If He's Dangerous by Hannah Howell Page A

seen me in the moonlight for the space of a heartbeat. But, we were not chased, were we? There was no outcry. I quickly hid in the shadows and I was in disguise. I do not see how the man could ever guess it was me and come here because of that.”
    â€œNo, but he might get to your cousins.”
    â€œHe did not see them. They had already gotten you to the horses that were tethered deep in the shadows of the trees. Also, it has been a week and there has been no word from the Dunns that there has been any search for you or any trouble for them.”
    Sir Argus said no more, but he did not look convinced by her assurances. In fact, he looked sorely tempted to do a great deal more arguing, perhaps even give her a few orders. Lorelei decided to be the coward and slip away for a little while until he could be well distracted.
    â€œI will just go and see what Max may have left in the kitchens. Perhaps you would like to go down to the front parlor? There will be more comfortable seating there,” she said even as she hurried out of the room.
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    Down in the kitchens Lorelei found a very impressive array of cakes, bread, and cheese, and a few bottles of fine wine. She busied herself making up a tray for Sir Argus and his family, and listening to them all come down the stairs. His obvious concern over the chance that she had been seen touched her, but she forced herself not to read too much into it. As a gentleman she had given aid and succor to, it was only natural that he would believe he needed to keep her safe. All she could hope for was that he did not speak of the possibility to her father or Max, or she could find herself burdened with a constant guard.
    That would certainly put an end to her plots to make Sir Argus see that they were perfect for each other, she thought with a sigh. It was going to be a monumental task as it was. She did not need a constant shadow interrupting what little time alone she might steal with the man. That was, she mused, if he even stayed at Sundunmoor now. Somehow, when she joined them all in the parlor, she would have to have some good reason for them to agree to keep Sir Argus here. She had to have her chance to make him see that they were perfect for each other.
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    â€œInteresting situation you have tangled yourself up in, dearest brother,” said Olympia as she sat next to Argus on the plush dark blue settee.
    â€œI keep thinking over how I ended up trapped by that fool and can see nowhere I actually went wrong,” said Argus. “I gathered information on him before I met with him and there was no hint that he would do something like this. Perhaps it was just the lure of a possible profitable investment that made me careless.”
    â€œNonsense. Not only is it difficult to find out everything about a person, especially if they are careful to keep their sins well hidden, but we have had no hint of any trouble headed our way. No attempts have been made to take any of our family before this.”
    â€œAre you certain?”
    â€œAs certain as I can be. Our seers gave no warning and no one has reported any attempts to drag them off the streets.”
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    â€œIt is troubling that there appears to be one or more people so interested in us and what we do, however,” said Leo. “We shall all have to be careful until we know exactly who is behind this.”
    â€œAye,” agreed Iago. “A warning should be sent out.”
    â€œWe shall do so as soon as we know where we will be settled as we sort Argus’s trouble out.” Leo looked at his cousin. “You believe the man will try to hunt you down?”
    â€œYes,” replied Argus. “He will have to if only to protect himself. I know who he is and what he did is a hanging offense. The we he spoke of may also insist that he silence me.”
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    â€œUnless they have already silenced him.”
    â€œA possibility, but I cannot feel that this will all be settled so