The Secrets of Mia Danvers Read Online Free PDF

not beautiful by societal standards, she was far too thin and her clothes left much to be desired, but she was much prettier when she wasn’t dripping rain all over his rug.
    “Last night. What you saw,” he cleared his throat, “what you witnessed,” he clarified.
    She swallowed. “So now you believe me. I take it her body has been discovered?”
    “Indeed. The police were called in as soon as her body was located. I certainly could not ignore a crime committed on my property, and had no intention of doing so.”
    “Precisely the reason I notified you,” she said. Her hands were folded properly in her lap, and she sat straight. She’d been raised right. Other than that, he didn’t know much about her.
    “If you could simply tell me the story,” he prompted again. “I should like to make some notes.” Notes he fully intended to share with Scotland Yard provided he could find an inspector who would take the crime seriously enough to actually investigate it.
    “I was walking home,” she began.
    “It was late,” he said. “Nearly midnight, if I recall.”
    “Would you like for me to tell the story?” she asked.
    Alex sat straighter and eyed the woman before him. “I don’t believe sarcasm is necessary, Miss Danvers. I am a highly regarded peer of the realm.” Granted that was a rather new situation for him, but still he deserved some deference. “I should be spoken to with utmost respect.”
    “In here are we not merely a man and a woman having a conversation? I should think that distinction would only matter in the House of Parliament.” She paused a moment as if contemplating her own words. “You said you wanted to ask me questions. If you would like to hear my story, then you must allow me to speak,” she said. She was not rude in her tone, but firm and matter-of-fact.
    Though Alex was taken aback by her forthrightness, he couldn’t deny there was a part of him that was utterly fascinated that she was brazen enough to speak to him in such a way. As an army officer, his position had demanded respect. And now as a duke, he had people practically fall all over themselves to have a simple conversation with him.
    Yet here was this woman who had no ties to Society and was, by anyone’s standards, far beneath his station, and she’d very simply put him in his place, as it were. “Very well, continue.”
    “I do realize it was late,” she said. “Later than I’m normally out, especially when alone.” She took a slow breath. “There is a statuary park that I enjoy walking in and I’m afraid I lost track of time. Rachel normally accompanies me, but as I mentioned last night, it was her day to visit her aunt so I was alone. The walk from the shops and this particular park, it’s not an overly long walk. And clearly it isn’t an issue to me if it is daylight or dark.” She smiled briefly. “Still I try to be in my cottage before nightfall simply because it is not safe for a woman to be traipsing about London in the evening alone. I do try to be careful.”
    He watched her as she spoke. He supposed that for someone not paying close enough attention, they might miss the subtle hints that revealed her blindness. For the most part, she appeared to be looking at him, though on more than one occasion she simply would close her eyes and continue talking. He knew the statuary park she mentioned, he’d been there on more than one occasion.
    “Miss Danvers, precisely what does a woman with your,” he pondered the polite way to ask the question, “limitations do in a statuary park?” he asked.
    She smiled; well, it was more of a hint of a smile. “Fair question. I have always loved art. I am an artist myself and I enjoy the solitude of the park.”
    “Late at night?” he asked.
    “It is the only form of art I can still enjoy because I can feel it, put my hands on the cold marble and touch the pieces. And time simply got away from me. I didn’t realize it had gotten so late.”
    “Very well,