Read Online A Rake's Midnight Kiss by Anna Campbell - Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t entirely joking, even as he cursed her clever brain for narrowing blame for the burglary down to his real self.
    She sent him a quelling glance. “He wasn’t much of a thief. We haven’t found anything missing.”
    Bloody hell. What a stupid mistake. He should have lifted something worthless from downstairs. A burglar fleeing empty-handed aroused unwelcome curiosity. Too late now. “Would you rather he’d stripped the vicarage?”
    “Don’t be absurd.” She sounded uncomfortable. Did she recall that thrilling moment when he’d held her close? It haunted his dreams.
    He braced his shoulders. “Will you sell it to me? I’ll double Sir Richard’s offer.”
    Silence crashed down. Even his heart seemed to stop beating. Shocked silvery gray eyes focused on him and the hands she laid on the desk closed into fists.
    Her reply seemed to take forever. “It’s not for sale.”
    His relief made no sense. He was here for the jewel. Buying the bauble after a few days counted as a major victory. Or at least it should.
    He forced himself to continue negotiations. “You’d be welcome to keep it until you’ve finished your article.”
    She already shook her head. “Thank you, but no.”
    So the game played on. He tried to tell himself that he was disappointed. Even he didn’t believe that was true. It was a long time since he’d found a woman as intriguing as he found Genevieve Barrett. He wasn’t ready to abandon her.
    Her eyes sharpened. “Can I have the jewel back, please?”
    Surrendering the jewel felt like treason. In the transaction, his hand grazed hers. She jerked back as if his touch burned. Heat shuddered through him.
    Her gaze leaped to meet his and he read renewed wariness in her eyes. “You offer more than the jewel is worth.”
    He shrugged and stared hard at her. “When I want something, I go to any length to get it.”
    She paled. “You… scare me when you say such things.”
    His eagerness threatened to send her fleeing in fright. If he wasn’t careful he’d lose both jewel and woman—it became increasingly inconvenient to remember that only a cad played fast and loose with a lady’s reputation.
    He might be a bastard, but he wasn’t quite a cad. Or not yet.
    “You mistake me. I merely found myself with a fancy to own a pretty thing.” Two pretty things, in fact. He adopted an innocent air as he stepped away from the desk to stretch ostentatiously. “I’m off for a ride before breakfast.”
    “I trust you not to share anything we’ve discussed.” Unsurprisingly she regretted her confidences.
    “You have my promise.” His carefree smile didn’textinguish the doubt in her expression. “I’ll see you later, Miss Barrett.”
    Beneath his nonchalance, his thoughts were troubled. Nor had he conquered the turbulent emotions that had stirred when he’d touched the jewel. After this morning, he knew more about the jewel and he knew more about Genevieve, but everything he’d learned fouled his path.

Chapter Six
     

     
    A s everyone sat in the parlor before dinner, Genevieve watched Mr. Evans from her place on the window seat as unwaveringly as she’d watch a cobra. He played some silly card game with her aunt, who would be his willing slave even without her unconcealed ambitions for marrying him to her niece.
    Within ten minutes of his departure from her study this morning, Genevieve had realized her terrible mistake. Why, oh, why had she been so forthcoming? She didn’t trust Mr. Evans. She hadn’t trusted him from the moment she’d seen his too-handsome face. Now he knew her authorship and her hopes for the future. Her recklessness placed her firmly within his power. Would he use his knowledge against her?
    Years of thankless devotion to her father had taught her that the last thing she wanted was to subject herself to another man’s will. That was why she’d never marry—she longed to use her talents for her own purposes. Any husband would expect her to accept the