Read Ladies of Deception 03 - Betraying the Highwayman for Free Online

watch the poor man die.
    She shuddered at the thought, just as the door was opened, grateful for the interruption that caused her to stop thinking about the painful memories she held deep in her heart. “Hello, may I help you?” The butler’s slow drawl poured over her like melting butter on a warm biscuit.
    Elenore hesitated briefly before answering. “Yes, I was sent to care for Lord Brattondale.” She held her breath waiting for a response, hoping that he wouldn’t question her further or doubt her presence.
    Holding the door wide open he said, “Do come in. I’ll inform the master that you have arrived.”
    Elenore watched as he retreated down the hall, before taking a moment to take in her surroundings. Westbrooke Hall was spacious and tastefully decorated, although a little more sparse than the opulent surroundings of the Duke of Kerrington's townhouse, where she had previously been staying. She stuck her nose in the open door to her left and wasn’t at all surprised to find the drawing room. The walls were covered in a cream-colored paper featuring hand-painted flowers of multiple different colors and varieties. In front of the fireplace sat a dainty, burgundy settee with matching tufted wing-chairs sitting across from it. There were gold-framed paintings of various landscapes hanging on the walls and a large Louis XV-style, gilded mirror hanging above the fireplace.
    Before Elenore could finish taking stock of the room, she heard a voice coming up behind her and quickly turned to see that the butler had returned. “I’ve been instructed to introduce you to Lord Brattondale. He isn’t feeling particularly well this morning and has requested you come visit him in his bedchamber.”
    Elenore tried to will her cheeks not to heat at the thought of visiting a man in his room but wasn’t sure how successful she was. Instead she simply nodded and followed the butler up the stairs and to the west wing of the house, taking cautious steps, trying to be gentle on her feet. She waited patiently while the butler rapped on the door and waited to be granted entrance. He indicated for her to go in first, to which she reluctantly obliged.
    Walking into the earl’s room, the first thing she noticed was how dim and gloomy it was. Despite it being the middle of the day, the room was almost completely dark. She hesitantly made for the bed, trying to get close enough to see the earl, but she heard him long before she ever saw him.
    “You may go Clarence. I’ll ring the bell if I need further assistance.”
    Clarence nodded his head and left, leaving Elenore gaping at the dark form in the bed. Her skin crawled at the knowledge that she was in a room alone with a man, a man she had never met, no less. She wanted desperately to turn around and run, but something kept her rooted in place.
    “Come closer,” the earl commanded in a raspy voice. “I’d like to get a better look at you.”
    Elenore obeyed, just as eager to get a good look at him. As she drew nearer to the bed she was able to start making out the earl’s features. He was a portly man with little to no hair on top of his bulbous head, though his eyebrows were thick and bushy. It seemed to Elenore that all of the man’s hair had gravitated to the two patches above his eyes. She stopped at the foot of the bed and waited.
    “Come closer,” the earl quietly commanded.
    Elenore tiptoed to the head of the bed, not wanting to make any noise in the quiet room, though she wasn’t sure why. The earl was fully aware of her presence.
    They both sat silently observing each other, before the earl finally spoke. “I suppose you’ll do. What is your name?”
    “Sister Genevieve, my lord.”
    “I’m Lord Brattondale. Now, enough of the small talk. I’d like you to feed me my morning meal.”
    “Is a tray being brought up or should I go fetch one?”
    “You’ll have to go get it from the kitchen, and make it quick.”
    Elenore nodded before turning and leaving the