Devil in My Arms by Samantha Kane Read Free Book Online Page A

health and safety we kept her secluded until her memory returned.”
    “And why didn’t you inform her husband immediately?” Hil asked.
    “Because we didn’t wish to upset the new Mrs. Enderby,” Alasdair said. “And when a body was produced we feared for her safety.”
    “A claim of amnesia is highly suspect,” Hil said. “She’ll still be suspected in whatever foul play Enderby has been up to.” He turned to Alasdair and sighed with regret. Clearly he was going to have to get involved. “You do realize, don’t you, that this is a terrible plan? She cannot take a prominent place in society under an assumed name and expect not to be unmasked.”
    “Yes,” Alasdair said, watching Mrs. Fairchild. “I know. But they won’t be separated again, her and Harry. They’re sisters. They should be together.”
    “Well, it’s a good thing the plan is moot.”
    “What do you mean?” Alasdair asked with a frown. “It will work. We’ll make it work.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. You won’t have to. Roger may be new to the law, but he is well respected and already has connections. Not to mention my own involvement. There is absolutely no way Enderby could take her away again. I can’t imagine he’d even try at this point. To do so would create more issues for him, with a new wife already.”
    Alasdair shook his head and looked away from Mrs. Fairchild. “She doesn’t say much, but I think she endured a great deal during that marriage.”
    “A lady does not run away as she did without great provocation,” Hil agreed. “And what I learned of Enderby during my investigation indicated he was the sort who would treat his wife cruelly.”
    “Thank God it doesn’t appear he was ever violent with her,” Alasdair told him. “She bears no scars that I know of, nor does she seem frail.”
    The thought of Enderby laying a finger on his wife in anger made Hil unaccountably furious. “He is lucky he did not.”
    Alasdair nodded again. “Yes, he is. Had he, I believe Roger would have called him out.” From his tone, Hil gathered Roger wasn’t the only one.
    “And so she has made her first move in the chess game,” Hil mused. “And now we wait to see how Enderby counters. I am glad I returned in time for this.”
    “It’s not a farce at Drury Lane, Hil,” Alasdair chastised. “It’s Harry’s sister.Julianna and I have come to care for her a great deal over the past few months.”
    Alasdair misunderstood him. He’d meant he was glad he’d returned to make sure all went well. He didn’t correct Alasdair. “Have you? Then I can do no less.” Hil made a mental note to assign a few of Wiley’s friends to keep an eye on Mrs. Fairchild for the time being, until he figured out what her husband was up to. Their foolish plan was doomed to failure. Enderby would find out about his runaway wife in due time. He smiled benignly at Alasdair without voicing his concerns again and then turned back to Mrs. Fairchild. She was caught unawares, staring at him, and she blushed and turned away. Hil raised his glass to her, though she couldn’t see his tribute. It had been a long time since he’d met anyone who could match wits with him. A woman that clever, ready to sacrifice everything, even her identity, for her freedom and her family, was surely worth getting to know better.

Chapter Four
    Hil was finally forced to go in search of Mrs. Fairchild at a garden party. She’d been avoiding him since their encounter at Harry and Roger’s the night she returned from the dead, almost two weeks ago. If the truth were known, she was the only reason he would show up at a garden party in February. It wasn’t that he didn’t care for the hostess, Lady Gaston. She was an amiable woman who didn’t talk too much, and merely expected him to show up at her functions, not be the main attraction. But this party was beyond frivolous. Lady Gaston had filled her ballroom with hothouse flowers and garden statuary, and everyone was sipping