Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (282 page)

'Your Grace,

isn't home,' the butler said,

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The Viscount Claims His Bride

flustered by her sudden arrival. 'Surely you knew of his plans?'

'That's why I'm here,'

said, quickly

moving into the story she and Lilya had concocted.

'Mr Canton has forgotten some items he needs. He asked me to come back for them. It's quite desperate.

He fears his new contracts can't be signed without them.'

wrung her hands for good measure.

'Do you know where he left them?'

'He thought they were in his office or maybe in his bedchamber,'

said.

'I'll help you look,' the butler offered.

declined the offer, gesturing to Lilya. 'I brought my maid, so as not to bother you. I you have responsibilities.' She swept into the hall and began making her way up the stairs to the room Lucien used as his office before the butler could muster up any other concerns.

'What are we looking for?' Lilya whispered once she'd closed the office door behind them.

'Anything incriminating. I don' t know beyond that. There might not be anything here at all,'

said. It had been something of a victory to get into his house. They would have to be quick. She had no idea how long it would be before the servants began to suspect something was wrong. How much time they had would depend on how much Lucien had told the staff about their estrangement. She hoped Lucien had remained true to his arrogant character and not lowered himself to share their relationship with the staff.

Their luck held in terms of discovery. No one

Scott

bothered them beyond an occasional inquiry. But luck was against them in unearthing anything of merit that might indicate Lucien was capable of such deceitful conniving.

'We'd better try somewhere else. I don't think anything is here,'

said when they'd ex-

hausted the

check his bedroom,' Lilya offered.

check the library.'

In the library,

gazed at the walls of book-

shelves. She'd never be able to check each of those books in a reasonable amount of time. Even if she had time, it would take more than a day to check them. She supposed it would not be beyond the realm of possibility that a book was hollowed out or that the cover masked the book's true contents. But she didn't have time to

that check. She also

thought it would draw undue suspicion from the staff if they found her

through books.

checked the small desk that sat in the corner, but it was

empty. Flummoxed, she

sank down on the sofa. It was hard to believe a few months ago she'd received a marriage proposal in this very room from someone she had believed to be her friend. She remembered the incident quite clearly. The room had felt awkward, as if she were being watched.

She stood up and started to pace in front of the Given all that had happened in the past months, she was starting to feel that it was not unbelievable that she had been watched. Perhaps there was a hidden panel somewhere.

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The Viscount

His
Bride

shot a furtive glance at the doorway, then back at the

The portrait above the

place had given her a strange feeling the night Lucien had proposed. Perhaps there was a switch in the fireplace that led to a secret room.

She didn't have to feel for long before her hand felt a knob in a place no fireplace typically had one.

held her breath and pressed.

panel slid

open. Elation coursed through her. She'd found a secret room! She cautioned herself.

secret room

didn't mean anything was in it. Lots of houses had such rooms left over from the Civil War, and further back in time.

stooped and stepped inside. The room

was far larger than she'd anticipated.

table and

chair sat against one wall with a few books stacked on the table.

rug was on the floor.

small spiral

stairway led to a little alcove big enough for a person to stand in.

grimaced. She'd bet there were

peepholes through the queer portrait.

She went to the desk and picked up one of the books. Her hand stopped. There were crumbs on the desk. This room had been used recently. Hurriedly, she sat down at the desk and opened the drawers.

They weren't locked. She supposed there was no need to lock drawers when they were in secret rooms.

Her heart raced a bit faster. Her letter to Lucien, rejecting his proposal, was there in the top drawer.

It was proof Lucien used this room. But not any proof that would do Valerian good.

In the last drawer, she found a set of three diaries dating from the last three years.

leafed