Passionate Secrets (The Secrets Trilogy Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

to look at her. Her breathing sounded raspy, her face pale.
    “Is it bad?” she whispered. But Emma saw Tessa’s answer in her frightened eyes.
    Tessa didn’t respond. Her attention seemed completely taken by drawing her next breath.
    Emma swallowed hard. She ran her hand along Tessa’s brow, wishing she could take this burden from her, that she was the one ill.
    “I’m fetching the doctor, Tess,” she told her and pressed a kiss upon her cheek.
    Tessa shook her head, but Emma hushed her. “It will be fine.”
    Emma would convince him to come, no matter the cost.
     
    ~*~
     
    Michael paused in the doorway of the drawing room at Ashbury’s home on Park Lane, a short carriage ride from his own residence. He studied the flushed faces of its two occupants with amusement. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were dallying.”
    Ashbury’s slow grin was all the confirmation he needed.
    Abigail shook her head at her fiancé’s smile. “How are you, Weston?”
    “Not as well as you, I’d venture to guess.” He couldn’t help but tease her. She made it far too easy. Her embarrassed smile was his reward.
    “What brings you here?” Ashbury asked.
    “You’ll never guess who paid me a visit.”
    Ashbury arched a brow. “If I’ll never guess then I suppose you must tell me.”
    “Emma Grisby.”
    Shock froze Ashbury for a moment followed quickly by anger. “What did she say? That her uncle is alive and well? That he fooled us all?”
    “Nothing of the sort.” Michael sat in the chair opposite them. “She requested a reference letter as she was interviewing for a governess post with my cousin.”
    “Oh, please.” Ashbury rose to pace the room. “Surely you didn’t believe that flimsy excuse?”
    “Not at first—”
    Ashbury spun to face him, his green eyes accusatory. “You helped her?”
    “Yes. I paid a visit to my cousin and learned that Miss Grisby truly did interview for the position. However, my cousin had another applicant who’d served as governess for an earl, so she chose her over Miss Grisby.”
    “We need to speak with her. No, we’ll follow her until we find out—”
    Michael held up his hand to stave the tide of Ashbury’s plan. “I’m having her followed. I have her address.”
    “Who is she?” Abigail asked curiously.
    Ashbury returned to his seat. “Professor Grisby’s niece. It’s a shame to think he’s using her.”
    “We don’t yet know that,” Michael argued. Why he felt the need to defend her eluded him. Hadn’t he had the same suspicions?
    The bland look Ashbury gave him made him feel as though he’d been taken in by her. Perhaps he had. At the very least, he had to admit she’d caught his sympathies.
    “So you have a plan to keep her under watch?” Ashbury asked.
    “Not exactly. I have one of the runners following her.”
    As part of his effort to prevent harm coming from those he saw with criminal intentions, Ashbury employed people to assist him in gathering information, running errands or even following someone. Their nondescript attire and knowledge of the seedier parts of London often came in handy. Michael had joined him in his efforts. Few people noticed a street urchin lingering about, including Miss Grisby.
    “How does she seem?” Ashbury asked.
    “Rather desperate to be honest. I’m still trying to determine what’s going on, but their flat is in one of the poorest areas. Her clothing had been mended several times over.” He shook his head as he pictured the mended cuff she’d continually tried to hide. “It seems she genuinely needs a position of some sort. I told her I’d ask my acquaintances if they knew of anything.”
    Ashbury’s eyes narrowed. “You have been taken in by her. You always had a soft spot for her.”
    Michael scoffed even as a vision of a younger, happier Emma danced through his mind. “I hardly think trying to help her find a position means I’ve been duped.”
    “If she’s so desperate for funds, a