Three Nights of Sin Read Online Free PDF

some cravats. There’s a journal hidden. All the deepest thoughts of the Middlesex murderer.”
    She could feel the wetness on her cheeks, the impotent rage. She wanted to barge in, to grab the maid and shake her, squeeze her until her thieving hands popped off. To demand what right she had to do this.
    Some last bit of sense held her in place. She didn’t know where Kenny’s journal was—barging in now would accomplish nothing. But as soon as the slovenly bitch produced it, she would shake her until there was nothing left to shake.
    “I’d be interested in seeing that, and anything else he’s hidden. You are certainly a resourceful girl.” His voice was melodious and deep. Spellbinding. The words curled around the doorway and wrapped around her. She cut through them with a knife, her anger spilling over to him.
    The maid giggled. Marietta could hear her awe and excitement. Could feel the way the maid would be leaning toward him, enraptured and ready to do anything for more of his approval.
    “It’s just over here.”
    Something scraped across the floor, the night table most likely.
    “He hides all of the things here that he doesn’t want his nosy sister to find.”
    Marietta watched the pendulum in the hallway clock as if the continual motion would make things better; make her less likely to sob.
    “What does he think of his sister?”
    “Probably what we all think. She’s plain and poor and sharp-tongued. It’s no wonder she’s still unmarried.”
    Something fell and clacked on the floor. She continued to watch the swing of the clock, ticking each plain, sharp second.
    “There it is.” A swish of a skirt and the solid sound of a book hitting a palm.
    What was he going to do with Kenny’s journal? Half-formed thoughts of him selling it just like the servants raced through her head. She knew nothing about him. He had given her no reason to think he’d live up to his name. And if her own servants were profiting, what was to stop a complete stranger from doing worse?
    “Have you read it?”
    She squeezed her eyes closed, the sensation of fainting that had become a constant companion in the past few weeks visiting her once more. She’d given him access to everything. In her desperation she had given him actual material that could be used against her family. What had she done?
    “Neh, I can’t read. I can do lots of other, better things, though.”
    “I’m sure that is true. You seem very diligent.”
    Carla snickered. Marietta thought somewhat viciously that the maid likely had no idea what diligent even meant. There was no sound for a moment, and then Carla moaned, low and breathy. The sound of a woman who had experienced the finest of delicacies. The hairs on Marietta’s body rose and her stomach heaved.
    “Now be a good girl and collect the other things, will you?”
    “Yes, yes, right now.”
    There were a lot of shuffles and bumps. And Carla kept giggling. It was an awful, grating sound, like a carriage wheel rubbing against its post.
    “Ah, yes, this is perfect. And that as well. You are surely a gift from heaven, Carla.”
    The carriage wheel scraped along a jagged rock. “Anything for you, sir. Anything.”
    Marietta could stand it no longer. She tiptoed back down the hall, and then stomped back along her path. The maid’s grating carriage laugh came to a halt.
    She plastered a fake smile on her face and rounded the doorway. “Ah, Carla, there you are. Please help the men downstairs. They are looking for my parasol. It seems to be missing.”
    Her parasol was in her accessory chest, awaiting packing.
    Carla looked furious and opened her mouth, but Noble beat her to it. “A good woman can’t be without her parasol.” His tone was offhand, but his eyes didn’t move from Marietta’s—watching her for something.
    Carla threw her a look drenched in venom, then turned back to Noble, all sweetness and light. “I will fetch it and return here.”
    He smiled, that lazy smile that made him