Read Online The Silver Coin by Andrea Kane - Free Book Online Page B

people.
    The most logical thing for Royce to do was to shut down the construction—at least for now. On the other hand, he might be able to use that accessibility to Medford Manor to his advantage. He wasn’t sure yet. But he wasn’t ready to close any doors—not until he had every shred of information in his possessionandthe time to evaluate it.
    Rounding the drive, Royce brought his phaeton to a stop, and swung down to his feet. He’d reviewed the details of the case with Hibbert before leaving London. Then, he’d mulled them over during his two-hour ride to Kent. The package Lady Breanna had received, the too-coincidental murder of the guard— the whole situation had a very unpleasant taste to it.
    Instinct told Royce that Damen’s worries were well-founded. The question was, could they find this animal, stop him in time?
    Mounting the front steps, he knocked.
    A distinguished older man with spectacles answered the door, and a look of consummate relief swept across his face as he scrutinized their visitor, determined who he was. “Lord Royce,” he stated.
    “Yes.”
    “Come in.” The butler stepped aside. “Myname is Wells. Lord Sheldrake’s been expecting you. According to him … that is, I’m praying… truthfully, we’reallpraying that you can help keep Miss Breannaand Miss Stacie safe.” Wells cleared his throat, abruptly remembering his place—and his composure.” Your room is already made up. I’ll have a footman carryin your bags.” He extended his hand to take Royce ‘stopcoat.
    “Thank you.” Royce shrugged out of the thickwool coat, handing it over. He assessed the butler quickly although little insight was needed to see that thisman was loyal to the core, and deeply attached to thetwo grown women he still considered to be hisyoung charges.
    That would be an asset and a liability.
    It meant that Wells could be counted uponfor any and every form of assistance. He could also, however, be counted upon to let his feelings interferewith his objectivity.
    Andthatcould be a problem.
    Then again, Damen suffered from the sameaffli c tion. He was so bloody in love with his wife,not to mention doubly protective of her now that shewas pregnant, that it was dubious whether or not hecouldbe counted upon to act with his customary pragmatism.
    Which left the women.
    Royce frowned. Lord help him if Damen’s wife wasn’t every bit as bold and strong-willed as he’d described her. And as for Lady Breanna, well, she’d better be more than remarkable. She’d better have the internal strength of a soldier about to march into battle.
    “I’ll show you to the sitting room,” Wells was saying. “The family is gathered there. Lord Sheldrake thought you’d want to speak with them before you freshened up for dinner.”
    “He’s right. I would.”
    Royce followed Wells down the hall, glancing about as he did.
    Medford Manor was spacious and warm, an appealing combination of aged beauty and modern freshness. Twin staircases with curving, mahogany banisters, divided by a rich Oriental carpet, were accented with low tables filled with vases of holly sprigs and snowdrops and, hanging on the walls, intricate needlepoints depicting sunsets, children playing in the snow, and colorful gardens.
    Interesting. It was as if several generations had had a hand in fashioning this place, each adding its own strokes to the canvas, yet together creating a painting that blended together as naturally as dawn and day.
    He was growing more and more curious about the cousins he was about to meet. He knew little about them, other than the fact that they strongly resembled each other, and that Anastasia had been raised in the States—Philadelphia, if he correctly recalled. She must be extraordinary for Damen to have fallen so hard, so fast, not to mention brilliant for him to have entered into a business partnership with her—a partnership that, according to Damen, had been forged on his respect for Anastasia’s business