her.
    As if to demonstrate that her stubbornness still remained, Emma lifted her chin in challenge. “I hadn’t thought you would—”
    “Wish to help?” Derick returned her challenge, raising a brow. Damn. Her assumption irked. And the fact that he’d been stung by it irked more. He’d long ago grown accustomed to not caring what anyone thought. “Feel responsible for a member of my household?”
    Emma blinked. “Your household?” She sputtered. “You haven’t been to Derbyshire in fourteen—”
    “No, but I
am
human, Miss Wallingford.” Derick stepped closer, bringing his other arm around and planting it on the door behind her, trapping her. Only so that she would listen to him, of course. Not at all because of her tantalizing scent, a heady mix of lavender and…somethinghe couldn’t quite place. “I may not agree with your assumptions, but it is clear you strongly believe the maid is in danger. If there is a chance you are correct, I would like to do what I can.”
    A huff of exasperation escaped her lips, a gesture Derick took to mean she didn’t think too highly of him or his offer. He allowed a half-cynical smile to curve his lips. What did he care if Miss Emma Wallingford disapproved of one of his many alter egos? It wasn’t
him
, after all.
    Besides, he doubted she’d like him any better if she knew his
true
purpose in Derbyshire.
    To investigate her brother for treason.

Chapter Two
     
    E mma blinked up at him, her eyes widening like twin full moons at harvest. Her chest rose and fell in shallow pants. Derick’s blood thickened. She was as affected by their nearness as he. Her rapid pulse beat in the hollow of her throat, nearly in time with his.
    Why did he react so to her? Certainly he’d been in tighter proximity to many a woman, in and out of the course of duty. But rarely did he allow himself so…
close
to one.
    So why now? Why her?
    For reasons beyond him, he permitted her perusal—held so still, in fact, that his arms ached from remaining locked on either side of her. Emma’s amber gaze traveled over his forehead, swept his cheeks, settled on his mouth for a long moment, then flew to his eyes. She stared, her chestnut brows dipping in concentration. What did she think she saw?
    A part of Derick’s brain registered the danger of letting her see too much. Yet he still didn’t pull away.
    Then her full lips flattened, and before he sensed what she was about, Emma ducked beneath his left arm and darted away.
    Little minx. She hadn’t been caught up in him. She had been calculating how best to get back to her search. Tenacious nature, indeed. She’d barely had to dip her head to escape him, given their difference in height. He must remember to place his arms lower next time.
    Next time?
He had no intention of staying in Derbyshire long enough for there to be a next time. He planned only to settle his estate and discover whether Emma’s brother was the last of the traitors he was hunting, and then his responsibilities to home and country would be finished. And he could finally look forward—to an uncertain future, but at least one on his own terms.
    Right now, however, he’d better look behind him if he wanted to keep Emma in his sights, as her footfalls indicated a hasty retreat. Since she would be the most expedient avenue through which to investigate her brother, he intended to stick by her side. Derick pushed away from the door and turned to follow her.
    Emma was more than halfway down the hallway already, her oversized coat dragging the ground behind her like the train of a gown being worn by a child playing dress-up. Did they