Lady Alexandra's Lover (Sex and the Season #3) - Helen Hardt Page 0,74

wanted. Putting her under house arrest was futile. He’d tried it before, to no avail, and obviously it wasn’t working any better today.

What would he say to his father and his new stepmother? Now he had lost both of their daughters.

“I’ve questioned some of the servants,” Woods said. “None of them know where she went.”

“How could she have escaped the manor undetected?”

“Your guess is as good as mine, my lord. She is a very smart young lady—fair of face, strong of will, and crafty of mind. I’m afraid that’s a lethal combination.”

Evan drew in a breath. All things he admired greatly about Alexandra—and what might become his undoing.

He should call his brother, but Jacob was at the other Brighton London residence, the larger one, of course, in full enjoyment of the end of the season with Marvella. Evan definitely didn’t want one of Jacob’s big brother talks.

How had he come to this? He’d managed not only to fall in love with one of his new stepsisters but also to lose track of both of them. And his father and new stepmother were on their way home at the moment and would be back, stopping in London, in two to three days. Could he have blundered this any worse?

He would fix this tonight, for he knew exactly where Alexandra had gone—32 Chilton Place. He shuddered at the thought of either her or Sophie in that vile neighborhood.

He pulled his timepiece out of his pocket. A few more hours until midnight. He didn’t know what to expect, so he prepared for the worst. He’d been told to come alone, but he wasn’t that stupid. He would bring a few loyal servants and leave them in the coach a few blocks away, just in case.

His stomach growled. He didn’t feel the slightest bit hungry, but he had not eaten since lunch. He strode quickly to the kitchen and bid a servant to quickly fix him something.

* * *

Ally fished several coins out of her reticule to pay the hansom cabbie.

“This ain’t the greatest area, milady,” the cabbie said. “You sure you want me leaving you here?”

“I will be quite fine, thank you.” Ally, a dark cloak covering her, handed him the coins, hoping the words she spoke were true. The area was poverty-stricken, not unlike where she had grown up. They had lived in town during her teens, rather than on the Longarry estate, which her father couldn’t afford to keep in repair. Ally had hoped never to see areas like this again in her lifetime. She wouldn’t have to, if she got through tonight. After she saved Sophie, she would marry Mr. Landon, and they would both be taken care of forever.

To be legal, the marriage would have to be consummated. She had looked forward to sleeping with Mr. Landon…until she had slept with Evan. She couldn’t imagine that the two would compare. Although she enjoyed her kisses with Mr. Landon, comparing his kisses to Evan’s was like comparing a coddled egg to the most decadent cheese soufflé.

Nothing to be done about that. She had made a decision, and she intended to see it through.

There were still a few hours until midnight. She would go to the address, look around, and find a good hiding place. She fingered the kitchen knife in her pocket. It wasn’t much, but it gave her a bit of confidence. Evan would show up at midnight or a bit before, and she would be here to help him if he needed her.

The cobbled street was littered with refuse and waste. Ally held a handkerchief to her face and breathed through her mouth. Rats scattered away from her, and tomcats strode the alley mewling and looking for females in season.

Yes, this was all too familiar to Ally. After tonight, though, this type of life would truly be in her past.

None of the doors of the building were open, though one window was broken. She walked toward it and touched the jagged glass. “Ouch!” She had not expected it to be quite so sharp. A bead of blood pearled on her fingertip.

Why would anyone bring her sister to such a godforsaken place? Who had Sophie?

Darkness surrounded Ally. Even if she had come here at high noon, she still would have felt the darkness. Neighborhoods like this were just dark.

Quick as lightning, a blur ran past her and grabbed her reticule.

“Wait!” Her feet started to move, but she rethought the action. She would never catch the perpetrator. She hadn’t brought