His Scandalous Kiss: Secrets at Thorncliff Manor: 6 by Sophie Barnes

said as she thought of the time she’d spent in Signor Antonio’s company. “But that is neither here nor
     there since I doubt I will ever see him again. He wants to remain anonymous for some reason while I . . . Even if he turned
     out to be a duke and made me an offer, I am still not sure that I would be able to accept.”
    Folding Mary’s gown, Amy placed it carefully in the trunk at the foot of the bed. “Because of your work?”
    “You know how important it is to me, but the ton will never approve of what I am doing and neither will a gentleman. If I marry, my husband will demand that I give it up
     so as not to cause a scandal.”
    “If he loves you, he might help you continue as you have been doing thus far, disguised as Lucia.”
    “It is highly unlikely and certainly not a risk that I am willing to take without a great deal of consideration first. Not
     as long as I need the income.” Seating herself on the low bench in front of her vanity table, Mary began removing her earrings.
    “Speaking of which,” Amy said, crossing to Mary’s bedside table, “this letter arrived for you earlier this evening. It looks
     as though it is from Lord Carthright.” She placed it on the vanity in front of Mary, then reached for a comb and proceeded
     to pull it through Mary’s hair.
    “I was wondering when I would hear from my brother again,” Mary said as she fingered the shiny blob of wax that sealed the
     paper shut. Reluctantly, she tore it open, unfolded the paper and read, her stomach tying itself into knots as she did so.
     “He requires another five thousand pounds.” Raising her gaze Mary stared into the mirror. “The investments he made, following
     our last correspondence, were not to his advantage.”
    Amy’s hands stilled. A few seconds passed, and then, “I know it is not my place to say this, my lady, but I do wish that you
     would refuse him for once.”
    “There is also Carthright House to consider,” Mary murmured. “I daresay that he was ill-prepared for the expense of running
     such a large estate. The repairs have been extensive. I saw the need for a new roof myself when I last visited.”
    “Even so, he is a grown man, my lady. Perhaps it would be wiser to insist that he stand on his own two feet.”
    “My conscience will not allow it, Amy. Not when I have the means by which to help him and especially not since my help is
     intended to ensure that he will eventually be capable of supporting himself in a home that is worthy of his title.”
    “Lord Carthright is a lucky man to have so generous a sister.” Amy wove Mary’s hair into a long plait.
    Mary sighed. “He is my brother. If the situation were reversed, I am sure that he would do the same for me.”
    The look Amy gave her in the mirror disagreed. “I doubt we will ever know since such a situation is unlikely to occur. If
     I were you, I would still inform your parents of his situation.”
    “They are half a world away,” Mary said. “There is little they can do.”
    “You are right.” Reaching for a ribbon, Amy tied the end of the plait securely in place.
    “I will send a letter to the bank first thing in the morning,” Mary said decisively as she refolded the letter and set it
     aside.
    Catching her eye in the mirror, Amy asked, “Does this mean that you will be giving up on your mystery man?”
    Mary blinked. “What choice do I have? Lord Carthright still needs me and as long as that is the case, I do not see how I can
     possibly encourage any man to pursue me. Besides, I have already told you that my aunt has forbidden him from doing so.”
    “True. But has she placed the same restriction on you?”
    “To think otherwise would be deliberately ignorant.”
    Amy shrugged. “If you like him as well as your blush suggests, then I think perhaps you should try to spend more time with
     him. He clearly has secrets of his own if he does not wish for you to know who he is. I think it may be likely that he will
     not