A Most Naked Solution Read Online Free

between the tiles on the floor until her panic bent to her will, slipping away. Terror did her no good. It only made her attacker stronger, the fists faster and kicks harder. Calm might not stop the pain, but it let her control it. Or at least some of it.
    Camden released her gardener. “Guard the door.” He strode toward the windows, positioning himself so he could see out but not be seen.
    Wicken braced himself against the front door. “Former Fifty-Third Foot. Served in the colonies. You were a military man, too, weren’t you?”
    “Captain, Royal Engineers.”
    Sophia started to stand, but Lord Grey planted his hand on her shoulder. “Someone shot at your head with a rifle. Do not present them with a second chance.”
    She gasped as her sore backside connected with the floor.
    Immediately, Camden dropped into a crouch next to her. “You are injured.” His hands skimmed down her arms. “Anything broken?”
    She caught his hand before he continued down her legs. His touch had been light and impersonal, yet sensation shimmered over her skin. “I’m just a bit sore.”
    The tingling must have affected her alone because Lord Grey had already redirected his attention through the window.
    Sophia fought for calm again, the awareness along her arms interfering. But she scooted until she was against the wall, then stood.
    Camden glowered at her over his shoulder. “Sit.”
    “My servants are at risk. I’m not going to sit cowering on the floor.”
    “Stay behind me then.” He glared one final time, but shifted so she could see past him.
    She tried to keep her focus on the footmen attacking Wicken’s perfectly trimmed hedges, not on the circle of sunshine that fell on the smooth wool of Camden’s sleeve, leaving it warm when it brushed her cheek as she peered past.
    After several long minutes, the footmen trudged back toward the house. Empty-handed.
    Lord Grey swore.
    “You’re in the presence of a lady,” Wicken reminded him.
    Glancing back, Camden managed to look both abashed and annoyed. She thought perhaps his ears darkened. “I beg your pardon, Lady Harding.”
    She could hardly take offense at him uttering the same words she’d been thinking. “You know Darton. Nothing you say could shock me.”
    The harsh lines on his face softened. “Is that a challenge?”
    Heavens, that sounded like flirtation. Sophia was so stunned the only thing she could do was stand there like a ninny.
    Whatever caused that was definitely not an aspect of her character she wanted to keep.
    His tension returned, deepening the fine lines around his eyes. “Are you truly uninjured? I’m not precisely a featherweight.”
    Sophia could suddenly recall with exact detail the contours of his hard body covering her. Protecting her. “I’m well. Thank you for your quick action.”
    He grunted in what she supposed was acceptance.
    Wicken hurried to unlock the door as the butler and footmen returned. “I thought the danger to you gone, my lady.”
    Lord Grey spun toward her. “What danger?”
    She cast a warning glance at her gardener, who looked suspiciously unrepentant.
    “Nothing recent,” she said.
    Her butler and footmen entered and she quickly moved the focus to them. “Did you find anything?”
    Her butler dusted a leaf from his jacket. “Nay, my lady. Only where the ball hit the doorframe.”
    None of the flushed faces held any answers. What was going on? She had no enemies. Her money came from a trust her father had arranged as part of her dowry. It had been released to her last week after her husband’s will was finally settled. Her husband’s heir had dowered her this house out of the many he’d inherited because he hadn’t wanted it. There were no hard feelings there.
    “Perhaps I asked the wrong question earlier, Lady Harding,” Lord Grey said. “Who wants both you and your husband dead?”

 
    C HAPTER F OUR
    C amden watched Lady Harding bite her lush lower lip, leaving it moist and rosy. “I cannot think of