Read Online The Elusive Lord Everhart: The Rakes of Fallow Hall Series by Vivienne Lorret - Free Book Online Page B

them.” Pamela laughed and then pursed her lips in a very queen-like manner. “But I don’t suppose you’d recall something like that since you’ve never received one yourself.”
    Not signed . Was it true? Had Pamela received a Casanova letter?
    The only person Calliope had shared her letter with was Griffin. She’d wanted her brother’s help in finding the author who’d stolen her heart with his words. Griffin, however, had advised her to have caution. “Only a coward would omit a signature,” he’d said, while reminding her that she’d already secured Brightwell’s affections.
    “I suppose not,” Calliope murmured. Anxious, her gaze darted around the room once more, as if the letter would suddenly appear in plain sight, even after repeated searches had produced nothing. She didn’t like not knowing where it was, or if it was even here. The love-letter Casanova had already taken her unawares once. She didn’t want it to happen again. “Although, there is one way for me to have a full understanding . . . and that is by reading the letter myself.”
    “But Mother had it removed,” Pamela whined. “I believe she feared I was falling madly in love with him.”
    Calliope forced a laugh. “Ridiculous. You are newly married and madly in love with your own husband.”
    Pamela’s gaze drifted off. “I should still very much like to see the letter again. Mother packed it inside an ivory-handled patch box, along with a bit of needlework, a few ribbons, earbobs, and a silk fan. She wanted me to concentrate completely on my recovery.”
    “An ivory-handled patch box,” Calliope remarked, thinking about the carriage outside and the day’s journey ahead to Scotland. She had a choice to make. A difficult one.
    “Yes, trimmed in gold and with a mirror on the inside. It was a wedding gift from Milton.” Pamela didn’t even bat an eye. Apparently, she was blind to the hypocrisy of having a letter from her ink-and-paper lover tucked away inside a wedding gift from her husband. “It shouldn’t be too difficult to find.”
    Look for me, dear siren . . . Calliope had done that to the best of her ability. Still, her efforts hadn’t been enough. Now, she was presented with another opportunity to find him. Another opportunity to unmask this scoundrel and expose his identity.
    The only question that remained—was she was willing to sacrifice more of her life for this pursuit?
    A nxious for his guests’ departure, Gabriel grabbed his cane and headed toward the foyer. It was still early, but he hoped their carriage was packed and ready.
    He’d slept fitfully, waking from a nightmare in which Calliope Croft stood before him, dressed in her night rail, and handed him a small, green seedling. The moment he took the gift, the plant sprouted to life. It transformed into vines that grew as thick as saplings and twisted viciously around his arms, his legs, and his throat, shackling him to the edifice of Briar Heath, his childhood home.
    Even now, Gabriel shuddered. He did not want to return there. Ever. He did not want to think about what life had once been like, or the fear that had dogged his heels since the moment he’d met Calliope Croft.
    More than anything, he needed to win this wager. Or in the very least, not lose.
    At the sight of Griffin and Delaney Croft conversing with Danvers and Brightwell near the door, relief washed through him. Fortunately, the only people who stood in his way would soon be gone, and he needn’t worry about the letter he’d written all those years ago. Everything would return to normal soon.
    “It disheartens me to see you go, Croft,” Gabriel said as he approached, relying on his cane to minimize the weight to his broken bone. “I was interested in proving that I can best you while standing on one leg.”
    Croft grinned. “I almost feel guilty for pummeling you when all your limbs are in order. But the truth of the matter is, you couldn’t best me if you had a dozen legs to stand