Tonight he’d go to her and show her where her loyalties should lie. And then he’d set a trap for Adrian.
Chapter Seven
Aweek after Prometheus’slast visit, Vanessa’s gaze returned repeatedly to the Earl of Hawkesmere’s private box while she performed. The Strathmores were out in force tonight. Both her admirer’s brothers were in attendance, along with Morgan’s wife, Anne, and their younger half-sister, Lady Allison.
She could not tell whether Adrian had chosen to join them. If he had, he was still hanging back in the shadows. His self-imposed loneliness called to something deep inside her. In fact, she found him every bit as fascinating as her masked midnight visitor.
Intrigued, she sent a page to extend his family a backstage invitation. Since she’d invited the whole family, her marked interest in Adrian might not be noticed.
Later, in the green room, Marcus strode toward her, with one of Adrian’s brothers and his wife in tow. He raised a curious brow as he performed the introductions. She never extended personal invitations to come backstage. “Mr. Morgan Strathmore, Mrs. Strathmore, may I introduce Miss Vanessa Bourke?”
Though she’d seen the Strathmore men from afar, this was the closest she’d ever been to one. Morgan Strathmore was mesmerizingly attractive, with thick, dark hair and uncanny blue eyes.
“You were fabulous tonight, Miss Bourke,” he murmured, as he bent over her hand. His deep, velvety voice resonated inside her mind, shocking her to the core. She’d heard that voice before... in her bedroom... in her dreams...
Was he her masked visitor? Her gaze darted between him and his lovely, pregnant blonde wife in rising dismay, remembering how it had felt to be in his arms.
How could he? She’d thought him a hero.
Something of what she was feeling must have shown in her eyes because his beautiful face darkened in concern. “Is something the matter, Miss Bourke?”
She met his gaze and found none of the familiarity or fear of discovery she’d expected. He looked at her as though she were merely a new acquaintance and not someone who could destroy his marriage and reputation with a word. Either that, or he was an even better actor than she was.
The answer came to her in a blinding flash.
Morgan Strathmore was not Prometheus, though of course, he sounded like him.
Her secret admirer and her masked visitor were one and the same—Adrian Strathmore, this man’s twin.
“No,” she answered weakly as all the pieces fell into place. Both men had hidden from her in one way or another. Dear Lord, how her heart ached for him. “I had just hoped your brother would join you tonight.”
His eyes narrowed, and he gestured behind him, to the earl, who was just entering the room with Lady Allison on his arm. “My brother did join me.”
“Your other brother,” she said softly. “Adrian.”
Heat crept up her cheeks as he continued to stare at her, obviously trying to figure out why she was acting so strangely. “I only ask because he often comes to the show, and I was hoping to meet him.”
