Read Online Devil in Her Dreams by Jane Charles - Free Book Online

moment?”
    “
I am not Lisette,” Louisa argued.
    Devlin closed his eyes for a moment. Blast, he should have anticipated the Frenchman would think Louisa was her sister. The two shared a resemblance and this only put Louisa in more danger.
    The man grinned. “Of course you are. Don’t try to fool me,” he said in French.
    “
I am not trying to fool anyone,” Louisa responded in French.
    “
That proves you are Lisette. Only she would answer in my language.”
    “
Of course I speak French. My mother was French, and my father is the son of the Duke of Danby. I’ve had an excellent education.” She crossed her arms over her chest in a huff.
    “
Sit down.” He motioned to a spot beneath a tree.
    She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “I will not. I like this dress and I am not about to ruin it.”
    “
Please sit down,” Devlin urged. She would be shot, and it would be on his head. Why didn’t the fool woman do what she was told? She wasn’t even screaming like she was supposed to. He strained against the rope more, feeling it cut into his flesh. A trickle of warm blood slid down the outside of his hand. Perhaps the slickness would help him slide his hands free.
    “
I will not sit in the mud.” She stomped her foot.
    The Frenchman leveled the gun on her again.
    “
You really intend to shoot me? They will hear the shot at the house, and who knows how many people will come running? You don’t stand a chance.”
    He pulled a knife from his pocket. “This will be silent.”
    “
Please, Louisa,” Devlin begged. He couldn’t watch her being stabbed or even cut. Nothing should mar her perfect skin.
    “
Louisa? Is that your real name?”
    “
It’s the only one I have.”
    “
If you won’t sit for him, would you do so for me?” Devlin asked. The man was not about to harm either of them until John showed up. Then they would be safe, especially if he brought Elizabeth with him. The Frenchman would not expect another Lisette. Those two would handle the situation, and he would be able to take Louisa back into the house and keep her safe before delivering a stern lecture over arguing with a man holding both a gun and a knife on her.
     
    Louisa met Marston’s eyes. “I am not sitting in mud,” she answered before focusing back on the man with the knife.
    She tried to remember everything Edgeworth had taught her and Elizabeth about fighting. If she weren’t in this skirt she could do more. The last thing she was going to do was sit in the mud so she could be tied to a tree and slaughtered. That man was not going to let them out of this alive, and since Marston, who thought he needed to protect all women, was currently incapacitated, it was up to her.
    Think, she had to think. She couldn’t allow him to use the knife on her.
    “
I wouldn’t use that either.”
    The man raised an eyebrow. “I suppose you are going to tell me they will be able to hear me slit your throat?”
    She swallowed hard and tried to regain her bravado. “Of course not. I am more concerned with the boars.”
    “
Boars?”
    “
Yes, they are all over. Didn’t anyone tell you?”
    She cast a quick glance over her shoulder to Devlin. His shoulders shook, as if he were laughing and he was shaking his head, yet his eyes held a murderous glint. He wasn’t very happy with her at the moment, but at least she wasn’t tied to a tree. When this was over, she would not let him forget who was protecting whom.
    The Frenchman glanced around, probably looking for the boars.
    “
One whiff of blood, and they will come charging. I’ve seen it happen once. My uncle was hunting and barely escaped. They don’t pause to see what is injured or dead, but attack everyone around. I hope you are quick at climbing a tree.”
    The Frenchman narrowed his eyes at her then turned to Marston, who was glaring at Louisa.
    “
Why did you tell him?” Marston demanded.
    She shrugged. “He had a right to know.”
    “
No, he doesn’t, because he is going to kill us