Page 45 of His Sinful Touch

“Miss Holcutt, you wound me.” Con’s bright green eyes, so like Alex’s when he was bent on mischief, danced, and he placed his hand over his heart in a theatrical gesture.

Lilah raised one eyebrow and said drily, “No doubt.”

“Did you just get in?” Alex asked his brother. He turned toward Sabrina and her friend and explained, “Con was on an investigation in Cornwall. A group awaiting the end of the world, apparently with great eagerness.”

“Really?” Sabrina looked at Con, intrigued. “Is that the sort of thing you investigate?”

“Whenever I can. Fortunately, there’s usually something going on regarding the mystical realm.”

“How exciting.” She turned toward her friend. “Did you know about his work, Lilah?”

“Yes, I am aware of Lord Constantine’s...unusual interests.” Lilah’s response was less than enthusiastic.

“Miss Holcutt believes my endeavors are...” Con turned toward Lilah. “What was the word? Ludicrous?”

“Buffoonish was what I said, I believe. It is bad enough that people believe in such nonsense without someone like you encouraging them in it.”

Con grinned, apparently undaunted by Lilah’s opinion. He looked down at his coat. “No doubt you don’t approve of my attire, either.”

“It’s perfectly acceptable if one wishes to look like a music-hall performer.”

Alex glanced from his brother to Lilah and back, then said lightly, “Well, Con...since we all know the world did not end, is it safe to say his believers’ eyes were opened?”

“Of course not. They’re determined to be duped. But that wasn’t why I left. I, um—” Con shifted, casting a glance at Lilah and Sabrina. “It was nothing important, really.”

“I see.” Alex nodded. “Why don’t we go try to wangle a bit of food from Cook? I’m sure you must be hungry after your journey.” He turned to Sabrina and Lilah. “If you ladies will excuse us...”

Lilah and Sabrina watched as the twins left the room, and as soon as they were gone, Sabrina turned toward her friend. “You dislike Alex’s brother?”

“No, of course not. I barely know the man.” At Sabrina’s skeptical look, Lilah sighed. “I’m sorry if I was rude. It’s not that I dislike Constantine—actually, I am quite indifferent to him. We’ve danced a time or two, but that is all. It’s difficult to have any real conversation with the man. He’s utterly frivolous. He’s a well-known flirt who doesn’t mean a word he says. He’s certain he can get out of any problem by being charming and good-looking. And the galling thing, of course, is that he can—all the girls fawn all over him.” Lilah sniffed. “He just...sets my teeth on edge. It’s as if he tries to irritate one. He’s never serious about anything. He’s one of those young men who thinks life is all joking about and playing pranks and carousing. He’s forever making a show of himself—I mean, really, look at the way he was dressed. He hasn’t the slightest regard for what’s appropriate. And these silly investigations—chasing ghosts and legends and otherworldly happenings! It’s ridiculous.”

It seemed to Sabrina that her friend had a good deal to say about someone she barely knew and was indifferent to, but she decided it was best not to say so. “He doesn’t sound much like his twin brother.”

“No, I am sure not. I hope you will not think I hold Alexander in disregard. He seems a good man, and he’s clearly concerned about you. One could hardly ask for anyone to be more kind or generous than he and his family have been.” She paused, the same small lines beginning between her brows.

“But...” Sabrina said, her tone making the word a question. “You seem to have some reservations.”

“I don’t understand why you were reluctant to go with Mr. Dearborn and Peter last night. You seemed... You seemed frightened. And I get the impression Alexander is quite set against them. Do you really think that you ran away from Mr. Dearborn?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps it’s just the fact that I don’t know anything that frightens me. But you wouldn’t say that I am the sort of person to run away on a whim or to create a stir, would you? To dress up in disguise and jump on a train to London?”

“No! Not at all. You’ve always been shy, as I’ve said, and, well, even timid, I suppose. And you’ve never wanted to visit me in London.”

“Then it would follow, wouldn’t it, that it must have been something quite out of the ordinary for me to have done this?”

“Yes, it would seem so.” Lilah’s face was troubled.

“I bought two different tickets. I believe it was to make it appear that I might have gone somewhere other than London. I can’t help but think I was running away from something. And if I was living with the Dearborns, then...”

“Yes, it would seem you were escaping. But are you sure it was from the Dearborns? It’s so hard to believe—we’ve known them all our lives. Could...could someone have abducted you and you escaped from them?”

“Why would anyone abduct me?”

“I don’t know. There is the, um, obvious thing, of course.” Lilah gave her a significant look.

“Oh.” Sabrina felt her cheeks warm up.

“Aside from that,” Lilah went on quickly, “I believe you are something of an heiress. You inherited your father’s entire estate, after all. I’ve no idea how much that is, but I believe he had various investments, and there are the two houses, of course, your home and the one here in London.”