Temptations of Anna Jacobs by Robyn DeHart Page A

bottle.
    Drew didn’t bother knocking at the front door, but let himself in. He passed the butler in the corridor. “Are the duke and duchess otherwise occupied?”
    “Not at the moment, my lord. They are in the parlor awaiting dinner. Shall I introduce you?”
    “I don’t believe that’s necessary. I know the way.” He patted the old man on the back and followed the corridor to the parlor outside of the dining room. He opened the door and Alex looked up. His brows rose and he offered Drew a smile.
    “Drew, what a surprise,” he said, coming to his feet.
    Drew stepped inside the room and nodded to his brother, but then immediately went over to his sister-in-law. “Mia, I do believe I owe you an apology.”
    She looked at him with her startling eyes, colored a deep blue, though he knew she could not see him. Mia had been struck blind after a riding accident when she’d been but a girl. Despite her disability, she was a remarkable woman, having lived on her own for the better part of her adulthood. Tears formed in her eyes. “Drew?” she asked.
    “Yes.”
    His unspoken words caught in his gut. How could he possibly apologize for the slight he’d given her? What could he say to make up for his insulting behavior? Once again he fought the yearning deep in his gut. This would be so much easier with just a finger or two of brandy to ease the words from him. However he didn’t dare ask for a drink from Alex. He had come this far; certainly he could push out his apology.
    In the end, all he could give her were his honesty and regret. “You must believe me a complete and utter ass, and frankly I don’t blame you. But I am doing my best to stay away from the drink, as it tends to dull my mind and bring out the very worst in me,” Drew said. “Forgive me?”
    Emotion flickered across Mia’s face. Even though he knew she could not see, he got the impression she could see right through him. Despite that, he was startled when she brought her hand to his face and the featherlight touch of her fingers trailed over his cheeks. As if the touch somehow reassured her, she smiled. “Of course, Drew.”
    Like a fool, he felt himself tearing up. He’d never pegged himself as a sensitive sort, but his brief stint in prison had taught him how important family was. Of course it had helped that his brother had never given up on him—had never, for a moment, thought the worst. Drew pinched the bridge of his nose, feigning a headache so he could swipe the tears from his eyes.
    Alex grabbed him and pulled him into a sturdy embrace. “Good of you to come by. I see you’ve put on some of the weight you lost in that wretched place.”
    Drew patted his stomach. “Indeed. Mrs. Huddleston is doing her best to fatten me up.”
    “I knew she’d be a good housekeeper for you,” Alex said with a grin. He draped a loving arm over Mia’s shoulders.
    “Drew, you simply must join us for dinner,” Mia said.
    “Yes,” he found himself saying. How could it be that all was forgiven so quickly? He knew he didn’t deserve absolution that fast, but he was grateful for it nonetheless.
    Right then a footman opened the adjoining door to the dining room. “Dinner, Your Grace, is served,” he said.
    Alex grabbed Mia’s hand and draped it through his arm and led her into the next room. “We’ll need another place setting,” Alex said. And the footman rushed about setting a place for Drew to sit.
    Once they’d been seated and served the first course, Drew cleared his throat. “I should like to speak with both of you about an important matter.” They both turned their attention to him. “Simon visited me while I was in prison. A couple of times,” he said, not knowing precisely how to tell them what had occurred. “He made me a proposition, and I accepted it. It is only temporary, and I’m not officially an inspector, but I am working with Scotland Yard on their investigation. Simon thought I’d have a unique perspective since the