The Naked Prince by Sally Mackenzie Read Free Book Online Page A

this.” He looked down at her, his deep blue eyes intent. “I could use your help.”
    The sinful heat flared low in her belly again. The rational part of her insisted this was none of her affair, but the other part—this strange, needy part that until now she hadn’t known existed—was already nodding. “Of course. What do you want me to do?”
    He smiled, just the slightest upturn of his lips, and his broad hand came up to cover hers where it rested on his forearm. He squeezed her fingers. “I don’t know. Just keep your eyes and ears open. Maybe Maria will let some clue slip.”
    â€œVery well.” She managed to get the words past her suddenly dry lips. The weight of his hand on hers was doing unusual things to her heart.
    She was in very big trouble.

Chapter 5
    Jo listened as yet another set of footsteps crept past her door. If the frequent creaking of the corridor floor was any indication, everyone at the party had made his or her way to some other guest’s bedchamber. Mr. Parker-Roth was likely already in Lady Noughton’s room.
    Whose room was Lord Kenderly in?
    She tossed his letter onto her dressing table. She’d finally found time to read it, but now that she knew he’d thought he was writing to Papa, his words didn’t captivate her as they had in the past. Oh, he was still witty and perspicacious, but she could no longer pretend he was writing to her .
    She should throw it away. She picked it up again to do just that, but her fingers refused to crumple it. She glanced down at the vellum square. She still felt an odd thrill when she saw his strong, bold handwriting.
    She was a fool, but she tucked the letter into the book she’d been reading. She would keep it with all the others, tied in a ribbon in her desk at home.
    She turned and frowned at herself in the cheval glass. She raised her chin. She’d put her foolish tendre behind her. Where Lord Kenderly was and what he was doing with whom were none of her concern. She would wait a few more minutes and then make her own surreptitious way through Greyham Manor’s darkened halls.
    She wrinkled her nose at her nightgown-clad figure. She would not be headed to any gentleman’s arms. Oh, no. She meant to search the library. With luck, she’d find the stupid Ovid. She’d like to take it home and wave it in Papa’s face. But find it or not, she’d be gone in the morning.
    And what about Lord Kenderly? He’d asked for her help. Was she going to desert him?
    Yes. She thrust her arms into her wrapper. Indeed she was. He was the Prince of Hearts. She was merely a country spinster, very much a fish out of water at this gathering.
    She’d never endured such a shocking meal as this evening’s dinner. She hadn’t known where to look. To her right, Mr. Dellingcourt was cutting Lady Imogene’s food and feeding it to her from his fork. Across the table, Lord Wapley plucked grapes from Mrs. Petwell’s bodice with his lips. And on her left, Lady Noughton ate a sausage so slowly and lasciviously, it was as if she were consuming something else entirely. Jo had bolted for her room at the first opportunity.
    She glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight. The corridor had been quiet for the last ten minutes. She should be able to make it to the library without encountering anyone else.
    She slipped out of her room. Just as she’d hoped, the passage was empty. The candles in the wall sconces provided plenty of light; she didn’t need a candlestick.
    She hurried past the closed doors, ignoring the laughter and moans that came from behind some of them, and went down the stairs. The library door stood open. Everyone at this party had far more interesting ways of getting to sleep than by reading a book.
    She went in, pulling the door closed behind her. Moonlight flooded the room and a glimmer of color glinted in the grate where the fire’s embers smoldered, but