One Night of Sin (Mansforth Chronicles Book 1)

Four Weeks Later

“Good heavens, it is no wonder Priscilla left!”

Lilliana’s temple throbbed as she clutched her script. Suffering through such horrendous drivel had been one thing to stomach, but to act as though she truly believed in the words she had been saying…

That was an entirely different affair.

And she simply would not hold her tongue any longer!

The words were like a knife to Braxton’s chest. He didn’t need the unpleasant reminder of how he’d come to be in this desperate position of needing an actress in the first place.

And he certainly didn’t need this browbeating from Lilliana, of all people.

“And why do you say as much?” he bristled.

Lilliana tossed the script carelessly aside, the papers skittering across the stage as though they were in a windstorm. “Well, for one, your stage directions are dreadful. And that dialogue! Oh, dear heavens, it is absolutely ludicrous! It’s a shame, really, for it’s a beautiful story otherwise.”

Braxton’s brows lifted in shock. “And do you moonlight as a screenwriter yourself?” he quipped. “Or are you only capable of critiquing others so harshly?”

“Well, neither, I suppose. But I do happen to know beautiful prose when I see it, if you want my honest opinion. I am quite fond of books, and I very well-read, if I do say so myself.”

Braxton’s face still remained in a state of shock. Perhaps he truly had not wanted her honest opinion, given that he had little time to steer the play into another direction. At this point, only a Herculean miracle would be able to right the ship.

And he was fresh out of miracles.

And patience.

“Yes, well, I simply cannot afford to throw it out. There has already been far too much time and dedication that has gone into it. Surely, you do not expect me to rip it to shreds now?”

Her eyes darted to the papers, then back to him. “I expect that if you’re wanting quality talent, you are going to have to deliver them a quality script, lest you find yourself on the receiving end of many rotten fruits come opening night!”

His eyes narrowed as he closed the gap between them. Of all the women he had dealt with in his time, this one in particular always managed to burrow her way under his skin.

It was a knack, really, how she managed to incense him so. And yet, he could not stay away from her.

Still, he was absolutely maddened by her words. How brazenly cruel she had been to his hard work!

“Do you always treat everyone with such brutal remarks?” he growled. “Or do you only reserve that special treatment for me?”

Lilliana grinned like a cat. “Only for you, I’m afraid. It is quite easy to get under your skin, you know?”

Braxton shook his head, then stormed off stage, nearly tripping on the last step as he reached the seating area below. Of course, this would happen now that he’d found the right actress! Or, as he liked to think of it, the wrong actress, considering how difficult she had been! One could only assume she wasn’t truly afraid of being put back out on the streets, given the fact she had no qualms arguing with the only other person in town that could employ her in her chosen line of work.

Though he supposed she could find some other profession.

Anger seared through him at the thought of her working at some sort of scandalous club. Worse yet, a brothel!

The attention she would attract would be unfathomable!

And would undoubtedly deter her from having any sort of desire for him again.

Braxton swore under his breath. He simply could not have it! He would not allow her to be the object of anyone else’s affections, save for being on his stage! She was his, and his alone, damn it!

He turned around, storming back up the steps to where she stood. “You are quite possibly the most maddening woman I’ve ever crossed paths with,” he said tersely. “But I, for one, am a glutton for punishment, I suppose. I need you in this play, damn it! So do you with the script as you wish. But I better have an audience filled to the rafters by the time we reach opening night!”

A beat of silence passed between them before Lilliana broke into a wide grin. “I think you will be quite pleasantly surprised, Mister Cuthbert. You shall see.”

And with her gown flouncing behind her, she flew off the stage to begin to work her magic.