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“I didn’t read any letters! Please, Your Grace.”
He sighed, turning away. “You think me a fool, do you not?”
“Of course I do not. I am trying to save your life.”
“Perhaps you’re trying to save your own.”
She spread her hands wide. “I have nothing to hide. Search me if you care to.”
He laughed bitterly. “I already know you did not take any letters. Don’t you think I checked that they were all there?”
“Well, then?”
“Tell me why you read them.”
“I wascleaning.”
He stepped closer, glaring at her. “Somehow in yourcleaning, you unlocked a locked drawer without the key?”
She opened her mouth, and then closed it, nothing occurring to her. “I—”
“Do notlie to me!” he thundered.
Letty flinched, stepping back. “What I’m telling you is real. Your life is in danger,” she said quietly.
“Likely it’s in danger from you.” He sounded oddly betrayed.
She spread her palms out, eyes pleading with him. “I wish you no harm.”
“Then tell me what you’re doing here. Why were you reading my papers? Who do you work for?”
Letty sighed, retreating into the room and leaning against the wall. She closed her eyes, just breathing.
“Letty?”
“Do with me whatever you want, Your Grace. But remember, they will poison your food. You must be careful.”
He took a step closer, entering the room and closing the door behind him. He fitted the lantern he was holding into a sconce and then came towards her, taking her hand. His voice was low, gentle. “Miss Strange, please. Confide in me. Give me your trust and I will do the same.”
She shook her head slowly, regretfully. “There is no trust to be given.” She whispered, “I have already given you all I have.”
He pulled her closer to him, looking into her eyes. “Have you now?” His eyes raked her body, dark with desire, “I beg to differ.”
Her heart sped up as she tried to step away from him. He held tightly onto her, not letting her get away.
“Not so brazen now, are you? What do you think I’m going to do?”
She swallowed audibly, feeling out of her depth. “You are a gentleman. I know you won’t hurt me.”
His eyebrow climbed higher. “Do you? I wouldn’t be so sure if I were you.”
His hand snaked around her waist, pulling her flush against him, letting her feel his arousal. “I might just have to do whatever I need to, in order to get to the truth.” His voice was a low silky murmur, close to her ear. She shivered, both with fear and arousal and wondered if prayer would serve any purpose in this situation.
“Your Grace—”
“No, no, you may call me Bertram,” he whispered in her ear. “After all, what I intend to do to you, you might want to be able to shout my name.”
“P-please…” Her voice shook, mind jumping frantically from thought to thought, wondering how to get out of this, if she even wanted to.
