Her Secret Affair (42 page)

And it should bear his true name: MARTIN FALKNER.

With trembling fingers, she plucked out the weeds and tossed them aside. Someone here in London had destroyed his good reputation. Someone had deliberately planted evidence to make him appear guilty of stealing the Blue Moon diamond. Had her father returned to England to track down the villain? Why had he done so without telling her?

It must have been the quarrel they’d had over that news clipping.

When Papa had brought home the broadsheet and she’d noticed the small article, it had resurrected her buried anger over their forced flight from England ten years earlier. She’d spoken bitterly about the injustice of their exile. They had exchanged sharp words over her wish to restore their standing in society. But when his expression had turned melancholy, she’d regretted her mistake in bringing up the topic and had hastily reassured him of her contentment. It had been only a day later that he’d set out on his fateful journey …

Across the cemetery, a bulky form started down the path, arms swinging purposefully. Constable Pangborn!

The prospect of leaving the grave site wrenched her heart. Yet Laura dared delay no longer. Leaning down, she whispered, “My dearest Papa … good-bye.”

She sprang to her feet and made haste to the stone wall. Since it stood no higher than her bosom, the barrier should be easily climbable. Hitching up her skirts, she found a few toeholds and hoisted herself to the top. Hard work and mountain hiking had strengthened her limbs, one more reason to be thankful she was no longer the fragile debutante.

“You there!” Pangborn shouted. “Stop!”

Dear heaven, she’d been right to mistrust the officer.

A bramble hooked her hem, causing a brief delay. Laura yanked herself free and scrambled over the wall. As she landed, her shoes slid on a mound of damp leaves. Her arms wheeled as she caught her balance, only just managing to stay upright.

She risked a backward glance. The constable had left the path and sprinted on a straight course over the graves. The scowl that darkened his whiskered face sent a chill into Laura’s heart. There could be no doubt he meant to arrest her.

As he neared the wall, she plunged into the maze of narrow streets.

Copyright © 2013 by Olivia Drake

Also by Olivia Drake

If the Slipper Fits

Never Trust a Rogue

Scandal of the Year

Seducing an Heiress

O
LIVIA
D
RAKE

OLIVIA DRAKE is a New York Times bestselling author who lives in Texas. Her novels have won critical acclaim and numerous industry awards, including the prestigious RITA. She invites you to visit
www.oliviadrake.com
.

HER SECRET AFFAIR

Copyright © 1998 by Olivia Drake.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

ISBN: 0-312-96507-9

St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition/May 1998

eISBN 9781466841161

First eBook edition: April 2013