Willoughby 03 - A Rogue's Deadly Redemption Read Online Free PDF Page A

This room was not that.
    Her books. It was too late to visit her lending library, which always lifted her spirits. But her books…they provided a lovely escape. She stood up and turned to peruse the room to see what trunks had been delivered. She had received a new box of books this week to add to her lending library’s shelves. They must have been packed somewhere. She could delve into the worlds of her books and look over the gems she would deliver tomorrow.
    A knock sounded on her door, and Lily’s back tensed until she stood ramrod straight.
    “Lily?” The deep voice wasn’t Cordelia’s, but the conversation ahead wasn’t much easier to contemplate.
    Once the door was opened, her older brother, Adam, the Earl of Merewood, filled the frame. “You’re here.”
    “Observant, as always,” Lily offered lightly, as she turned into the room. There were a few trunks up already and she peered into the first one. Where had those books gone? Exhaustion had sapped the heat from her, and she reached up to rub her arms briskly.
    “Are you cold?” Adam moved to the fireplace, stoked the fire.
    “It’s fine, Adam. Just a chill.”
    “Do you need a blanket?”
    She cocked her head at him. “I’m fine.”
    “Something to drink? Eat? Shall I have a tray brought up?”
    “What have you done with my brother?”
    He blinked. “What the hell does that mean?”
    “Stoking the fire and offering to fetch me tea?”
    “You want tea?” He took a step toward the door.
    “No.” She half laughed, half cried as she reached out to stop him. “Thank you. What are you about?”
    Adam huffed. “Aria told me to be solicitous.”
    That coaxed a smile from Lily’s lips. “I imagine she did. But I much prefer my surly, know-it-all brother, if you please.”
    “I am not surly.” His surly tone made Lily laugh. “Well, blast it then, why did my wife suggest I be solicitous? What are you doing here?”
    “It is lovely to see you, too.”
    “We returned from Merewood House not more than a week ago. On the last day, I do believe you said I was annoying you to no end.”
    “You trounced me at every card game we played.”
    “I’m better than you.”
    She laughed. “And that is what makes you so annoying.”
    “Since I know you aren’t here for a rematch…” His gaze strayed toward the clothing laid upon her bed. “You’re settling in. Why?”
    So. Complete humiliation wasn’t having your husband make it clear he couldn’t care less if you lived or died.
    It was having to tell your family about it. Heat flushed her cheeks, and she looked down at her shoes.
    “Lily. What did he do?”
    “Why do you assume that? Maybe it’s what I’ve done.”
    “You’ve lived in misery for years. I lay the blame at his feet.”
    The words got stuck in her throat, like a big, fat lump of coal that would never rub into diamonds. Her life—a big, fat lump of unrealized coal.
    “Can’t I just visit with my family?” she hedged. He’d told her years ago that she could choose not to go through with the marriage. He’d given her permission to ignore the scandal Cordelia had forced on them and leave.
    She had decided to marry Robert anyway. She had believed that feeling between them, the heat that sparked every time they looked at each other, every time they’d touched would be enough to get her past the uncertainty of his feelings or his anger at being forced into marriage.
    She’d been wrong.
    Having to tell Adam he’d been right… she couldn’t. She wasn’t ready. The humiliation was so ripe still.
    “Are you going to make me drag this from you? You do not move in for a visit when you live a mere twenty minutes away.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me Cordelia was visiting?” Lily jumped on the chance to change the topic of conversation. “As you mentioned, we just spent weeks together. Didn’t it occur to you to tell me?”
    “I was going to send a note.”
    “When, after she sent out new address notes?”
    Adam held out