Page 2 of When a Lady Desires a Wicked Lord
With a rough motion, he pulled the curtains closed.
Alex’s heart thudded against her ribs. Why had he covered the windows?
Keeping to the shadows, she watched the intruder. Lamplight flickered over his pale hair. Seemingly oblivious to her presence, he moved past her.
Without warning, he turned. Rays of gaslight from the corridor illuminated stark features.
His attention dropped to the pistol in her hand. “There’s no need for a weapon, Miss Quinn. I mean you no harm.”
She took a step in retreat. “How…how do you know my name?”
His mouth quirked at one corner. “I came here to offer you a proposition—the terms will be most favorable.”
“You’ve entered my home uninvited—at this ungodly hour, no less—and you think to discuss an arrangement of some sort?”
“If I’d seen another way, I might have employed a more conventional method. But my options are rather limited. You see, time is short.”
Anger firmed her chin. “Why are you here?”
“You have something I need.” His voice went low, a harsh rasp. “But I suspect you already know that.”
She forced a bland tone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“They say you are brilliant. Odd, then, that you would foolishly put yourself at risk.” The unexpected venom in his tone chilled her to the bone. “A young, unmarried woman…living alone.”
She leveled her gun at his midsection. “If you’ve come to pilfer the silver, take it now and be on your way. If you think I won’t pull the trigger, you are making a grave mistake.”
He laughed, a raw, surly sound. “You don’t have it in you, luv. Shall we discuss what youcando to keep yourself alive?”
“I have no intention of bargaining with you.”
“You will, Alexandra. Even if you don’t know it yet.” The sound of her name on his lips repulsed her.
He stalked toward her, each step slow and stealthy. Even though she could not see his face, she felt his heated gaze rake over her. She heard the rapid acceleration of his breaths, the sickening excitement he made no effort to conceal.
“You are far more interesting than what I’d anticipated,” he murmured, malice infusing every word.
Bile rose in the back of her throat. A scream lurked just below the surface of her fear, but she resisted the instinct. Even if her neighbors heard her cry out, the elderly barrister and his wife would only put themselves in harm’s way should they rush to her assistance. No, she’d have to repel this scoundrel herself.
“Stay back.” She retreated yet another step, holding her voice steady, as if facing a feral animal. “Don’t make me shoot you.”
“You think I’m afraid of that puny little gun?” His gaze was fixed on her, a predator studying his prey.
Taking another step back, she felt the edge of the desk against the back of her legs.
No further retreat.
Nowhere to go.
“Go. Leave this house.” The restrained terror in her voice sounded foreign to her own ears.
“You won’t kill me, high-and-mightyladythat you are. We both know you haven’t got it in—”
Courage.The word broke through her terror.
Her breath hovered in her throat. He’d left her no choice.
She uttered a silent prayer. Her finger tensed against the trigger. Squeezed.
