Page 26 of Claiming Hannah (Bear Creek, Texas)

He turned and began to leave.

Luc grabbed his arm and murmured something very softly in his ear. Geoffrey blanched, looked over his shoulder at Ria, and then left. Hurriedly.

At a nod from Lord Arden, the footmen followed, no doubt ensuring Geoffrey had indeed gone.

The earl strode toward her. She felt a strong urge to run. The look on his face had hardly gentled, and she could see why Geoffrey had left so swiftly.

This was the first time she had seen him like this. He was beyond intimidating. Truly, in this mood, he lived up to his namesake. The original Lucifer could not have been as alarming.

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Before he reached her, she told him, “The ladies are in the library,” then pivoted and quickly led the way along the corridor.

Before she could reach the comparative safety of the library, he caught up with her. Taking her arm, he pulled her into the nearest room. Bewildered, she looked at him.

Firmly shutting the door, he held her by the shoulders and gazed into her eyes, then cursed, bent down and kissed her hungrily.

With a groan he broke off their kiss and held her again at arm’s length. “Do you realize how I felt when I saw Danielson in the entrance hall? Why did you put yourself in danger that way?”

She paused before answering, both to catch her breath and choose her words carefully.

“I wasn’t in any danger. I…”

He shook her shoulders gently. “We’ve never discussed this. Whenever I’ve tried to, you’ve prevaricated and I’ve let you. But not this time.”

He hesitated, his face grave. “The day you were hurt, I found small cuts under the mane of Danielson’s horse. Either they were made by a careless groom or Danielson made them deliberately.”

He looked at her as though waiting for her to say something. When she remained silent, he continued. “I believe it was deliberate. The matter should be placed before a magistrate.”

Ria inhaled sharply, then shook her head. “I don’t believe it was deliberate. It’s inconceivable that Geoffrey deliberately caused the horse to rear.” She told herself she was telling the truth. After all, how could she possibly conceive of someone wanting to kill her?

“And I have no intention of going to the magistrate,” she added firmly.

It was clear he wasn’t convinced. “Ria, what is going on? Let me help you.”

At that very moment, conveniently, Aunt Charity came looking for her, and Ria made sure he did not get another chance to talk to her alone.

But later that night, lying in bed, she considered his words. He’d said she could trust him. Could she?

Since the accident, he had visited every day. But just before it, he’d cut her in the street. She still didn’t know why. He’d not done anything like it since, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t in the future.

Nevertheless, at present he was being very assiduous in his attentions. Before the accident, she’d felt hunted. Now she felt courted.

Perhaps Aunt Charity was right and he was going to ask for her hand. If he did, what would she say? She was so very tempted to say yes, but what about Monty’s will, Geoffrey, and the masquerade? She hadn’t even told him she was Honey, let alone Persephone. So many secrets.

Ria sighed. She couldn’t marry him without confessing. But she couldn’t explain what she had done without telling him why. That meant trusting him and putting not only her future in his hands, but the ladies’ too.

Did she trust him that much?

19

The next day, Luc entered the Lyons House estate office where Patrick McDermott was waiting for him. The former pugilist stood as he entered.

Luc sat down at the desk and indicated McDermott should retake the seat opposite. “Any further word on Geoffrey Geoffrey Danielson?”

McDermott gingerly sat back down on the wooden chair, only just managing to squeeze his large frame between the arms. “Yes, my lord. I’ve been watching him as you asked. Hardly let him out of my sight until today. When he’s not at his house, he’s been at the inn, drinking and gambling heavily. Only been to the manor the once, and I got word to you about that.”

“Have you heard any interesting gossip?”