In Your Arms Again Read Online Free PDF

head. If he wore a hat, his hair wouldn’t get so messy, but hats made his head itch, and he hated the feel of anything around his skull.
    “Yes, sir.”
    North relaxed as he walked through the main hall to the room that served as his office. The danger of his job was very real, but he trusted Johnson and knew there was no point in living his life in fear. Fear kept a man smart, but too much of it got him killed.
    Other than his bedroom and small dining room, his office was the only room in the house he used on a regular basis. He’d had it redecorated after leaving Bow Street several years ago, when he launched out on his own. The walls were a deep, rich blue and the Aubusson carpet was a dove graywith blue and plum woven through. The desk was a deep, polished oak and big enough for a fully grown man to sleep on. He knew this because he had actually done it on occasion. The chairs in front of it were the same dark blue as the walls, and one of them had a man sitting in it. Johnson—all brawn and bollocks—stood behind him.
    The man stood as North closed the door behind him. Immediately North recognized him as Octavia’s escort from the night before. He was the current Lord Spinton, heir to Octavia’s grandfather. The man she was rumored to marry.
    What the hell did he want? Slight of build and slight of hair, Spinton nevertheless had a kind, unthreatening air about him that made North want to like him despite his prejudices. Was Spinton there to warn him away from Octavia? He needn’t bother. North had no intention of going near her.
    “Lord Spinton,” he greeted in a toneless voice. “What can I do for you?”
    “Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Sheffield.” Clutching a brown beaver hat in his hands, Spinton reclaimed his chair as North sunk into a similar, but more comfortable one, behind the desk.
    North allowed himself a brief smile. “I do not think I had much choice.”
    Spinton colored. Well, damned if the man didn’t seem to be as sincere as his unassuming nature.
    “I have come to see you about a confidential matter concerning my betrothed, Lady Octavia Vaux-Daventry.”
    A claw sunk deep into North’s heart and yanked. Even though he had heard the rumors, they had been just gossip until now. “Congratulations on your betrothal, my lord.”
    Another blush. “Oh, it is not official yet, but I hope that Lady Octavia will soon condescend to make me so happy.”
    As if North cared. He didn’t. Really. “Where do I fit in?”
    Spinton jerked a little at his abrupt tone. What did the man want, more felicitations? He couldn’t help but be a little peevish that while he wasn’t good enough in the old earl’s eyes, this milksop—he didn’t care if that was unfair—obviously had been. Of course, Spinton had a lot more to recommend him than North ever had—as far as society would be concerned at least.
    “Lady Octavia has recently begun to receive strange letters.” Spinton pulled several folded papers from his jacket and extended them across the desk. “She does not find them worrisome, but as her future husband, I find them greatly disturbing. I took these from the wastebasket in her parlor.”
    Frowning, North took the letters. Was someone threatening Octavia? Why? Blackmail, perhaps? Had they found out about her past? Is that why Spinton came to him? And why had Spinton resorted to rifling through his intended’s garbage?
    He opened one and set the rest on his desk.
    My darling Lady,

    I have watched you from afar these past months with a longing I can no longer contain…
    North lifted his astonished gaze to Spinton’s eager face. “These are love letters.”
    Spinton nodded. “From an anonymous admirer.”
    Still frowning, North gestured at him with the letter. “Are they all like this?”
    “More or less.”
    North tossed them onto his desk. “So, why have you brought them to me?”
    Spinton looked confused. “Because I know your reputation for solving mysteries and I want to know who