Sinful (Hot Regency Romance Novella) Read Online Free PDF Page A

surprised.”
    “It’s just—”
    He put her arm around her. “Tell me, Laura.”
He didn’t need to say more. She understood his fears for Lady
Maryanne’s safety.
    “I heard that Madame Desjardins helps girls
who want to elope.”
    “Helps them? How, Laura?”
    Her eyes were wide. Even through the hardship
of poverty, even though he dealt with the criminal world, he had
fought to keep Laura innocent.
    “I don’t know, Lyan. These are just rumors
I’ve heard from other girls. I think she lends them money. Most
have no access to their own money, of course. I also heard that she
investigates the gentlemen these ladies want to marry, to ensure
they are not just fortune hunters, gamesters, or rakes. She stopped
one young woman from marrying a man who was pretending to be a
Scottish earl’s son. He was actually a draper’s lad.”
    Interesting that Sally helped girls who
planned to run away with a man, when she had run away from one. He
gave his sister a hug. “Thank you, angel.” Then the instincts that
had saved his life countless times went on alert. How did Laura
know so much about this? “You aren’t planning to use any services
of Madame Desjardins beyond her dressmaking skills, are you?”
    “Do you mean—do I want to elope?” Her laugh
was silvery and sweet. “Of course not. I simply want a dress.
Anyway, no man would ever dare run away with the sister of the
famously ruthless Mr. Foxton.”
    Lyan scratched his jaw. He was afraid her
answer had come too quickly and with too much light-hearted
laughter. “Laura—”
    “Mrs. Fennings is going to introduce me to
other earls. I have no intention of running off with anyone.”
    Her answer was natural, guileless. But the
gentle ease with which she gave it only made him worry more. Laura
had bluestocking tendencies, along with pronounced opinions, and
she liked to debate with him. For her to reassure him…it made him
nervous. He searched her large green eyes. “My dear, it doesn’t
matter if you have the intention—I will ensure you never have the
chance.”
    Laura stuck out her tongue at him. “Lyan, you
are being ridiculous. Where would I have ever met an inappropriate
man?”
    He wanted to believe that was true. Tonight,
he had two reasons to visit Madame Desjardins. He would question
her again about Lady Maryanne. And he would warn her what would
happen if she tried to put foolish ideas about elopements into his
sister’s head.
    There was no way in Hades he would let Sally
Thomas betray him twice.
     
    * * *
     
    “Are you certain this is what you wish to do?
You do realize how much you will give up by marrying this man
against your brother’s wishes?” In a soft voice, to the young woman
who sat opposite her, Estelle listed what those risks could be.
Estrangement from family. Loss of any hope of a dowry or marriage
settlement. The discovery that love was not enough to conquer
everything, after all. “There is nothing like poverty to sour a
marriage. It may turn your charming suitor into a bitter, brutal
husband.”
    Estelle watched the girl nod solemnly.
    Her visitor had a hood pulled down to cover
her dark curls and shroud her face. She had insisted all candles be
extinguished. It was nighttime. Only the light from the coals in
the grate illuminated her. “I know. I’ve thought of those things.
But my—my brother has received news he will inherit a title. I know
he thinks he wants the best for me, but I don’t want to make my
choice from amongst viscounts and earls. I know which man I want to
marry. But my beloved is a Bow Street Runner and I know the match
will be refused.”
    “Give me his name. Before I can help, I have
to ensure he is not a rogue, criminal, or rake.”
    The girl shook her head. “It’s not necessary.
I know everything about him. He’s worked with my brother for years.
He’s a hero! He has rescued kidnapped children and stopped criminal
gangs.”
    “His name?”
    “I can’t. You could go to my