I Kissed a Rogue (Covent Garden Cubs) by Shana Galen Read Free Book Online

retired early, which meant the servants could do so as well.
    Colin might have gone to his club, and his valet would have no reason to expect him for several more hours.
    Lila lit the candle from a wall sconce and started down the stairs, holding her candle high and lifting the hem of her nightgown so she did not trip. It was not until she’d reached the last few steps that she felt the eyes on her.
    She looked up and almost stumbled.
    Brook Derring stood in the vestibule, watching her.
    At first, she could only blink at him and wonder if she was not dreaming or merely imagining him. Seeing him again this afternoon, even under the circumstances, had made her desire to see him again. He was all the things she shouldn’t like in a man—young, virile, dangerous.
    He had neither extraordinary wealth nor title. He was the son of an earl, but he was the second son. Added to that unfortunate fact, he worked as an inspector. He hadn’t even done the respectable thing and become a vicar or taken a commission in the navy.
    And yet for all that, she couldn’t take her eyes off him.
    His gaze never left her, and almost immediately, she realized she was not dressed. She was covered, of course, but her hair hung loose and tangled and she wore no gloves or other adornments.
    Finally, Brook bowed. “Lady Lila.”
    “What are you doing here?”
    It wasn’t what she’d wanted to say. Indeed, she did not know what she wanted to say. Not that . It sounded so insolent when she owed everything to this man. But she’d been so desperate to hide how much she did want him to be there that she’d overcompensated.
    “How good to know your warm welcome has not changed.”
    Lila descended the last two steps. “I only meant I was surprised to see you.”
    “As I am you.” His gaze swept over her, causing heat to rise to her cheeks. It wasn’t a lascivious gaze, but she felt a tingle on her skin nonetheless. She wished he would look at her again, even if it were only to scoff at her unkempt appearance.
    “I have business with your father.”
    “But I thought—” She did not know how to finish. She wasn’t so vulgar as to speak of money and payment, but he had said he wanted no part of her father’s money. Had he changed his mind?
    And, if so, why should that disappoint her? It wasn’t as though he had come for her because he cared about her.
    “You might as well know,” he said. “This concerns you.”
    “Did you catch the man who took me?”
    “No. But I discovered something that distresses me.”
    She waited, wanting to know and fearing what he would say next.
    “The man you saw murdered last night was almost certainly a member of Parliament.”
    She took a step back, the implications of the statement like a load of bricks falling on top of her. “No.”
    “It’s true. I—”
    “What is this?” the butler said, returning. “My lady, surely you should return to bed.”
    “Thank you, Franklin, but I would speak with my father and Sir Brook.”
    “Your father has not asked for you, my lady.”
    Lila notched her chin up. “Will you show me to him, or must I find my own way?”
    The furrowed lines on Franklin’s face deepened yet further. “He is in the library. Follow me.”
    Lila did so, with only a quick glance at Sir Brook, whose legs were longer and brought him effortlessly to her side. “And don’t you tell me to go to bed.”
    “I wouldn’t dream of it. As I said, this concerns you.”
    She nodded, dread pooling in her stomach like too much sherry.
    “But, Lady Lila,” Brook added, “I don’t think you’ll like what you are about to hear.”

Four
    She looked pale, tired, and impossibly lovely. Something about her hair falling down around her shoulders in an ebony cascade made her appear more vulnerable than the stiff-necked, perfectly coiffed chit he was used to seeing. Make no mistake, she still had the stiff neck and the rigid spine, but her loose hair softened the stick-up-her-arse look about her