Sinfully Yours (Hellions of High Street 2)

Her own feet twitched, and she darted a glance at the doorway. Devlin ought to be informed as soon as possible…

But reason quickly prevailed. Venturing out into the deserted hallways of the castle with an armed assassin on the prowl was not the wisest of ideas.

Perhaps my earlier adventure has tempered my taste for outrageous risks.

Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, Anna crept back to the sanctuary of her bed. The downy softness felt blissfully good against her tired limbs, and she stifled a yawn as she burrowed deeper into the covers.

Unmasking the baron’s perfidy could wait until morning.

“Still abed, mademoiselle?” Josette paused by the armoire, a pile of freshly laundered nightrails in her arms. “Shall I come back later?”

“No, no, it’s quite alright.” Anna pried an eye open and winced as a blade of sunlight cut across her face. “Oh, dear, is it fearfully late?”

“Not by the standards of your fellow guests. Most of the ladies don’t rise until well after noon.”

“I am not used to lazing in bed,” she mumbled sleepily. But on flexing her aching shoulders, she was sorely tempted to remain cocooned within the covers for a while longer.

“An eventful evening?” inquired the maid.

The question quickly cleared the muzziness from her head.

Ye gods—the evening!

Anna sat up quickly and pushed a loosened hank of hair off her cheek. “N-no, not really.”

Josette leaned down and fished a bedraggled stocking—an unmistakably male stocking—from beneath the bed. “Hmmm.”

Drat! In he

r haste to strip off her male garments and hide them in one of the bandboxes, she had been a little careless.

After examining the item a fraction longer, Josette merely folded it neatly and placed it on the bureau without comment.

“I can explain,” murmured Anna. “But I’d rather not.”

“If you wish to sneak out for an assignation with that handsome dark-haired devil, that is entirely your own affair, mademoiselle,” replied the maid. “As you know, I believe a woman ought to have the freedom to make her own choices, even if they are ones that may lead her into trouble.”

“I wasn’t having an assignation with the Devil,” said Anna, then quickly amended her words. “Well, not exactly.” Better to let Josette think her adventures were simply amorous. “I know that doesn’t make sense—”

“Love rarely does,” quipped Josette.

“But I’m not in love.”

“Bon. That is good.” The maid turned and began straightening up the brushes and boxes on the dressing table. “Men will only make you miserable if you give them your heart.”

Anna smiled but felt a strange sort of pinch in her chest. Was that true? Her own mother’s shrill unhappiness was in part due to the detachment of her father. He lived in his own world—a quite wonderful world, but the fact that his wife was uncomfortable in it did not deter him from living quite cheerfully on his own.

It must have been disappointing for Mama to realize that the tribal customs of Crete meant more to him than her needs and desires. Neither had been willing to compromise…

“Shall I fetch hot water for your morning toilette?”

Josette’s quiet question roused Anna from her reveries. “No, no—that’s not necessary.” Rising, she hurried to the washstand and splashed some cold water on her face. “I’m anxious to go down to breakfast.”

“I shall shake out your cerulean blue walking dress. The day is bright, but a bit chilly, so merino wool seems a good choice, just in case you wish to go for a stroll in the gardens.”

Devlin signaled the footman for another pot of coffee—and promptly scalded his tongue on the first swallow. Sputtering a low oath, he slapped the cup down and shot an impatient glance at the breakfast room entrance.

“More toast, milord?”