Mistress of Scandal (Greentree Sisters 3)

But then again what if he was no longer Mr. Thorne?

Aphrodite had suggested as much. How can such a man as you, Mr. Thorne, walk beside Francesca in anything other than secret? If you were a gentleman to her lady, you could keep her safe more easily. And you do want to keep her safe, don’t you?

His hands tightened their grip on the ebony railing that circled the gallery. He’d promised himself he’d never go back, but Francesca needed him. He had to save her.

Whatever the cost to himself.

Chapter 25

“So she really can’t speak?” Lil asked, wide-eyed.

Martin nodded. “She really can’t, and she’s not playacting, either. She can’t tell Mr. Thorne who was giving her orders, and now he’s pulling out his hair with worry, because he thinks whoever it is will come after Miss Francesca next, and she’s refused to let him near her.”

Martin often told her things no one else knew, things he probably shouldn’t have. But Lil liked it. She didn’t let him know that, though; men were best kept in the dark when it came to what women were thinking.

“Good job, too.” She sniffed. “Miss Francesca’s too good for the likes of him.”

Martin laughed. “As if that has anything to do with it, Lil. They’re mad for each other, can’t you see that?”

“No, I can’t, and I don’t believe you.”

“Well, you take note of the way they look at each other next time you see them together. You’ll believe me then.”

Lil sniffed. “There are more important things than lust, Martin. When a lady marries, she marries for breeding and blood, and she wants a man who’ll look after her and give her all the things she’s used to.”

“What about if someone who isn’t a lady marries?” Martin asked. “Does she go for breeding, too? Or can she marry for love?”

“It depends,” Lil said primly.

“On what?”

“On the someone.”

He chuckled. “Now I find that strangely encouraging,” he murmured. Lil felt a pang in her heart. She’d promised herself to have nothing more to do with men. There was too much heartache involved, and she had too many secrets. Martin would want to know all about her, too; they all did. He’d pick and pry until he’d winkled the past out of her, and then he’d turn up his nose and walk away.

She couldn’t bear that. She’d rather stop it right now, as she had with Mr. Keith. And as for Jacob, he hadn’t cared enough about her past to ask. All he’d wanted was someone to cook and clean his clothes and roll about with in bed. He thought Lil was a good choice because she was a lady’s maid, a step up from a village girl.

But Lil knew that it would be different with Martin. He was articulate and intelligent, and he made her laugh. She could see them together; she could see them happy together.

And that was what frightened her.

“I’ll be going back to Yorkshire soon,” she said. “Miss Francesca will want me to go with her.”

“That’s a pity.” Martin shook his head. “What if I asked you to stay with me? You could help me look after Mr. Thorne.”

“I don’t think so. What would Mr. Thorne want with a lady’s maid?”

Martin smiled. “I have a feeling Mr. Thorne is thinking of getting married, Lil.”

“Married?” she was astonished.

“Yes. I found a pair of lady’s drawers stuffed into the bookcase the other day.”

Lil’s eyes grew even wider.

“You think about it, Lil. It would be comfortable, you and me together in London. I reckon we’d make the perfect couple. Professionally speaking, that is.”

She couldn’t help but smile. Professionally speaking! Who did he think he was fooling? But it was tempting. Surprisingly tempting, when she remembered what she would be leaving behind.