Secrets of the Highwayman by Sara Mackenzie Read Free Book Online Page B

the crowd and realized they were feeling just as spellbound as she. Pengorren was having that effect on everybody in the room.
    “Friends!” he boomed, his voice deep and hearty and sincere, like a politician on election day. “Tonight is the most marvelous night of my life, and I wish to share it with you all. Felicity and I…” And he turned fondly to the woman at his side. She was in her late forties, slight, with a face that was pretty but tired—the shadows under her eyes matched her high-waisted black dress. She also wore a besotted smile.
    “ Dearest Felicity and I are to be wed!”
    There was a hush, as if the audience didn’t quite know how to respond, and then everyone hurried to cover the gaff with extraloud congratulations and applause.
    Melanie leaned toward Nathaniel, and whispered, “Isn’t she a bit old? She must have at least fifteen yearson him. A man like that could have anyone, couldn’t he?”
    Nathaniel leaned back toward her, and the warmth of his breath against her ear made her want to shiver. “You’re talking about my mother, Miss Jones.”
    “Your mother?”
    “Felicity Raven is my mother.”
    “Oh…you said your father was…?”
    “Dead. A tragic riding accident eight weeks ago.”
    That explained the black dress then. But eight weeks…it was surely too soon to fall in love with another man? Although the look on Felicity’s face seemed to suggest that this was exactly what she had done.
    There was a rustle of clothing, a murmur of voices, and the crowd gave way as Sophie, Nathaniel’s sister, rushed into the room, pushing her way toward the dais. Melanie recognized the dark head upon the long, elegant neck, and the pale blue dress made of a cloth so thin it was a wonder she didn’t freeze to death.
    “You are marrying her ?” Sophie’s voice was shrill, and she was looking at the major. She turned to her mother. “What does this mean?”
    Felicity’s face had blanched. “Sophie,” she said, helplessly, with a beseeching glance at her handsome companion. “I know your father hasn’t been gone for very long—”
    “Eight weeks!”
    “—But the major has been so very good to us, and he is Nathaniel’s dear friend, our dear friend…”
    Sophie burst into noisy tears.
    Melanie could hear the whispers, the shuffling, asthe guests bobbed and strained to see what was going on. There was an air of shock, but also a feeling of unwholesome anticipation.
    Pengorren was patting Felicity’s arm and at the same time murmuring compassionately into Sophie’s ear. Her sobs quietened and she nodded. Relieved, Felicity sighed and drew her daughter into her embrace.
    “I miss your father, too,” she said, her eyes sparkling with tears, “but life must go on.”
    It sounded like a line someone had fed her, but Melanie was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. And Sophie was obviously upset…Just then Sophie peeped over Felicity’s shoulder at the major, and Melanie saw the expression on her face. No grief there, none at all, just pure, undiluted lust. Sophie wanted Pengorren for herself. That was the real reason she was crying.
    And Pengorren knew it.
    Even as he made the right noises and pulled the right faces, there was an answering gleam in his eyes as he looked at Sophie. Melanie’s heart gave a sickening jolt. He was enjoying himself, playing the two women off against each other. It was a turn-on for him.
    “What an egomaniac,” Melanie said in disgust.
    Nathaniel gave a startled crack of laughter.
    The major looked up.
    The dais was high enough so that he could see over the heads of the guests to the back of the room, where Melanie stood. As his gaze swept past her, she stepped back, instinctively, pressing herself against the window. His eyes narrowed. His brow wrinkled. Slowly, his gaze slid back toward her.
    Cold fear trickled through her. “I thought you said I was invisible?” she hissed.
    “You are,” Nathaniel said slowly, thoughtfully.
    “It