Page 41 of The Confessions of a Lady
Liam.
He puzzled her exceedingly. The man was a walking contradiction, so she listed everything she knew about him as she scrubbed the endless floor, trying to determine if he was capable of the kind of evil the Devil’s Sons required from their brethren.
She found the letters with their seal.A clear mark against him.
But she didn’t know what those letters said.Regardless of the content, it is a damning piece of evidence.
She hadn’t yet found the seal.But the letters all held the seal’s mark, so it’s only a matter of time.
The duchess came to visit him.She doesn’t waste her time on meaningless social calls. And she works for the Queen to hunt down corrupt lords. Not a good sign.
Then again, the duchess hadn’t done any more than talk to the marquess.Perhaps she is searching for evidence, just like me.
Liam didn’t fire Penny when she scolded him… on multiple occasions.That just proves he’s stupid, not a good person.
But she knew better. The Marquess of Stoneway had thick thighs, thick arms, a thick chest, but he certainly didn’t have a thick head.
He’s attracted to me.
Even admitting the fact caused a rush of heat to flood her cheeks. She dunked the brush into the bucket and scrubbed even harder, refusing to acknowledge her own attraction to Liam.
He allows me such liberties because he is blinded by his lust. If anything, that only confirms his poor judgment. What kind of marquess takes the time and effort to charm his maid?
He accused her of stealing.Arrogant, presumptuous bastard.
But then he apologised.And almost burned me to flames with his touch.
Ah. Yes. That. Wicked. And very, very good… err… bad.
He came to her rescue from the two brutes intent on harming her.I didn’t need his help, but still. It was good of him to put forth the effort.
And then the carriage ride home where he both soothed and seduced her.And I loved every moment of it. To feel so cared for. So cherished.
He bought all of the servants new clothes simply because he noticed her ruined dress and battered shoes.Only a very foolish or very good man would be so generous.
And he arranged for a tutor to come and educate his staff.Very few lords care about the education of their servants. None that I know. Except for him.
And then, in the midst of enticing Penny to indulge in wild fantasies in his study, a man stormed in and accused Liam of stealing away his daughter.Damning evidence indeed. If the man is correct.And if he was not? What fate had befallen his poor daughter?
Liam yelled at her, dismissing Penny with such cold force, she felt the sting worse than her cut cheek.Right after he nearly killed the man for daring to touch me.
Which shouldn’t flatter her.But it does.
When she looked at the evidence, nothing was clear. Liam was a complicated web of kind gestures and violent acts.
So why did she find it so difficult to imagine him hurting an innocent?
Her head began to ache. It was impossible to reach any conclusion other than one: Penny was an idiot. Because despite the evidence stacking up against him, she felt her heart softening toward Liam.
Foolish, stupid girl.
She picked up the bucket of dirty water and carefully limped on her stiff ankle to the panelled wall, pushing against a section of wainscoting that disguised a servants’ door.
The hallway was dark, and she hadn’t brought a candle. She felt her way along the wall, coming out into a small back room that lead to the kitchen. Mr Coggins sat at the small table snugged in the corner.
He must use this room as his office.
Coggins turned sharply, his cold eyes pinning Penny where she stood, the bucket handle cutting into her raw hands.
