Taken by the Earl (Regency Unlaced 3) Read Online Free Page B

done so did not ring true. Despite what he had heard—and seen—of the behavior at Eckles Manor, there might still be an outraged male relative of this lady outside in the hallway, ready to burst into his bedchamber at any moment and demand marriage or satisfaction.  
    “Did you come here alone?”
    She gave him a wary glance over her shoulder. “You saw I did when I arrived.”
    He nodded. “But that does not mean your father or brother are not already here, ready to challenge me to a duel in the morning if I do not marry you.”
    “Do not be ridiculous.” She stepped briskly away from him now that her gown was refastened, but her cheeks were still flushed and her eyes overbright. “I assure you, I am completely alone, apart from my maid. And anyone who accepts Lady Eckles’s hospitality knows exactly what they are agreeing to,” she added scornfully.
    “Including you?”
    “I have already told you the only reason I am here is to warn you your life is in danger.”
    “Without giving me a single reason as to why I should believe or trust your story is true,” Sin pointed out coldly. “I do not even know your name.”
    She sighed. “I am Mrs. Felicity Randall—”
    “Missus?” Sin echoed sharply. Lord, the situation was even worse than he had thought if he had made love to a married lady. A married lady who had apparently arrived without her husband, but that did not mean the gentleman was not already here and ready to shoot him for his trespass.
    “I am a widow,” she dismissed briskly.
    “Ah.” Looking at her closely, Sin could see she was even younger than he had realized, possibly ten years or so younger than his own five and thirty. But he was fully aware the wars against Napoleon had made widows of women even younger than this one. “I am very sorry for your loss.” He nodded. “But now I believe you should return to your own bedchamber—”
    “Did you hear what I said to you a few moments ago?” Those beautiful gray eyes narrowed with irritation.
    Sin felt another pang of regret. They really were very lovely gray eyes, as she was a very beautiful and responsive woman. But her behavior in following him so resolutely could not be overlooked, and her claim she had done so because someone wished to kill him was beyond belief.
    “Someone,” she spoke slowly and carefully, “is going to try to kill you during your stay here. Did you hear what I said?” Irritation returned to her tone as Sin continued to frown at her.
    “Well, of course I heard you,” Sin drawled. “I was simply suggesting that perhaps a good night’s sleep, in your own bedchamber,” he added firmly, “might be the best thing right now. You are no doubt fatigued from your journey.”
    It was clear to Fliss that Sinclair Montgomery was not taking her warning in the least seriously. “You do not believe me,” she snapped in frustration.
    “I did not say that—”
    “You did not need to do so.” Fliss swished the skirt of her gown out of the way as she moved away from him. “I had heard that large men such as yourself were all brawn and no brain, but until this moment, I had not found that to be the case.”
    “You… I—”
    “Exactly.” She eyed him scornfully as he stumbled over his protest. “As I told you, I insinuated myself as a guest here for one reason only”—she wrinkled her nose with distaste for both their hostess and the other guests—“and that was to warn you of this threat to your life. Obviously, I have wasted both my time and yours, when it seems you are too stupid to heed my warnings.”
    “I may only recently have acquired the English title of earl, Mrs. Randall.” He eyed her coldly. “But in Scotland, I am laird of my family, and as such, I am not accustomed to being addressed so disrespectfully.”
    “And I am surprised to hear you have enough intelligence to realize I am showing you disrespect.” Fliss’s tone was waspish. “I accept that we became…distracted from my purpose