Page 47
No mother would leave her children behind.
They filed through the doorway, and she couldn’t help but be enthralled at the gorgeous room.
Beautifully carved shelves held thousands of books. Three burgundy brocade divans arranged in a U-shape sat before a black and white marble fireplace. Several comfortable armchairs were placed about the room in groups of two or four with sturdy tables nearby.
Most impressive, though, was an intricate spiral staircase ascending to an upper gallery that she immediately wanted to explore.
All of this, the house and furnishings and grand library, were Broden’s. All of this majesty and wealth. Yet the man she knew didn’t care about affluent displays.
A fire burned in the hearth, but no candles lit the room. Shadows obscured the farthest corners of the chamber, and only a thin ribbon of grayish light shone through the open draperies. Without a doubt, more snow portended.
Advancing farther into the chamber, she silently lamented she hadn’t thought to snatch a scone off the tea cart to take the edge off her hunger.
“Where’s the secret passage?” Liam asked softly.
Broden indicated a panel to the right of the fireplace. “There,” he said in a hushed voice. “I kent about the passageway but wasna aware it connected to Narcissa’s chamber.”
He strode to the windows and peered out. Giving a satisfied nod, he faced them again, whispering, “Coburn and Graeme are outside.”
He motioned to Kendra.
“Come, wait with me here.” He took up a position near a window to the side of the velvet panels. “We can use the draperies as cover. Liam, ye hide over there.”
He indicated the shelf to the fireplace’s left.
Liam silently crossed to the other side, his tobacco-brown coat blending into the bookcase’s dark walnut wood and the afternoon shadows. A slanted platform for perusing maps and other large documents was positioned atop a table at a diagonal angle, further obscuring his presence.
Broden took Kendra’s hand, giving it a slight squeeze as he whispered in her ear. “Dinna do anythin’ foolish. Let yer brother and me handle this. Narcissa may become violent. I only want ye here as a female witness.”
His warm breath tickled her ear and sent scintillating currents of hot desire pulsing through her.
Rising to her toes, she spoke into his ear. “I missed ye.”
Even in the gloomy half-light, she could see the desire glinting in his eyes. As always, his manly scent—soap, shaving lather, and a hint of spice—made her long to bury her face in his corded neck.
Several interminable moments passed, and just when Kendra was certain the countess had escaped them, a rasping creak echoed deep within the wall.
Stiffening, and on pins and needles, she held her breath.
Broden went rigid beside her and placed his palm on her shoulder in a silent warning. His touch took the edge off her nerves. But only the edge. God only knew what the countess was capable of.
The panel swung open with a rusty groan, and the Lady Montforth crept out, wearing a plain, drab brown cloak. Likely a servant’s.
She took but three halting steps before Broden spoke.
“Goin’ somewhere?”
Lady Montforth swung to face them, sheer loathing contorting her face. Her lips curled into a gloating sneer as she clumsily raised a blunderbuss from the folds of her cloak.
Oh, God.
