Late for the Wedding Read Online Free PDF

had no use for metaphysics and would not welcome such a
    discussion.
    But sometimes, when he was deep inside her, holding her as
    though he would never let her go, not even in death, she wondered
    if he, too, sensed the bond between them.
    He pushed her skirts up with a rough, impatient motion of his
    hand and slid his fingers between her thighs. She was aware of the
    hunger pulsing through him. Her own need rose to meet his. She
    opened his shirt to his waist and flattened her palm on his chest,
    glorying in the feel of him.
    He probed gently until he found the exquisitely sensitive bud.
    When he stroked slowly, she heard herself whisper the most shock
    ing words, words she would never have used in polite company,
    words that, until she had met Tobias, she had not realized she
    knew.
    He let his finger glide deeper.
      Tobias." She tightened and moved against his palm.
    He reached down to unfasten his trousers.
    A blood-freezing scream sliced through the summer night, shattering the moment with the impact of a thunderclap. Lavinia
    flinched and opened her eyes just in time to see a dark shadow
    plummet past the open window.
    What the bloody hell?" Tobias rolled off the bed and onto his feet
    just as the dreadful cry ended with appalling finality.
      Dear heaven, what on earth was that?" Lavinia scrambled up off
    the bed.   Some sort of night bird? A large bat?"
    Tobias was already at the window, having covered the distance in
    two strides. He gripped the edge and stood looking down into the
    gardens.
      Merciful God," he whispered.
    Lavinia hurried toward the window. What has happened?"
    Somewhere in the distance, another scream rent the night. A
    woman this time. Lavinia leaned out the window and glanced to the
    left, seeking the source of the second scream.
    She saw the occupant of a neighboring bed chamber, clad in a
    dressing gown and nightcap, standing on a stone balcony. The
    woman stared, transfixed, into the garden.
    Lavinia braced herself and looked down. A figure garbed in
    formal evening attire lay crumpled on the grass like a broken clock
    work doll. Horror turned her stomach ice-cold. The shadow hurtling
    past the window a few seconds earlier had been a man.
      He must have fallen from the roof," she whispered.
      I wonder what he was doing up there?" Tobias said.   He is
    certainly not a member of the household staff."
    Lavinia looked down again and saw a bald pate gleaming in the
    moonlight.   Oh, no. Surely not."
    She heard more windows thrown open. Shocked exclamations
    echoed in the night. Down below, a footman, lantern in hand,
    appeared and walked with great reluctance toward the dead man.
      I will go and see if there is anything to be done." Tobias turned
    away from the window.   Wait here."
      No, I am coming with you."
      There is no need," he said gently.   It will be extremely unpleasant."
    She swallowed.   I cannot be certain until I get a closer look at
    him, but I fear that there may, indeed, be a reason for me to accompany you."
    He paused at the door and glanced back, frowning.   What is that?"
      I may have been one of the last people to see him alive." She
    adjusted the bodice of her gown and reached up to feel for her hair
    pins.   Except for the maid, of course."
      What the devil are you talking about?" Tobias opened the door
    and went out into the hall.   Do you know that man?"
      Not exactly." She followed him out into the dim corridor and
    paused to close the bed chamber door.   We were never introduced, but
    I believe I saw him a short while ago, when I went to meet you in
    your bed chamber. To be more precise, I hid behind the staircase
    while he went by in the company of one of the maids."
    That got his attention.   He was with one of the servants?"
      Yes. I got the impression that they were on their way up to the
    roof to engage in what the gentleman referred to as a bit of sport.
    The maid seemed quite cheerful about the prospect. He no doubt
    promised her