Read Online Jenna Petersen - [Lady Spies] by Love, From London - Free Book Online

lady.”
    He smiled as he released her arm. Meredith knew she should walk away, but somehow she couldn’t leave things as they were. She struggled for some way to chase the hardness from his eyes, to comfort him.
    Bringing herself up sharp, she barely managed to hold back a gasp. Comfort him? What in God’s name had come over her?
    With a frown, she said, “Perhaps that is true. Until later, my lord.”
    “Until later, Meredith.”
    He turned and walked away. It was only when he was no longer in sight that she realized he had called her by her given name. And that the sound of it sent her heart pounding with more excitement than she had felt in an age.
     
    Tristan hadn’t sipped a drop of his port, though a few of his counterparts were already finishing their second snifter. He couldn’t afford to lose himself in the warmth of an alcohol haze. Not with Augustine Devlin watching him from across the room, ever analyzing, ever judging whether Tristan met his standards. He had made all the correct moves over the last year. Now it was imperative to be very careful.
    “Gentlemen, I believe it may be time to rejoin the ladies,” he said without taking his eyes off Devlin.
    The men in the room muttered their agreement, some more willingly than others. Slowly, they set down their glasses, put out their cigars, and moved toward the sitting room where the women were gathered. None of them seemed to notice that their host didn’t stir to follow, nor did Devlin.
    The two continued to stare at each other as the last man disappeared through the door. Tristan carefully regulated his breathing and didn’t allow emotion to move to his face.
    Finally, Devlin pushed away from the sideboard where he was leaning and started across the room. He opened his mouth, but before he could get any words past his lips, the sound of a woman clearing her throat from the door interrupted them.
    Tristan broke eye contact with Devlin to refocus on the door. His heart lodged in his throat as Meredith took a few steps inside. She looked from one man to the other with concern and a brief flash of what he thought was fearful recognition when her gaze fell on Devlin. Then it was gone, but of course it never could have existed. She probably only knew the bastard in passing. A lady would have no idea of the wickedness that was central to Augustine Devlin’s life.
    Which meant Meredith had no idea of the dangerous lion’s den she was entering.
    “There you are,” she said with a quick smile for Tristan. “The ladies were beginning to despair of your return.”
    For an all too brief moment Tristan forgot about Devlin and the perilous tightrope he was walking. All he could see was Meredith. She brought light into the room, glorious light. It was in her hair, under her skin, in her smile. He was warmed by it, and yet she was a room away. If he touched her…
    “Why don’t you introduce me to your charming friend?” Devlin shattered Tristan’s pleasant daydream with just a few words. “I have seen her at several events, but never had the pleasure of meeting her properly.”
    Sudden, fierce protectiveness clenched Tristan’s chest. As with his mother, he had no desire to bring Meredith into the dark hole he’d dug for himself. He didn’t want Devlin to be aware of her at all. She was a variable he hadn’t included in his strategy.
    “Lady Northam, may I present Mr. Augustine Devlin,” he said with uncontrollable stiffness in his voice. “He is an—an associate of mine.”
    Meredith’s smile seemed to falter slightly, but then she stepped forward, hand outstretched. “It’s very nice to make your acquaintance, Mr. Devlin.”
    Devlin stepped closer and took her hand. Raising it to his lips, he pressed a kiss against the top and gave her a dashing smile. “I’m very pleasedto finally know the most popular lady in society.”
    She gave a little laugh that grated on Tristan’s ears. Without thinking, he stepped between the two and offered his arm