Moonlight on My Mind by Jennifer McQuiston Read Free Book Online Page A

Brighton this summer. Someone you know—Mr. Cameron?”
    A curious mixture of relief and irritation settled in. Miss Baxter’s discovery, then, could be laid at the feet of one of his best friends. He could not fault the man. Patrick had given David Cameron no cause—or request—for secrecy. “Cameron’s one of those school chums from Cambridge. Serves as Moraig’s magistrate at the present.”
    She inclined her head. “I must presume he is either a disreputable sort of magistrate, or else you have not told the good citizens of Moraig about your past circumstances.” Her eyes glowed nickel-bright in the lamp’s flicker. “I don’t blame you for hiding here, Patrick. No one would.”
    He should have been too exhausted to respond to the low velvet scrawl of her voice. After all, this was Julianne Baxter. The girl flirted as easily as she breathed. But damned if she wasn’t lowering her lashes in a manner that instantly inflamed his prurient interests, despite the grave nature of this discussion. “I’m not hiding, Miss Baxter. I’ve a life here, a purpose. I am not just playacting a role.” He did not add that finding something useful to do with his hands had been the only thing that kept him sane following his brother’s death.
    “I can quite see that. What you did for that dog was nothing short of miraculous.” Far from putting him at ease, the quick smile she offered stirred unfortunate memories. His understanding of this woman was shaped by history. She had once gifted him with such a smile, just after he had kissed her. And then she had turned around and tossed a similar smile in his brother’s direction not two minutes later.
    At the time, Eric had been the one ready to marry, and Julianne had been an eligible young woman looking to make an advantageous match. But he was the heir now, unless his father’s efforts to dissuade his detractors failed. Her lashes were being lowered in his direction. And that meant Miss Baxter either had a tremendously fickle heart or a very mercenary spirit.
    “I am sorry,” she told him. “For all of it. Not that it helps you now.”
    Patrick’s fingers tightened on Gemmy’s fur, and his pulse bounded to hear her ill-timed words. The girl thought a simple apology, a mere “sorry,” could fix what she had done? “You accused me of murder,” he pointed out.
    “I didn’t accuse you, exactly. I merely related what I had seen.” She hesitated. “I have thought about that day many times since, and I regret the pain I have caused your family. If I could do it again, I would choose not to speak against you.”
    The delicate tremor in her voice goaded him to belief. Perhaps the chit was sorry. She certainly sounded contrite. But “sorry” would not help either of them if she was called to provide testimony under oath.
    “Do you think you would have a choice?” He dragged a hand through his hair, trying to reconcile her apparent naïveté with the sharp mind he knew to clack along behind those persuasive green eyes. “You could be compelled to testify, Miss Baxter. You’d have no choice in the matter at all if you were called as a witness. And all it will take would be one word from you to place a noose around my neck.”
    Even in the dim light, he could see the pallor that descended over her. “I am not at all sure that is true. After all, the events of eleven months ago are somewhat in doubt—”
    “Perhaps in your mind.” He gave a short laugh that echoed like a gunshot over the room’s exposed rafters and made him wince as the sound circled back ’round. He stared up at the ceiling. Aside from the danger she presented at the point of testimony, what did it matter if she thought he had murdered his brother? After all, he considered her a liar whose primary lot in life was to generate and propagate rumors.
    Perhaps they were a good match.
    He gained his feet, summoning Gemmy with a snap of his fingers. The terrier lurched to obey, but cast a longing look