Read Online Anonymous Sources by Mary Louise Kelly - Free Book Online Page A

answer. I knocked harder. This time I thought I heard a groan.
    I had to knock a third time before I heard footsteps padding across the room. The door opened a crack.
    Petronella squinted at me. “You.”
    â€œGood morning. I brought you some coffee. Here we are.” I handed her the latte I’d bought on the way over. “It’s skim. Hope that’s okay.”
    I smiled brightly, as though this were all perfectly normal and the only question was whether I’d gotten her coffee order right. Before she could react, I pushed the door open a little wider and stepped inside.
    â€œNo. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. You can’t be here.”
    â€œWell, now, here’s the thing. I need to interview you and I’m not leaving until we’ve talked. It’ll only take about fifteen minutes. So I suppose we might as well get started.”
    I glanced over at her desk. “I’ll just sit here, shall I? Let me get out my notebook.”
    She shook her head. “You have to go. Now.”
    She looked annoyingly gorgeous. I need a shower and a good ten minutes’ wrestling with the blow-dryer before you would want to cross my path in the morning. Petronella, on the other hand, already looked radiant, all tousled blond hair and long, tan legs.
    She also looked terrified.
    A moment later I found out why.
    â€œNella,” called a deep voice from across the room. “You might as well get it over with.”
    â€œJesus!” I jumped. Turned toward the bed. A head popped up from under a pile of pillows and covers. The same man I’d seen here yesterday.
    Now this was an interesting development.
    I caught my breath. Then I squared my shoulders and walked over. Held out my hand. “I didn’t realize. And I don’t believe we were properly introduced yesterday. I’m Alexandra James.”
    â€œLucien Sly.” He grinned. Shook my hand. He appeared to be enjoying himself.
    â€œLucien, for the love of God!” snarled Petronella.
    â€œDarling, she’s just doing her job. It can’t be helped. Why don’t you make up a few quotes and then see her out?”
    Petronella went scarlet with fury. “Lucien, enough. Please. And as for you”—she turned on me—“as for you, leave now or I will ring the police.”
    But I was starting to see a way in. “You know, I suppose it would be a cheap shot to point out how my story will read in tomorrow’s paper if you throw me out now. Yes, definitely a cheap shot. But let’s see . . .” I flicked through a few pages in my notebook. “So then, it’s Miss Petronella Black, beloved girlfriend of Thomas Carlyle, found curled up in bed with a Mr. Lucien Sly—”
    He interrupted, “Lord Lucien Sly, actually.”
    â€œI beg your pardon?”
    â€œIt’s just a title, old family thing, you know, but we might as well get it right. If it’s for the newspaper and everything.” He grinned again, wolfishly.
    Despite myself, I grinned back.
    Petronella seemed to snap. “Get out,” she hissed.
    Remarkably, this seemed intended for Lucien and not me. I turned my back modestly as he pulled on jeans and shoes. The two of them whispered together for a moment and then he crossed the room.
    â€œNice to meet you, Alexandra.” Then he lowered his voice. “Oh, and I liked the skirt better. They’re worth looking at, you know.”
    Confused, I followed his gaze. He was staring at my legs. They were hidden today beneath white linen trousers.
    â€œI’ll bear that in mind, your lordship.”
    â€œDo.” He winked at me, blew a kiss over to Petronella, and shut the door.
    OVER THE NEXT HOUR PETRONELLA shared quite a lot of useful information.
    That Thom had wanted to get serious, that he’d asked her to come to the States with him, that he’d asked her to marry him.
    He’d gotten down on one knee, she told me, in the