Tanya Anne Crosby by The Impostor's Kiss Read Free Book Online

until this moment just how startling they were. A lover had once told him that they were his most disquieting trait, because they always seemed to know.
    How much did Ian know?
    He’d certainly recovered his surprise quickly enough to steal his carriage, clothes and life. Unfortunately, Merrick no longer even had the letter that was addressed to Fiona; it had been in his vest pocket. For better or worse, his twin was in possession of it now and Merrick had only his face as proof.
    An incredible surge of anger clouded his brain.
    Why had his father not accepted both his sons? More importantly, why had his mother agreed to leave one behind?
    Or had she any choice in the matter?
    Perhaps she hadn’t, and that would be the obvious source of his father’s unremitting guilt. But what, precisely, did he regret?
    It seemed the more Merrick uncovered, the more questions arose.
    He wiped a finger across the framework, found it free of dust and continued down the hall toward Ian’s room. There would be plenty of time yet to face his mother. He hadn’t formed in his brain what he would say to her.
    What did one say to the woman who’d abandoned you?
     
    Chloe knocked first at Lord Lindale’s bedroom door.
    He, not Hawk, was the reason for Glen Abbey’s declination. God help her, if she hadn’t been in such dire straits after her father’s death, she would never have agreed to suffer his employ. She could scarce look him in the face.
    How could he dare face her after robbing her of her life? Moreover, how could he throw stones at Hawk when he was far worse than Hawk couldever be? Hawk stole to help others; Lindale stole out of greed.
    What the old earl had given in friendship, the present earl had snatched away without regret. And what was most unforgivable was that he’d done so at the blackest hour in Chloe’s life—whilst she’d buried her father. That afternoon, thieves had overturned their cottage and had stolen every document her father had locked away—including the deed to their land and house—a gift from the old earl to her father for his years of loyal service. The thieves had left everything else of value behind, which told Chloe that there had been only one thing they were after.
    Chloe had come to Glen Abbey Manor hoping to find proof. As yet, she’d found nothing more than a meddlesome steward who never seemed to sleep. What Chloe couldn’t determine was whether the steward was merely watchful of his mistress or whether he was a minion of Lord Lindale’s. In either case, the two seemed eternally at daggers drawn.
    She knocked again, calling out to Lindale impatiently. When there was no answer, she opened the door to find the room empty. The disheveled state of it startled her. The bedsheets were strewn across the floor, as though they’d been wrenched in a hurry from the bed. The entire room was in shambles, with clothes strewn everywhere and thewardrobe open wide…as though they’d been searched. It brought back horrible memories of that terrible afternoon. It set her teeth on edge.
    But why would Lord Lindale feel the need to search through his own belongings? If there was one thing she knew about him, it was that he was meticulous. Like a miser guarding his hoard, he knew where everything was at every moment.
    Preoccupied with those thoughts, she turned to leave and her heart leaped a little to find him standing behind her, watching. She hadn’t even heard him enter. Her hand flew to her breast. “What are you doing here?”
    He glowered at her and said pointedly, “This is my room, is it not?”
    Why did the quip seem more an inquiry than his usual sarcasm? Chloe furrowed her brow. “Of course,” she answered a little uncertainly. “I was… I mean to say, I didn’t see you when I came in.”
    “I was out.”
    Something about his gaze was far darker, far more menacing, than she recalled. In fact, his demeanor seemed entirely different. He’d donned familiar garments, but somehow he seemed