In the Devil's Bed (Sins of the Duke Book 1) by Eva Devon Read Free Book Online Page A

Holy Gate.”
    “I should hardly put you and St. Peter in the same category.”
    “Smart lass.” His fingers trailed over her skin as he stared at her cheek.
    If they could focus on her bruise, perhaps this unwanted intimacy between them would disappear. “Is it horrid?” she asked.
    “It’s one to be proud of.” Sensing her change of mood, he dropped his hand to the settee. “We’ll clean it up. I also need to ask you a few questions. Do you feel you are able to speak of it?”
    “Of course.” Not true. She didn’t even wish to think about it. But she didn’t wish those bastards to get away with it either.
    Captain Hazard stood, taking the heat of his body with him. Regan suddenly felt its loss. Shaking the feeling away, she kept her eyes on him as he walked over to a small sideboard. A glittering crystal decanter stood on it. He pulled out the stopper and grabbed two glasses. The crystal clinked as he poured three fingers of brandy into one glass and two into the other.
    He crossed back over to her and held out the fuller glass. The amber liquid glowed in the light of the winking crystal snifter.
    “No,” she said. “I do not wish to be muddled.”
    He drew in a deep breath and the cream linen of his shirt stretched over his muscular chest. “That’s a good reason not to take a drink. But you’re going to be damned sorry for it when your cheek begins to throb like an exploded grape.”
    Regan winced at his imagery. A light, pulsing ache already throbbed in her flesh. She had no doubts that in an hour it would be mind-numbing. “Hand it over then.”
    Giving a sharp nod, he offered her the snifter again. She gently took it. The cool crystal rubbed against her palm. The brandy bobbed up and down in the bowl of the glass. She sipped at it and a stripe of heat from her mouth to her stomach warmed her body. “Thank you.”
    A knock on the door at the back corner of the parlor echoed through the room. Captain Hazard leaned his shoulder against the fireplace. “Enter!”
    The barking order of his command jarred Regan. One instant he was so gentle, so kind, and now? So businesslike. She didn’t know what to think of him.
    The door swung open and Mr. O’Malley walked in, a tray balanced on his brawny arms. His eyes widened as he took in Regan. Her cheeks heated at being caught in Captain Hazard’s ill-fitting clothes. She raised her arms and folded them over her breasts.
    Crossing over to a small table by the screen, Mr. O’Malley put the tray down.
    Steam wafted out of the mouth of the tea pot and a bowl just to its right. Mr. O’Malley turned towards them. “It’s right sorry I be, my lady, that ye should be here for such a thing. I’ve found a few pasties and brewed tea. Rough and ready mind.”
    “You’re most kind, sir,” said Regan. She liked O’Malley. Something in his optimistic and lyrical voice made the world seem a little brighter.
    “And aren’t ye holding something better than tea?” He gestured to her snifter.
    Regan looked down and laughed. “I suppose so.”
    O’Malley smiled at her, then walked over to Captain Hazard by the fire. “I’ve brought yer ledger, sir. And Brent is being patched up right good and proper. As is Lady Regan’s driver.”
    Captain Hazard nodded and took the ledger. Mr. O’Malley strode from the room and gently shut the door behind him.
    With O’Malley’s absence, the room seemed to shrink again until nothing else existed inside of the room but Captain Hazard and herself.
    He placed his snifter on the mantel and crossed to the small table. He set his ledger down on it then lifted the table as if it were less than a small sack of meal and brought it over to the settee.
    She glanced up at him. “Captain Hazard, I do assure you I could have moved to the hot water with more ease.”
    “That may be the case. But you are not to move from this fire until you are dried through.” Picking up the bowl and cloth, he came to the front of the settee and stared