Read Online In the Heat of the Bite by Lydia Dare - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lydia Dare
Ads: Link
the weather-disturbing witch and her friends, and winced when he saw Lady Eynsford.
Would the poor man ever get over the loss of the marchioness? Matthew doubted he would. He’d seen other vampyres suffer loss, and it simply made for centuries of anguish. He suddenly realized how fortunate he was to have never loved someone he would have inevitably lost in the end.
“And now what?” MacQuarrie repeated with more than an irritated edge to his voice.
Matthew shook away his maudlin thoughts and refocused his attention on the beguiling witch at whom Radbourne grinned wolfishly. How strange to be asking his charge for advice. But the man had socialized in these circles before his untimely death. “What do you know of Radbourne?”
MacQuarrie shrugged as he regarded the man in question. “I’ve bumped into him a few times in the past, but never in a ballroom. He doesn’t frequent the upscale venues. Or consort with
ladies
as a norm.”
“I hear he has pockets to let. Though he doesn’t look impoverished at the moment.” Matthew scratched his chin. Secretly, a small part of him wanted to find something to dislike about the man. Should he feel bad about that? He certainly hated the way Rhiannon Sinclair’s gaze sought out the viscount. She wouldn’t even look Matthew in the eye.
“No, but he is, if rumor is true, and it usually is.” Then MacQuarrie frowned, his gaze intensified on Radbourne. “He looks amazingly similar to Eynsford, does he not?”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“I’ve never seen them together before,” the Scot muttered. “I’ve never heard of any connection between the two families. But they could pass as brothers.” He spit out the last as though the idea was distasteful to him.
“They’re beasts of the same variety,” Matthew explained. “There must be some familial ties somewhere down the line.”
“Beasts?” Alec’s head snapped in his direction. “What do you mean beasts?”
Matthew heaved a sigh. Why had he let that slip? “Not here. I’ll explain about Lycans later.”
“What the devil is a Lycan?”
“This isn’t the place.”
Alec grabbed a handful of Matthew’s jacket. “You’ll tell me here and now!” he hissed. “If Caitrin’s in danger—”
“She’s not,” Matthew growled, extricating himself from the Scot’s hold. “Do try to remember you’re in public, Alec.”
“Are you saying Eynsford is a Lycan, whatever the devil they are?”
Matthew straightened his jacket. “We should head back to
Brysi
if you want to have this conversation now.”
“But Cait!” Alec pressed.
“Is married to the man. Look at her,” Matthew directed. “Does she seem unhappy? Does she look as though she’s been injured? They’ve been married for months, Alec. More than one moonful, and she still seems to adore the marquess. I know it’s painful for you, but it is the way of things.”
Anguish stained MacQuarrie’s face. “Promise me she’s safe.”
That was an easy promise to make. Eynsford treated his wife as though she was the most precious of treasures. “On my honor, I swear to you that Caitrin is safe with Eynsford.”
Alec nodded tightly. “Thank you.”
“I do believe we should take our leave, though.” Matthew’s gaze shot back across the room to land on Rhiannon Sinclair. What was it about her that intrigued him so? Hopefully, he’d find out tomorrow when he called on her at Thorpe House. Until then, he’d learn what he could about the insolvent Viscount Radbourne.
Six
Thorpe House was a bit of a madhouse, or a doghouse, depending on one’s view. Rhiannon wasn’t quite certain what her view was at the moment. Shortly after breakfast, the Marquess of Eynsford had unceremoniously scooped Caitrin up in his arms, despite her halfhearted, giggly protests, and bounded for parts unknown. For a half second, Rhi had considered sending a shock to his hindquarters, the same way she had when he’d nearly mauled Cait at their
Would the poor man ever get over the loss of the marchioness? Matthew doubted he would. He’d seen other vampyres suffer loss, and it simply made for centuries of anguish. He suddenly realized how fortunate he was to have never loved someone he would have inevitably lost in the end.
“And now what?” MacQuarrie repeated with more than an irritated edge to his voice.
Matthew shook away his maudlin thoughts and refocused his attention on the beguiling witch at whom Radbourne grinned wolfishly. How strange to be asking his charge for advice. But the man had socialized in these circles before his untimely death. “What do you know of Radbourne?”
MacQuarrie shrugged as he regarded the man in question. “I’ve bumped into him a few times in the past, but never in a ballroom. He doesn’t frequent the upscale venues. Or consort with
ladies
as a norm.”
“I hear he has pockets to let. Though he doesn’t look impoverished at the moment.” Matthew scratched his chin. Secretly, a small part of him wanted to find something to dislike about the man. Should he feel bad about that? He certainly hated the way Rhiannon Sinclair’s gaze sought out the viscount. She wouldn’t even look Matthew in the eye.
“No, but he is, if rumor is true, and it usually is.” Then MacQuarrie frowned, his gaze intensified on Radbourne. “He looks amazingly similar to Eynsford, does he not?”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“I’ve never seen them together before,” the Scot muttered. “I’ve never heard of any connection between the two families. But they could pass as brothers.” He spit out the last as though the idea was distasteful to him.
“They’re beasts of the same variety,” Matthew explained. “There must be some familial ties somewhere down the line.”
“Beasts?” Alec’s head snapped in his direction. “What do you mean beasts?”
Matthew heaved a sigh. Why had he let that slip? “Not here. I’ll explain about Lycans later.”
“What the devil is a Lycan?”
“This isn’t the place.”
Alec grabbed a handful of Matthew’s jacket. “You’ll tell me here and now!” he hissed. “If Caitrin’s in danger—”
“She’s not,” Matthew growled, extricating himself from the Scot’s hold. “Do try to remember you’re in public, Alec.”
“Are you saying Eynsford is a Lycan, whatever the devil they are?”
Matthew straightened his jacket. “We should head back to
Brysi
if you want to have this conversation now.”
“But Cait!” Alec pressed.
“Is married to the man. Look at her,” Matthew directed. “Does she seem unhappy? Does she look as though she’s been injured? They’ve been married for months, Alec. More than one moonful, and she still seems to adore the marquess. I know it’s painful for you, but it is the way of things.”
Anguish stained MacQuarrie’s face. “Promise me she’s safe.”
That was an easy promise to make. Eynsford treated his wife as though she was the most precious of treasures. “On my honor, I swear to you that Caitrin is safe with Eynsford.”
Alec nodded tightly. “Thank you.”
“I do believe we should take our leave, though.” Matthew’s gaze shot back across the room to land on Rhiannon Sinclair. What was it about her that intrigued him so? Hopefully, he’d find out tomorrow when he called on her at Thorpe House. Until then, he’d learn what he could about the insolvent Viscount Radbourne.
Six
Thorpe House was a bit of a madhouse, or a doghouse, depending on one’s view. Rhiannon wasn’t quite certain what her view was at the moment. Shortly after breakfast, the Marquess of Eynsford had unceremoniously scooped Caitrin up in his arms, despite her halfhearted, giggly protests, and bounded for parts unknown. For a half second, Rhi had considered sending a shock to his hindquarters, the same way she had when he’d nearly mauled Cait at their
Similar Books
