Blood Secret by Sharon Page Page B

away.
    “You hired a man to search for your brother. What do you think I did to find my nephew? I have sent two dozen men in search of him. But the reason I know your father took him, Lady Lucy, is because your father told me.”
    “It’s—it can’t be possible. My father would never have done such a thing. Why would he?”
    “I believe you know, Lady Lucy.” He breathed the words against her ear with his cool breath.
    “I don’t!”
    Sinjin tried to see into Lady Lucy’s thoughts. He could not, but her emotions flooded to him. Anger. Confusion. Frustration. Fear. Worry.
    Why the fear? Was she fearful because she might be caught in a lie? Or was she feeling great fear because she was afraid for her brother? He skimmed his hands up her stomach, to rest just below the generous curve of her breasts. She wore a fresh gown, a fetching one of ivory silk. She stiffened. Her heart thundered against his fingers. “Your father assured me James is safe. But he also assured me I would never see the boy again. Why, my dear, do you think I worked to ruin your brother?”
    “I—”
    “I did it to get my nephew back. All I want is the safe return of an innocent boy. He is only five years of age.”
    Against his body, she shuddered. “I cannot believe this. I have no proof my father said any such thing to you. I have witnesses who saw you leave with my brother.”
    He traced the smooth curve of her jaw. Was her outrage just an act? Was it possible her father had ensured she did not know that he had stolen a child to use the poor lad as a hostage? “I know where he is. I will take you to him. But first, my dear, you will submit to my every command tonight.”
    “What—what do you mean?”
    “I want to make love to you. You will do everything I ask, and then I will tell you where you can find your wastrel brother.”
     
    Lucy glanced around the room—at the swing, the manacles, and the benches with their chains. She did not care about their bargain now. And the last thing she wanted to do was something sexual. “No. I wish to go to my brother now. ”
    Wastrel or not, Jack deserved her protection. She had vowed to Father that she would look after Jack, who drank too much, gamed too much, and was always in trouble. But also, Jack had protected her once, when she’d needed him most. He had rescued her from Allan, and she owed him her very life for that.
    A wicked grin curved the duke’s lips. He winked at her, which infuriated her. Lightly, he said, “Your brother is perfectly safe. I doubt he would appreciate your interruption too soon.”
    She did not appreciate his teasing tone at this particular time. “Why? Where is he?” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the maddening man.
    “No harm in giving you a little hint, I suppose... .” He shrugged. “My men have located him in a brothel—he’s been holed up in there for days.”
    “A brothel?” Pure fury rushed through her. Lucy clenched her fists at her sides. “We thought he was dead and he is hiding in a brothel? ”
    “Indeed.”
    There was much about this she did not understand. “How, if you wanted to find your nephew, did you not know where my brother was? Are you telling me that after you left that tavern together, when he had not given you the information you wanted, you simply let him go?”
    Suspiciously, she watched his eyes, to see if he gave himself away. It didn’t make sense. But his eyes merely reflected the light in the room, and she could get no sense of his private thoughts.
    The duke sighed. “I allowed your brother to go as I intended to follow him. However, I was overly arrogant, and your brother evaded me. For as long as you have been looking for him, I’ve been searching for him. I want him to tell me where my nephew is. Now, come, Lady Lucy, we made a bargain. Sexual pleasure first.”
    She should go and find Jack right now. So she could boot her brother in his derriere, the thoughtless wretch. But her body relaxed in