A Taste of Sin by Connie Mason Page A

him his anger intensified. Her hasty departure had left him bereft and suddenly in possession of a conscience, something Lord Sin had managed to avoid during his lifetime.
    Suddenly Christy spun around, as if sensing his presence. He saw her eyes widen, saw her mouth his name. A hush fell over the hall as his presence became known. Someone whispered his name, and it traveled through the room like wildfire. But Sinjun heard nothing, saw nothing except Christy, who teetered dangerously on the tabletop.
    The crowd parted as he started forward, his face unable to mask the seething rage in his heart. He was halfway there when Christy swayed perilously close to the edge of the table. He spit out a curse and broke into a run. He snatched her to safety scant seconds before she pitched to the floor.
    “Where is her room?” Sinjun bit out to no one in particular.
    Margot stepped forward. “Follow me, yer lordship.”
    Suddenly Calum stepped in his path. “Ye are Lord Derby?”
    “Aye. Let me pass, man.”
    “What about the levies? Ye have raised them until we canna pay them without our families suffering.
    “We will discuss it later,” Sinjun said, shoving past him. “Lead the way, Margot”
    Margot hurried up a winding stone staircase and opened the door to a large chamber at the top. Sinjun carried Christy to the bed and eased her down onto the feather mattress. Then he stepped back and stared at her through shuttered lids.
    “Does she do this often?” he asked Margot.
    “Nay, yer lordship, never before. Seeing ye at Glenmoor was a shock.”
    “I shouldn’t wonder,” Sinjun said dryly. He sent Margot a censuring look. “You were her conspirator in this ruse.”
    Margot stiffened. “Aye. ‘Tis the only way Christy could keep Calum and the others in line. They wanted her to petition for an annulment and marry a Scotsman. Calum was so determined to become laird that Christy feared he would … force her and seize power for himself.”
    Sinjun’s brows rose sharply. “Force her to bed him?”
    “Aye. ‘Tis the way of the Highlands.” Her voice hardened. “’Tis all yer fault, yer lordship. Ye should have consummated yer marriage years ago.”
    “So you and Christy plotted to trap me into getting her with child,” Sinjun charged. “Quite a story you two hatched.”
    “Aye, we did. We had to do something to keep Calum from taking her by force, or the clan from choosing another laird. She hoped having your child would settle things once and for all.”
    A movement from the bed brought Sinjun’s attention back to Christy. Her eyes were open, and she was staring at him.
    “Why did you come?” she choked out, struggling to rise.
    “Lie still,” Sinjun said, pushing her back down. “Leave us, Margot.”
    “Nay. I willna leave ye alone with her.”
    “I won’t strangle your mistress, though I must confess the urge is great.”
    Margot hesitated.
    “Go!” Sinjun roared.
    Margot turned and fled.
    “You didn’t have to frighten her,” Christy complained.
    “Nothing could frighten that one,” Sinjun scoffed as he perched on the side of the bed. “Are you feeling better?”
    Christy pushed herself up against the headboard. This time he didn’t stop her, but his fierce scowl did little to comfort her. “I’m fine.”
    “You have some explaining to do,” Sinjun said harshly.
    He was looking at her as if he hated her, and Christy’s heart sank. How could she ever make him understand? “I know you must hate me,” she began.
    “To say the least,” Sinjun snarled. “You can’t possibly know how I felt when I realized Flora and Christy were the same woman. I felt used, and the feeling is not one I enjoyed. You lied, and I, like a besotted fool, believed you.”
    Christy searched his face and realized she was happy to see him despite his anger. Her heart beat faster, and excitement danced through her veins. Her skin felt tight and hot and the flesh beneath aching. This wouldn’t do, she chided