knife pressed to her throat?
“Lizzy, what is really on your mind?” Frowning, she tried to put the pieces of the puzzle together. “She was helping you, wasn’t she—with this Guardian business? You allowed Anastasia to assist you.”
“I didn’t ask her to, Lizzy,” Adrian said softly. “She wanted to and would brook no refusal. She informed me that she had a direct entrance into the club, that her lover knew Orpheus. I agreed to it because it’s been the closest we’ve gotten to him, except for Alynwick’s—” Her brother coughed, stopping midsentence.
BOUND GALLEY EDITION March 23, 2012
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TEMPTATION & TWILIGHT
“Alynwick’s what?” she demanded.
“He has, er, a connection to someone who frequents the club.”
“Some notorious tart, I’d wager,” Lizzy said haughtily, but the bitterness in her voice betrayed her true feelings.
Damn Iain for making her still feel anything for him. “It must be Lady Larabie, then.”
“What? How can you know of that?”
“Oh, come, brother, I am blind, not stupid or hard of hearing. I heard the gossip about him and the newly wed Lady Larabie. I also learned there was to be a duel.
From the sounds of him this morning, he must have escaped it unscathed.”
“Lizzy.”
“No matter. Alynwick’s life and what debauchery he makes of it is none of my concern. What do I care if he is killed for his adulterous deeds? Good riddance, I would say. The scroll he keeps as part of the Guardians’ treasure could easily be given to you or Black, and instead of three Brethren there could be two perfectly capable souls.”
“What is it with you two? If it isn’t him demanding that I keep you out of matters, it’s you voicing your distaste for the fellow. What happened to make you notice one another, when you have never bothered with each other before now?”
Elizabeth felt herself stiffen. Adrian was coming too close to the truth.
“Alynwick said I was to stay out of Brethren business.
In fact he demanded it. I won’t have it, Adrian. Who is he to demand anything of me?”
There, she’d said it, the real reason for her visit. Heaving a sigh, she waited for her brother’s answer.
“Normally, I would say he is an ass and order you to ignore him, but in this case, I have to agree. It’s be-BOUND GALLEY EDITION March 23, 2012
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come personal, and whoever this Orpheus is, he knows of Lucy and my feelings for her. I’m distracted, Lizzy, and I can’t be worrying over both you and Lucy. Seeing Anastasia this morning… Well, I couldn’t survive if it were you or Lucy.”
“I’m not an invalid, Adrian, to be coddled and cos-seted.”
“I didn’t say you were, and I’m not treating you as one.”
“He is.”
“He, who?” Elizabeth could hear annoyance in her brother’s voice.
“Alynwick.”
“Well, he is being a royal pain, what with the scene he created last night.”
She didn’t want to think of last night and how he had humiliated her. She had enough anger ruling her now, without more fat added to the fire. “He is purposely leaving me out. He practically shoved me from the salon this morning when all of you were discussing the murder and what was to be done. As a consequence I didn’t hear what my role was to be.”
“You don’t have one, Lizzy.”
The blow was instantaneous, and it hurt. “You’re listening to him! I can’t believe it! Alynwick of all people?
Adrian, you traitor!”
“For once he has a valid point. Lizzy.” Her brother sighed. “We cannot avoid the obvious. You’re at a disadvantage and it makes you extremely vulnerable.” Jumping up, Elizabeth fisted her hands at her sides.
“I’ll hinder you, is that it?”
“Of course not.”
“While you and Black and Alynwick are out searching for the monster who killed Anastasia, you want me BOUND GALLEY EDITION March 23,
“Lizzy, what is really on your mind?” Frowning, she tried to put the pieces of the puzzle together. “She was helping you, wasn’t she—with this Guardian business? You allowed Anastasia to assist you.”
“I didn’t ask her to, Lizzy,” Adrian said softly. “She wanted to and would brook no refusal. She informed me that she had a direct entrance into the club, that her lover knew Orpheus. I agreed to it because it’s been the closest we’ve gotten to him, except for Alynwick’s—” Her brother coughed, stopping midsentence.
BOUND GALLEY EDITION March 23, 2012
9780373776627_CS5_txt.indd 89
12-01-31 4:03 PM
90
TEMPTATION & TWILIGHT
“Alynwick’s what?” she demanded.
“He has, er, a connection to someone who frequents the club.”
“Some notorious tart, I’d wager,” Lizzy said haughtily, but the bitterness in her voice betrayed her true feelings.
Damn Iain for making her still feel anything for him. “It must be Lady Larabie, then.”
“What? How can you know of that?”
“Oh, come, brother, I am blind, not stupid or hard of hearing. I heard the gossip about him and the newly wed Lady Larabie. I also learned there was to be a duel.
From the sounds of him this morning, he must have escaped it unscathed.”
“Lizzy.”
“No matter. Alynwick’s life and what debauchery he makes of it is none of my concern. What do I care if he is killed for his adulterous deeds? Good riddance, I would say. The scroll he keeps as part of the Guardians’ treasure could easily be given to you or Black, and instead of three Brethren there could be two perfectly capable souls.”
“What is it with you two? If it isn’t him demanding that I keep you out of matters, it’s you voicing your distaste for the fellow. What happened to make you notice one another, when you have never bothered with each other before now?”
Elizabeth felt herself stiffen. Adrian was coming too close to the truth.
“Alynwick said I was to stay out of Brethren business.
In fact he demanded it. I won’t have it, Adrian. Who is he to demand anything of me?”
There, she’d said it, the real reason for her visit. Heaving a sigh, she waited for her brother’s answer.
“Normally, I would say he is an ass and order you to ignore him, but in this case, I have to agree. It’s be-BOUND GALLEY EDITION March 23, 2012
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91
come personal, and whoever this Orpheus is, he knows of Lucy and my feelings for her. I’m distracted, Lizzy, and I can’t be worrying over both you and Lucy. Seeing Anastasia this morning… Well, I couldn’t survive if it were you or Lucy.”
“I’m not an invalid, Adrian, to be coddled and cos-seted.”
“I didn’t say you were, and I’m not treating you as one.”
“He is.”
“He, who?” Elizabeth could hear annoyance in her brother’s voice.
“Alynwick.”
“Well, he is being a royal pain, what with the scene he created last night.”
She didn’t want to think of last night and how he had humiliated her. She had enough anger ruling her now, without more fat added to the fire. “He is purposely leaving me out. He practically shoved me from the salon this morning when all of you were discussing the murder and what was to be done. As a consequence I didn’t hear what my role was to be.”
“You don’t have one, Lizzy.”
The blow was instantaneous, and it hurt. “You’re listening to him! I can’t believe it! Alynwick of all people?
Adrian, you traitor!”
“For once he has a valid point. Lizzy.” Her brother sighed. “We cannot avoid the obvious. You’re at a disadvantage and it makes you extremely vulnerable.” Jumping up, Elizabeth fisted her hands at her sides.
“I’ll hinder you, is that it?”
“Of course not.”
“While you and Black and Alynwick are out searching for the monster who killed Anastasia, you want me BOUND GALLEY EDITION March 23,
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