The Lady Seals Her Fate (The Langley Sisters #5) by Wendy Vella

home.” What was one more lie, Hannah thought, tucking the note into her bodice. She did not want Alex trying to get his hands on it after the disastrous incident in the park.
    “A book or sweets?”
    “Both,” Hannah said, picking up a handful of buttons and then placing them carefully in the box. She tried not to appear as if she were hurrying, knowing Alex was still watching her.
    “I find the toffee at Miss Castor’s shop to be above all others in London.”
    “Yes, it is quite fine.” She placed the evening primrose buttons in a small pile.
    “But there is no finer butterscotch than Peacock’s.” Alex made a small humming noise after these words. “Where do you get Bridgette’s sweets from? If it’s not a place I’ve been, I should try it, don’t you think?”
    “I can’t remember the name,” Hannah said, trying not to trap herself in more lies. They were piling on so thick she didn’t know the truth anymore.
    Two large black leather-clad feet appeared before her suddenly, but she kept her eyes on the buttons. The puce ones were next to go in the box.
    “You’re lying to me, Hannah, and that suggests that what was in that note had nothing to do with Bridgette, and everything to do with whatever was in the one you received in the park before you decided to go swimming in the Serpentine River.”
    Hannah focused on the last handful of buttons. Scooping them up, she lowered them carefully into the box. Ignoring the large male standing over her, she attempted to get to her feet once more; he, however, had other ideas.
    “Alex, get off the hem of my dress!”
    “Hand over that note.”
    “I most certainly will not, it is private.” Hannah attempted to wrestle her skirt from beneath his boot, with little success. “You shall rip it if you continue!”
    “Excellent, then you shall not be able to wear the hideous thing again.”
    “Move now, Alex.” Hannah tried again to tug the material free.
    “I want to read that note.”
    “No!” She glared up at him.
    “Then I shall have to take it from you.”
    Before Hannah could inhale, he had dropped to his knees before her, reaching for her bodice. She slapped his hands aside and tried to shuffle backward on her bottom now her skirts were free, but he grabbed her ankle so she didn’t get far.
    “Alex, stop this!”
    “Hand over that note, Hannah.”
    “No!”
    He braced his knees on either side of her thighs as he locked his fingers around her arms. “I want that note, Hannah, and I will get it no matter what it takes.”
    She fought with the only weapon at her disposal. She bit his arm, hard. He yelped and fell off her. Hannah scrambled to her feet and ran for the door. Once through it, she continued down the hall and reached the front door seconds later. She could hear Alex gaining on her, so she threw it open, leapt off the front three steps and ran down the little lane. Reaching the end, she looked around for her carriage, but as it was not due to return for another hour, Hannah knew she was wasting her time.
    “Hannah!”
    Alex was almost upon her, and he would want the note. She could not outrun him, so pulling it from her bodice she tore it in half, then half again.
    “What the bloody hell are you doing, woman!” Alex reached her as she was shredding the paper into tiny pieces.
    “This,” she held the torn remnants out toward him, “is my business, not yours, Alex Hetherington, so I’m telling you to leave this matter alone.”
    He was in his shirtsleeves again, hair standing on end, face flushed with anger, and he looked ready to throw her over his shoulder and head for his cave. Hannah ignored the betraying quiver of excitement at that thought and took a step backward out of reach.
    “You,” he said, rudely pointing a finger at her, “are more troublesome than any woman I have met.”
    Hannah couldn’t help it, she poked out her tongue.
    “God’s blood,” he snarled. “You try my patience, and were everyone to wake tomorrow