Desperately Seeking Suzanna Read Online Free PDF Page A

wall.
    Her gaze, however, halted on the painting above his fireplace.
    “It’s lovely, isn’t it? I found it in a shop while in London on a visit a few years ago and had it brought here. There is something about this artist. The way in which he captures the light… His identity is a mystery, you know. I wished to have more work commissioned, but the shop owner wouldn’t pass on his information. SAG is all anyone knows.”
    She swallowed. Holden Ellis, Lord Steelings, had purchased her landscape of the countryside near her home? She shook her head in wonder as her mouth fell open. A few years ago, she’d begun selling some of her paintings to a shop owner she’d befriended in London. She knew her paintings sold, but to see one here, now, in his bedchamber, was beyond unexpected.
    “Yes. I’m familiar with this artist’s work,” she hedged.
    “Are you? A lover of art?”
    “You could say that.” She swallowed, lacing her fingers together before her to have something to do with her hands.
    “I have a few more by this artist at my home in London.”
    “Do you?” She pulled her gaze from the painting to look at him. He had more of her paintings?
    “Perhaps you can come and see them sometime.” He watched her as he began pulling at the knot of his cravat.
    “Perhaps.” She had to look away from him. This was dangerous. She knew it, but she couldn’t make her feet move to leave, nor could she look away from him. He held her there, captive under his beautiful spell.
    Finally, he broke the connection when he ducked behind the leather screen set up in the corner to repair the damage she’d inflicted to his face. His coat came flying out to land on a chair a moment later. He was undressing—with Sue in the room.
    She blushed and searched for something to say so as not to think about it any further. “This isn’t your only home then?” She paused before adding, “You mentioned a home in London.”
    The shirt he’d been wearing was flung over the screen to land beside his coat. “This is my uncle’s home, actually. But he allows me room here and has for many years.”
    “Oh. It’s quite nice.” She turned, trying to focus her attention anywhere but on the half-naked man behind the screen in the corner. Her eyes landed on a wardrobe beside her. “I especially like the, um, carving on the furniture.”
    “Thank you. It’s French. I found it while I was away and had it shipped here. I’m rather fond of it.” The sound of water splashing in a basin punctuated the end of his statement.
    Lovely. Now she was envisioning the body she’d accidentally touched earlier covered in droplets of water.
    Spotting a decanter of some liquid across the room, she moved to pour a drink. Her nerves were in shreds from the events of this evening, and the effects of the champagne were beginning to wear off. She didn’t care at the moment what was in that bottle; she only knew she needed it to strengthen her spine if she was to make it out of this to safety. Pouring a glass full of the liquor, she tossed it in her mouth, the heat of it burning its way down her throat. She set the glass down. Perhaps the drink had been a mistake. Her insides felt as if they were on fire.
    Her eyes raked the room in search of water as she tried to stifle a cough. Finding a bowl of candies on the table beside the massive poster bed, she popped one in her mouth and sat on the edge of the bed. As the flavor of strawberries filled her mouth, the warmth of the liquor began to seep through her limbs. She ran her hand across the emerald-colored bedding. Holden’s bed was quite soft. She slipped another piece of candy into her mouth and lay back on the bed. He seemed the type to take an hour tying a cravat, so she might as well enjoy her wait in comfort.
    “I’ve never been to France,” she called out, so he might hear her from behind the screen across the room. “It seems like a lovely place. I’ve certainly seen enough of their fashion plates