“But I wish only to make you happy, so we shall find another place for said ravishing, as there is merely a chair in this room.”
More kissing sounds had Beth clasping her hands over her ears.
The Deville brothers had reputations as ladies’ men. Nathan, however, had been nothing but a gentleman to her.
Don’t think about him.
Seconds later, the door closed, and Beth was able to exhale.
“Unlike my father, I am not made for this kind of treachery.”
Regaining her feet minutes later, she took out the book and placed it in the bag on her wrist. Pulling on her gloves, she hurried to the door. Opening it a crack, she heard no voices, so let herself out.
She’d made it to the stairs and was hurrying down when she heard his voice.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the perfidious Miss Carlow. What has you so far from the ballroom? Surely you are not conducting an illicit rendezvous?”
“Not all of us behave in such a way, sir.” She didn’t turn to look behind her but kept walking. The sound of running feet told Beth that Zachariel Deville was determined to speak to her. Apparently, the ravishing he’d intended had not gone to plan.
“At least I am open about my intentions. I do not seek to hurt or wound.” He growled the words at her. “Do not toy with my brother, Miss Carlow. It will go worse for you if you do.”
“I have no wish to toy with him.” She shot him a look. “And don’t threaten me, sir.”
“I will threaten you if I feel it is required.”
“Your brother no longer has feelings for me, and I have none for him.” Which was a lie. Seeing him had made her ache deep inside.
“Good, because there is another in his life now who will not betray him.”
Beth fought hard not to let the shock show on her face.
“Then I wish him well.”
“You had all of us fooled with your sweet, innocent appearance, but no longer,” he snarled.
“If I may offer you a piece of advice?”
“What?” he snapped.
“Your necktie looks like it has been tied by an infant. Perhaps after your illicit rendezvous, you should get the woman to help you look presentable once more.” Picking up her skirts, she ran down the remainder of the stairs.
Nathan has another woman in his life.
Chapter Three
Every muscle in Beth’s body tightened as she heard the king’s arrival announced.He’s here.
Suddenly, the book she’d stolen felt heavy in the bag around her wrist. Beth knew that if she was caught, she would likely be in serious trouble. She was now a criminal, and not just any criminal, a treasonous one like her father. This book contained secrets that, in the wrong hands—which they were going to be—would endanger lives and her country.
She felt ill.
“I’ve thought about it and decided you are behaving out of character, so I forgive you.”
Mary Blake stepped into her path. Beth’s height, which was not overly tall, Mary was dressed in yellow, and in her blond hair was a small red bird. Her mother liked to make a statement, and not always for the best. In fact, Mary often said her mother was set on ensuring her daughters remained unwed, as they left the house most often as fashion disasters.
“I—ah, have no idea what it is you speak of.”
Mary frowned, her eyes locked on Beth’s.
