Devil in My Arms Read Online Free PDF Page B

andresources to find out all there was to know about him, just for the fun of it. But he’d probably buried his past so deep and so well that no one would discover his secrets. They must be very juicy indeed.
    She had been conversing with as many people in the room as possible, making acquaintances and playing her new role to the hilt. Mrs. Elizabeth Fairchild was delightful—animated, witty, and outgoing. It was a struggle for Eleanor, of course. She’d rarely been out in company like this over the last ten years, and much preferred keeping to herself. But she was resolved to be as different from the old Eleanor as possible, the better to hide in plain sight. Sir Hilary’s watchful eye had made the charade difficult. She’d grown weary of this game of cat and mouse. It was time to face the real Sir Hilary, whether he frightened her or not. She had never been a coward. She slowed her pace, hoping he’d catch up to her. He rewarded her by doing just that. She had no doubt it was quite deliberate on his part, as well.
    “How do you do, Mrs. Fairchild?” he inquired politely as he walked up next to her and matched her slow steps, keeping them abreast. She’d been wrong. He was not all in black. There were bright blue vines embroidered on his waistcoat, the detail as startling to her as if the devil had arrived with flowers in his hair.
    “Fine, Sir Hilary,” she replied calmly, though her heart beat fast. “And you?”
    “Fine, fine,” he said. She almost laughed in disbelief at the inanity of their pleasantries.
    “That’s wonderful,” she said. “I am glad to hear it.”
    “Are you?” he said with evident surprise. “Why?”
    Now she was the one taken aback. “Why? Because I am always glad to hear of a fellow human being who is so fine he is fine, fine.”
    “You are the very soul of charity,” he commended her with an unexpected laugh.
    “I would like to think so.” She sipped her champagne to cover her nervousness. She felt out of her depth and they’d hardly spoken.
    “Wiley told me that you’ve spent some time at the Earl of Throckton’s estate in Surrey with Alasdair and Julianna Sharp.”
    “Yes. The Earl and his sister were kind enough to include me in a rather long house party.” Which he knew perfectly well, since Wiley had been there, too, watchingher like a hawk.
    “How long were you there?” he inquired innocently. “You must have made quite an impression on the earl.”
    “I doubt it,” she said wryly. “He was only there for about three days of the three months I stayed.”
    Sir Hilary laughed again. “Throckton never was much for parties. Or intrigue. Did Sharp instigate the invitation?”
    His question bordered on rude, but she got the impression he didn’t see it that way. “He had everything to do with it, I believe, though I did not ask as it would have been impolite.”
    Sir Hilary raised his brow. “Have I trespassed again?” he said, though he clearly lacked contrition. “I often do. You must forgive me these lapses. My sense of curiosity frequently overshadows my manners.”
    “Then it is a good thing you are not a cat.”
    She could see that she had once again startled him, and felt immense pride in the accomplishment.
    “Madam, you continue to astonish me. May I inquire, since we agree I am no cat and may chance the risk, how you managed to elude my search last year?”
    “You may.” She said nothing more, merely kept walking and smiling at Harry’s guests. She liked keeping him waiting. She’d certainly gotten the impression that one didn’t often have the advantage over Sir Hilary. As she looked around she could see people talking behind their hands, casting curious glances her way. No one had commented on her supposed death last year. She wasn’t exactly well-known among the London elite, so the fact they hadn’t exclaimed in shock and wonder when she was introduced was no surprise. Most likely they would never connect her to the same Eleanor