Read Online Elusive Passion by Kathryn Smith - Free Book Online Page A

toe. “Oh, yes, of course.”
    With a slight curtsy, Varya turned to go. A strong hand grabbed her arm, forcing her back around.
    Blythe moved closer until mere inches separated them. Her expression was so earnest that Varya could only stare at her.
    “Miss Varya, I…” She swallowed. “I was very sorry to hear about your friend.”
    Hot tears blazed at the back of Varya’s eyes. No one—not even those who had known Bella—had expressed any sympathy to Varya upon her death. And here was this young gentlewoman who would never—could never—have known Bella, expressing sorrow over her death.
    “Thank you,” she whispered.
    With the slightest hint of a smile, Blythe noddedand walked away. Varya snatched a glass of wine from a passing footman and concentrated on drinking in small sips until she no longer felt like weeping.
    When a group of ladies approached her a few moments later, she was able to pretend nothing had happened. She could even pretend she hadn’t noticed Miles watching her from across the floor.
    It was then that she realized what Lady Blythe had told her—that Miles had been in the country the night of Lady Penwick’s party. That had been the night Bella was killed.
    Could it be true? She had no doubt that Lady Blythe believed it, but had she been deceived by her brother, or was he truly innocent?
    Some time later, while cornered by Lady Darlington, Varya spied Miles ducking out of the room. She waited a few moments before excusing herself.
    “Forgive me, Lady Darlington,” she interrupted, placing a silencing hand on the matron’s arm, “but I’m afraid I am in need of the ladies’ retiring room. Will you excuse me?”
    Without waiting for a reply, she turned and hurried from the room. Pressing her back against the cool plaster of the wall, she peered first to her left and then to her right for any sign of Miles.
    In the dim light she barely made out his black-clad form at the other end of the hall. The snowy white of his cuff flashed as he slipped into a room three doors down. If all this intrigue was just a ruse to throw her off her suspicion of him, he was doing a good job.
    She had to run to catch up with him. Bunching her skirts up in her fists, she hurried after him, a cacophony of rustling silk and clinking jewelry in her wake. Her mother would have a fit of the vapors if she could see her oldest daughter chasing after a man like a hoyden.
    Quickly, she opened the door, cast a quick glance around the darkened hall to make sure no one was watching, and dove inside. Her heart somersaulted with excitement and trepidation. What if she was caught?
    Gasping for breath, she leaned back against the door, reluctant to step further inside in case she needed to make a quick escape.
    Several wall sconces and a lamp on the desk illuminated the room. The walls and furniture were dark and very masculine, covered in shades of forest green and chocolate brown. It looked like every other gentleman’s study she had ever seen. Was there some kind of code they had to adhere to?
    “Lord Wynter?” she whispered, glancing cautiously around the warmly lit room. He was nowhere to be seen.
    “Hell and damnation!”
    Varya jumped at the muffled oath, and would have fled the room had the marquess not risen from behind the desk. From his disheveled appearance it was clear that he had been under the massive thing.
    “You frightened me!” She took her hand away from her breast as her heart began to ease its furious pounding.
    “ I frightened you ?” The incredulity in his tone would have been amusing if not for the menacing scowl on his handsome face. “Might I remind you,madam, that you were the one who barged in here like a pack of wild wolves were snarling at your heels. What the devil are you about?”
    His eyebrows were drawn together so tightly that they almost formed a perfect M. Schooling her features to hide her apprehension, Varya replied coolly, “I saw you leave the music room. I assumed you were