Read Online Andrea Pickens - [Lessons in Love 02] by Second Chances - Free Book Online Page B

son's curriculum? More to the point, what the devil were they up to? He couldn't imagine that Max would be tempted into such transgressions by mere money. The lad received a generous allowance, which he only seemed to use for books. No, the little hussy must have lured him into this with the promise of something other than material gain.
    With a wry grimace, he thought back to only a short while ago when he feared that Max was in danger of becoming too staid. Then he edged his way nearer to where the rope dangled down from the open window. A glance up had shown that clouds were beginning to scud across the sky. The darkness would help obscure any movements and elude any pursuit.
    Well, there was nothing else for it but to attempt to extricate Max before he really ended up in the suds.
    * * *
    "Help me lift this painting off the wall," whispered Allegra. They had already checked every volume on the shelves and she had made short work of the locks on Sandhill's desk. "The safe is here. I'll start on it while you go through the drawers."
    Max gave her a hand in lowering the heavy gilt frame to the floor, then carefully lit the small lantern they had brought with them so that he might better examine the contents of the desk.
    "Draw the curtain," she reminded him. "And hurry."
    They both set to their appointed tasks with a sense of urgency. Allegra had decided that they should not remain in the library over a quarter of an hour. Already nearly half the allotted time was gone. Her fingers fumbled with the slender picks. This type of lock was proving more difficult than the others.
    A low exclamation from Max nearly caused her to drop the implements to the floor.
    "Ssshhh!"
    "Sorry. I thought I had found something important," he whispered as he put the papers back. Making sure nothing else was disturbed, he shut the drawer and jiggled one of Allegra's picks so that the lock clicked back into place.
    Both of them were so engrossed in what they were doing that the sound of approaching footsteps went unnoticed. It was only the faintest scratch of metal against metal as the knob of the door was turned that caused Allegra's head to come up.
    She cried out a warning, just as a burly shape lunged at the lad. He managed to twist aside as the thick cudgel came down towards his head so that the blow was only a glancing one. Still, the force of it dropped him, half senseless, to the carpet.
    The footman raised the stick again.
    A heavy ash walking stick topped with a silver stag's head leaned up against the hearth. She snatched it up and swung wildly at the fellow before he could hit Max again. The shaft caught him flush on the temple. With a low groan, he staggered a few steps, then collapsed in a heap. Allegra rushed to where Max lay.
    "Good lord, Max, are you alright?" she said, taking his head between her hands.
    His eyes fluttered open and he essayed a weak smile. "Yes, yes. I'm thick-skulled enough, as you know. I imagine we had better take our leave." His attempt at humor didn't disguise the fact that his voice was groggy and he didn't seem to be able to move his limbs.
    She bit her lip. Already there were sounds of movement downstairs. They had only a few minutes in which to make their escape.
    "Max," she whispered urgently. "You have to get up!"
    A noise at the window caught her attention. Had the rope been discovered as well? Sure enough, a large figure pulled himself over the sill. Allegra grabbed up a large book that had fallen from the shelves, determined not to go down without a fight. As soon as the man turned, she hurled it straight at his midriff. There was a whoof of air as the heavy tome knocked him off balance, followed by a string of curses.
    "Lord Wrexham!" gasped Allegra.
    "Father!" cried Max weakly as he struggled to a sitting position. "I can explain—"
    The earl was at his son's side in two strides. "Later," he snapped. "Can you stand?"
    "I... I think so."
    Wrexham's arm was already around Max's waist, lifting him to