A Perfect Secret Read Online Free PDF Page A

this?”
    She drew a breath and raised her chin. “I could not resist a man who can offer me a title.” She slid her hand into the crook of Wickburgh’s arm. “I’ll be a lady—a viscountess.”
    Wickburgh’s mouth twisted into a triumphant sneer. “So sorry, dear boy.”
    Rage exploded inside Christian. He swung a fist and landed a solid punch on Wickburgh’s chin. Wickburgh went sprawling and slid a few inches on the smooth floor.
    “Get up,” Christian snarled, “unless you’d rather meet me with swords or pistols.”
    “No!” Genevieve cried out.
    Wickburgh wiped at the blood trickling from his lip and looked up with a calculated smile. “No need. You’ve unlawfully entered my house and assaulted a peer of the realm.” He pulled out a pistol and leveled it at Christian. He cocked it, the snap filling the silence.
    Christian’s rage left no room for fear. He tensed, ready to spring at the bounder.
    “Christian, no!” Genevieve grabbed his arm. “Stop this madness.”
    He looked down at her. “What aren’t you telling me? What does he hold over you that you’d so suddenly agree to this farce of a wedding?”
    Releasing him, she looked down and picked at the lace edging her sleeves. “No, that’s not it at all. You don’t understand. I have been secretly engaged to Lord Wickburgh for months. We merely decided to move up the wedding and have it here instead of at his county seat.”
    Was this true? Could she really…? He couldn’t finish the thought.
    Genevieve’s mouth pulled into a pained smile. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this but … you were a mere diversion. A flirtation.” 
    Aghast, he stared, his mouth dropping open. He shook his head slowly. He’d heard wrong. This wasn’t happening. He drove his hands through his hair, held it back, then released it.  “No. I don’t believe you. I know you. You wouldn’t do this.”
    She offered a weak, apologetic shrug before driving in the final blow. “I’m sorry, but my parents agree that a viscount has more to offer me than a youngest son.”
    Betrayal rose up and choked Christian. He staggered backward. His worst fear had finally raised its ugly head, reared back, and bitten him. She’d been toying with him. The woman he loved more than he’d ever imagined he could love had been pretending all along. She’d been engaged all this time, and merely enjoying his attention. He shook his head slowly, not troubling to hide his dismay. How could he have been so easily duped? How could he have allowed himself to believe he’d finally found his own corner of joy?
    Without another word, Genevieve crouched next to Lord Wickburgh and helped him to his feet, murmuring softly to him, touching him the way she’d touched Christian. Wickburgh put an arm around her, all the while keeping the gun trained on Christian.
    Simmering anger boiled until his insides melted. The little flirt! The liar!
    Captain Marshall cleared his throat and put an arm around Genevieve’s mother. “Mr. Amesbury, it would be best if you left now.”
    Mrs. Marshall pressed a handkerchief over her mouth and closed her eyes.
    Christian clawed at what little was left of his shattered dignity and wrapped it around him like a cloak. “Very well. May you both have all the happiness you deserve.”
    After squaring his shoulders, Christian strode to the front door with his head high and descended the stairs in measured steps. Clenching his teeth and fisting his hands, he continued in even strides away from the house.
    Treacherous witch! He should have known it was too good to be true. His love for her had been too easy, too much like a dream. No lady of quality would settle for a youngest son when a viscount offered her a title. Everyone else left him, why not Genevieve? He clearly didn’t deserve something as magical as love.
    A group of thugs leaped out from an alley and surrounded him. He stopped short and blinked. They stepped nearer, some holding clubs or knives, others