Read Online Love's Peril (Lord Trent Series) by Cheryl Holt - Free Book Online Page A

When danger oozed from his every pore, what was she hoping to achieve? Perhaps she was attracted to violence and cruelty. Perhaps she didn’t believe she deserved any better.
    “Are you married, Mr. Hook?”she asked.
    “Gad, no. What woman would have me?”
    “Oh, I don’t know.” Her interested gaze meandered down his torso. “Any number of females might assume you were worth it.”
    Had those words come out of her own mouth? What was wrong with her?
    She’d been sending a message, and he definitely received it. He paused and studied her, his eyes taking their own meander down her body.
    “It must get boring out here in the country,”he said.
    “It does.”
    “It must be difficult to entertain yourself.”
    “I used to think so, but lately, my luck has been improving.”
    She leaned nearer, liking how tall he was, how broad across the shoulders and arms. He leaned in too, so close that his trousers brushed her skirt, the toes of his boots slipping under the hem.
    “You want something from me,”he murmured. “What is it?”
    “What makes you suppose I want something?”
    “I’ve danced around this ballroom a few times before.”
    “Have you? Then why are you asking? Don’t you know?”
    He eased away and chuckled. “Yes, I know, but I’m sure if I gave it to you, you’d die from shock.”
    “You have quite a high impression of yourself.”
    “It’s all deserved.”
    She laughed and stepped in again. Sparks flew, the air electric with sensation, and she felt wild and free.
    “It’s very dark down by the beach,”she boldly said. “Would you like to take a stroll?”
    “Little lady”—he pulled her to him so she was cradled to his chest—“I’d love to stroll with you until you were too sore to walk back to the house on your own.”
    She wasn’t certain what he meant by his remark. She understood it was sexual, but had no idea how a woman could become too sore to walk from carnal activity.
    “Let’s go”—brazenly, she nodded to the sloping lawn—“if you think you’re man enough.”
    “I’m man enough. Don’t you worry about that.” But to her enormous disappointment, he set her away. “I can’t tonight.”
    “Why not?”
    “I’m busy.”
    “With what? It seems to me you’re loitering on the verandah and drinking a brandy. You don’t look busy.”
    “John and Hedley are playing cards again.”
    It was the last comment she’d expected, and she scowled. “They’re playing cards?”
    “Yes, and I have to watch John’s back and keep track of the gold and the chips.”
    “They’ll be wagering?”
    “Yes.”
    “For large stakes?”
    “Yes.”
    Questions raced through Caroline’s head. Why would Hedley gamble with Mr. Sinclair? He behaved outrageously in London, but why bring his sordid habits to Bramble Bay? Why would Mildred allow it?
    Mildred had never been able to stand up to Hedley, but this conduct had to be beyond the pale.
    “Why are they gambling?”she asked.
    “The reason all men do: to win.”
    “To win what?”
    “Hedley believes he can recover Bramble Bay.”
    “Recover Bramble Bay from what?”
    He sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m sorry. I thought Mildred was telling everyone today. I thought you knew.”
    “Knew what?”
    “Hedley gambled away the estate.”
    She gasped. “He what?”
    “He played with John several months ago and bet too heavily. So he kept arranging new games, but he couldn’t regain any ground.”
    “What are you saying?”Caroline frantically inquired. “How much has he lost?”
    He gestured around. “Everything.”
    “What do you mean by everything ? The house? The land? The furniture? The animals and plows and barns?”
    “Yes.”
    “The clothes on our backs?”
    His grim expression turned kind. “Yes, but John won’t take your clothes. He’ll let you have your personal things. Especially you ladies. He’s not cruel that way.”
    She couldn’t wrap her mind around the calamity he was revealing. It was