The Sinner Read Online Free

doublet must be bombasted to create the effect.
    "Let me go, my lord," Cat said to Slade as his bony fingers dug into the flesh at her elbow. "You're hurting me."
    "It's for your own good. Ah, excuse me, my lord!" he called out to their quarry ahead of them. "My Lord Oxley!" he said again when Oxley didn't stop. "I have a matter of great importance I need to discuss with you."
    "That's overstating it a little," Cat muttered.
    But it did the trick. Oxley stopped. He didn't turn immediately, however. There was a brief pause in which those manly shoulders hunched a little and his head lowered, as if he were resigning himself to enduring an arduous task. Perhaps he knew Slade by reputation if not in person. Cat certainly found her brother-in-law a test of endurance most of the time.
    Finally Oxley turned to face them, his eyes flat, bored, and his mouth stretched into an unconvincing smile. "Who are you?" he drawled. "And what is it you want with me?"
    Oh dear. They'd managed to annoy the nobleman already. Slade's plan was in danger of failing and he hadn't even presented Cat yet.
    Slade bowed low. "Good evening, Lord Oxley. Forgive the intrusion, but I wanted to introduce myself. I am Lord Slade of Slade Hall, Sussex. I have been admiring your…hat, sir." He glanced up at the extraordinary piece. "It's very…tall."
    Oxley seemed to change then. The boredom vanished from his eyes and the smile became genuine. He whipped off the hat and presented it to Slade with an elaborate bow. "Then you may have it, my good man."
    "But my lord, it's your hat! I couldn't possibly—"
    "Take it. I have another just like it at home. Indeed, I have several and I see that you're in need of good headwear." He drew Slade's brown fur hat off his head between thumb and forefinger as if he'd picked up a rat by its tail. "I can give you the name of my milliner if you like."
    Slade cleared his throat and watched desperately as his hat was flung into the corner. "I am humbly grateful for your generosity, my lord."
    Oxley leaned closer, conspiratorial. "A hint, Slade, if you will permit me to aid you. Her Majesty likes to see her gentlemen wearing a little color. Dung is not her favorite shade, even when dressed up with shiny buttons." He flicked the top button of Slade's doublet. As Slade looked down, Oxley tapped him on the chin and laughed. It was a child's diversionary trick, but Oxley made it seem fresh and amusing. Or perhaps that was more because Slade was trying very hard to hide his indignity at being the butt of such a simple joke.
    Cat pressed her lips together to suppress her smile. She wasn't yet sure what to make of Oxley, and she planned on remaining quiet to observe him for as long as possible.
    Unfortunately, Oxley had a different plan. He thrust out his hip and placed his hands at his waist, studying her. "And who is this jewel? What lovely skin! And those eyes! I am in the presence of a goddess."
    Slade snorted, but quickly covered it with a cough. "This is my sister-in-law, Catherine, Lady Slade. She's in mourning for my brother, hence the drab attire."
    "Drab? Not at all! Not on such a slender, leonine figure." Oxley bowed, sweeping his arm across the front of his body in an arc. "I am your servant, my lady."
    Cat rolled her eyes before he straightened, and managed to give him a return smile as she curtseyed. "My lord is too generous with his praise."
    "Indeed not," Oxley said. He waggled his fingers at her face. "Your eyes are quite the most interesting shade of blue."
    Her eyes were a dull slate blue-gray. She had no illusions that this man saw her as anything other than a plain, smallish woman. Oxley's eyes, however, were something to behold. She'd been right. They were blue, but not the striking deep color of the sky. They were pale, almost colorless. More like a lake in winter, covered in a thin layer of ice. Lakes in wintertime could be dangerous, unpredictable places, but there was nothing dangerous about this man. He seemed as