Page 54 of His Sinful Touch

“But he said he would bring the law down on you. He was horribly angry there at the end. I think he’s capable of doing that.”

Alex shrugged carelessly. “Maybe. But he won’t get anywhere. Trust me, the police aren’t coming to haul you out of here without proof.”

Sabrina wanted to believe him. It was easy to do so when she was looking at him, so strong, so confident. She wanted to simply let go, hand over her problems to him and let him deal with them for her. Given the way Lilah had described her, Sabrina suspected that was what she would have done in the past. But she could not help but believe that Alex was too confident in his family’s name protecting them from any attack. Not even a duke could defy the law.

“I—” Sabrina took a step back. She had to think. “I am rather tired. I should go up to my room and rest a bit.”

“Of course.” He took her hand and bowed over it, pressing his lips against her skin. It was amazing how such a brief, light touch could send shivers running all through her.

She made herself pull back from him and said, “Lilah? I’m going to my room. Would you walk with me?”

“Of course.” Lilah turned with alacrity. Given the irritated set of Con’s mouth and the speed with which Lilah walked away, Sabrina suspected that neither of them was displeased at having their conversation interrupted.

“Rough going with Con?” Sabrina murmured, linking her arm with her friend’s and leaning in as they walked out of the room.

“That man is so full of flattery.”

Sabrina chuckled. “That’s a bad thing?”

“It is when it’s clear he doesn’t mean a word of it. He always has this look in his eyes, as if he’s about to laugh at me.” She waved her hand as if sweeping something aside. “But let’s not waste breath on him. You are the one I’m concerned about. Are you all right? I would never have dreamed Mr. Dearborn would say such things about you.”

“I suspect it’s shaken you more than me, for I have no previous opinion of him.”

“It was true—the part about him being your father’s good friend. All three of them were—my father and the two of them. It’s beyond belief that he should betray your father’s trust in this manner.”

“I’m terribly worried, Lilah.”

“The Morelands will protect you,” Lilah said quickly. “Whatever one might say about Constantine, I know he’s utterly loyal to his twin. Indeed, I got the impression they are all that way. It’s clear that Alex is determined to keep you out of Mr. Dearborn’s clutches.”

“That’s why I’m worried. If he is my guardian, he probably does have the right to demand they let me go. I don’t care how old and aristocratic the Morelands are, they can’t break the law.”

“I’m not really sure this family would care whether it’s legal.”

“Probably not, but I can’t let them get arrested because of me. I can’t make Alex face a decision of whether to give me up or bring trouble to his parents.”

“But what can you do about it? You don’t mean you’re thinking of going back to the Dearborns, do you?”

“No! No, I couldn’t. I don’t know what I could do.”

“You could come home with me. Perhaps Mr. Dearborn would be more reluctant to act against my aunt and me, given his friendship with my father.”

“I wouldn’t want to put you in that position, either.”

“You can’t just go off on your own!”

“Of course not.” Given the shocked look on her friend’s face, Sabrina thought it unwise to say anything else.

They had reached the top of the stairs, where a bow window gave a view of the street below. A comfortably plush window seat filled the curve of the window. Sabrina paused there for a moment, gathering her thoughts. Her posture stiffened, and she leaned forward, staring out the window.

“That’s odd. There’s a man out there in the street.”

“Why is it odd?” Lilah turned to follow Sabrina’s gaze.

“He’s not doing anything, just staring at the front door of this house. If he were here to visit someone in the family, he’d come up to the door, wouldn’t you think?”

“He’s not dressed like someone who would come to the front door,” Lilah pointed out. “More likely a tradesman or someone waiting for one of the maids, perhaps.”

“If he were waiting for one of the servants, he wouldn’t expect them to come out the front door. He’d be watching the kitchen door at the other end on the side street. He can’t even see that door from where he’s standing—the house is in the way.”