What You Desire (Anything for Love, Book 1) by Adele Clee Page A

to Marchampton.”
    Peter sighed. “I thought you’d gone and sold him for this one,” he said, stroking Argo’s nose.
    “I would never sell Cronus,” Sebastian said placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “This is Argo, but he’s only visiting so don’t get too attached.” He smiled at Peter’s look of wondrous appreciation. “Is Haines about?” Sebastian was curious to know how Haines had fared with his minx of a passenger.
    The boy shook his head. “No, my lord. He said they need him in the house.”
    With some trepidation, Sebastian made his way inside. No doubt, Miss Beaufort had been causing all sorts of trouble in his absence. He wondered if she would be waiting for him, ready to pounce, ready to lash out with her sharp tongue and he imagined dodging books and ornaments while trying to calm her volatile temper.
    He found Haines in the kitchen, sitting at the oak table in just his shirtsleeves, helping Amy polish cutlery. Mrs. Cox stood at the counter, rolling out pastry.
    “Good afternoon,” Sebastian said. They were so busy chatting, no one seemed to notice he was standing there.
    “My lord,” Haines replied looking a little embarrassed as he stood to attention. “I didn’t know you were back.”
    Amy jumped up quickly, knocking over the chair, and Haines walked around and picked it up while she bobbed a curtsy.
    The kitchen door burst open and a pale, thin girl scuttled in carrying a tea tray, coming to a crashing halt directly in front of Sebastian.
    Mrs. Cox rushed forward, wiping her hands on her apron, her plump face dotted with flour. “You do remember me telling you about my niece, my lord?”
    Sebastian nodded. “Yes, I do. It is Sarah, is it not?”
    The girl attempted a curtsy but looked like she was ducking under a swinging branch. “Thank you, my lord, for giving me this position. There’s not many who would take a girl who’s got a kiddie.”
    Sebastian smiled and helped her to steady the tray. “Is that Miss Beaufort’s luncheon?” he inquired, noticing she hadn’t touched a morsel. Perhaps she was still annoyed with him and this was a form of punishment. Given the option, he’d choose assault with a vase over silent manipulation. “I assume she’s still in her room?”
    Haines spoke up. “She asked for a bath to be drawn, my lord, and for Amy to press her clothes.”
    The thought of Miss Beaufort lounging in a bath, just a few feet above, sent his pulse racing and he placed his fingers behind the knot in his cravat to loosen it a little.
    “Did Miss Beaufort say why she refuses to eat?”
    “No, my lord, I tried the door but it was locked,” Sarah replied. “I did knock, but she didn’t answer. She’s probably fallen asleep and so I thought it best to bring the tray down.”
    “But she slept most of the journey,” Amy added, shaking her head. “She told me herself, it wasn’t good for the constitution to sit around idle.”
    Sebastian narrowed his gaze. “Where are her clothes?”
    “Amy took them up an hour ago,” Haines replied, a look of suspicion marring his weathered face.
    “I cleaned them as best as I could, given such short notice, but Miss Beaufort seemed happy enough,” Amy said, looking proud of her efforts. “She said as long as she looked respectable enough to walk down the street —”
    “ Bloody hell! ” Sebastian cried, turning on his heels and running out of the door.
    He mounted the stairs two at a time, aware of Haines’ heavy plodding behind him.
    “In here?” Sebastian asked, pointing across the landing to the room furthest from his own.
    “Yes, my lord,” Haines murmured, his voice tinged with remorse as he hung his head low.
    Sebastian turned the handle and discovered the door was locked.
    “Miss Beaufort,” he called as he rapped on the door. He felt like smashing the blasted thing down with his fists.
    There was no reply.
    Sebastian knelt down and peered through the keyhole. He could see straight through into the room as