Seeing Danger (Sinclair and Raven #2)(6)

“What do you know of her family?”

“Not much.” Cam shrugged. “Father and mother have passed, and the aunt lives with Miss Braithwaite and her brother. We both know him; Nicholas. He has the same vices I once had.”

“The same Nicholas you lost money to,” Dev said, remembering the night he had found his brother deep in debt in the bowels of some hellhole.

“Yes, not a very pleasant type, but as I was halfway down a bottle of whiskey at the time, I can't remember a great deal.”

“Excuse me, brother.”

“Where are you going?” Cam asked.

“To find out who the hell the true Miss Braithwaite is.”





CHAPTER THREE


Lilly's eyes tracked Lord Sinclair as he drew closer. Surely he was not coming to see her? Two days had passed since that night he had caught her as she lunged at Leo to save him, and she’d believed he had taken her advice and forgotten the entire incident. The look on his face suggested she was wrong.

Her heart beat a little faster as she watched him cut a path through the other guests. He was taller than most of the other people in the room, so she could see him clearly, and although she couldn't read his expression from this distance she was fairly certain he was looking at her.

Of course he was not seeking her out, she told herself. She had turned him away successfully, just as she had the others. And yet, what had happened between them may have piqued his interest. She prayed it hadn't, as she had no time to deal with him now.

The problem was that since that night when he had risked himself to save her, when she would have surely fallen hard and possibly injured herself and Leo, she had not been able to stop thinking of him. His actions had been selfless, and she was unsure many would have taken the steps he had to keep her safe.

Take her brother, for example; he would never have risked his health to save her. And yet Lord Sinclair had, which told her she may have misjudged him, and that in fact, he was a great deal nicer than she had originally believed. Not that it mattered. Lilly let no one close; she held them all at bay with silly looks, boring stories, and terrible choices in clothing. But still, it would be nice to know if he was... nice.

She shot him another look. He certainly seemed to be heading her way. Lilly pressed a hand to her chest. Surely not? Surely he would not question her here over what had transpired the other night?

He had piercing green eyes, which she had only really looked into once before and vowed never to do so again, because she was sure he had read her innermost secrets and seen right down to her soul. Thick black hair and dark brows and lashes complemented a face that sometimes appeared chiseled in granite, and then he would smile—rarely, but usually when his siblings were near—and the effect was breathtaking.

His chest was wide, his shoulders broad, and Lilly had no idea who his tailor was, but she hoped he was paid handsomely for the effort of clothing the man's huge body.

Men did not often unsettle Lilly; in fact, for the most she found them simpleminded idiots, just as they found her. However, one look into his green eyes and she had actually lost the ability to think. It had never happened to her before, that sudden intense attraction that had fleeced her brain of every thought and stuck her tongue to the roof of her mouth. Lilly had never been attracted to another man like she was to Lord Sinclair. When he had offered his arm she had felt the heat of his body through her gloved fingers almost as if the man were a smoldering ember. Luckily she had fallen back on the act she had perfected of the empty-headed Miss Braithwaite.

“Is that Lord Sinclair coming this way, Miss Braithwaite?” Miss Tabitha Pillsworth whispered to her.

“Absolutely not,” Lilly said, turning away so she wouldn't gaze at him as she often did when no one paid attention. Her glasses proved a wonderful shield and, as most evenings she sat in some corner, she could observe without reserve.

“I think he is, and he looks extremely determined. Dear Lord, that is a ferocious scowl, is it not?”

“As you can see, Miss Pillsworth, I am at present looking at you. Therefore I cannot see what look Lord Sinclair has upon his face.”

“I wonder how he does that?” Her companion sighed.

“Does what?” Lilly said, then bit her tongue; she did not want to know what he was doing.

“Part the crowd without a word.”

“He is probably wearing too much scent!”

“Oh that was naughty, Miss Braithwaite!” Miss Pillsworth giggled and then gulped and grew quiet, and Lilly knew why. Without turning around, she just knew that he was standing behind her. She could feel him.

“Miss Braithwaite, Miss Pillsworth, I hope you are having a pleasant evening thus far.”

She had to look up at him now; it would be extremely rude if she did not. Yet didn't he already think her rude?

“Lord Sinclair,” Lilly said, gripping the edges of her seat.

“May I enquire if you have this dance free, Miss Braithwaite?”

Lilly looked down at her dance card, thereby avoiding his eyes. Damn man, he was far too disturbing this close, and while Lilly studied her card, she knew there was not one name on there.

“I fear not, Lord Sinclair.” Lilly fell back on what she did best. She gave him an insipid smile.

“Now that is a shame, considering we have so much to discuss.”

That look in his eyes told Lilly the man was not about to walk away from her until he got what he came for.