Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (204 page)

Scott

morning. I'm to check up on the situation in Naples. But you'll have to do better than that, old man, if you want to distract me. I'm not like all those effortlessly diverted women you charm in the drawing rooms."

Julian sighed and said in a low voice, "It's complicated. There's a woman involved."

"Isn't there always?" Valerian said in a tone that caused Julian to wonder just how many secrets Valerian kept hidden beneath his cool exterior. If he had to guess, Julian suspected there were far more than the usual number young men kept.

"She's stolen my paste version of the jewels.

She

them right out of my jacket pocket last night.

you didn't notice?" St. Just queried.

"No, not until after she was gone. We were engaged in some, ah, distracting activities, shall we say," Julian confessed.

he had no

trouble discussing such things with his circle of friends. Today, talking about what had transpired with Sophie seemed demeaning. What they'd done had only been a game but he still didn't feel right making it public knowledge. If their regular companions, Truesdale and Mathison, were here,

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Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss

they'd be laughing their heads off-and he hadn't even gotten to the part

finding her gun

under the sofa.

didn't want anyone to laugh.

St. Just seemed to understand even if he didn't. The viscount stroked the length of a bishop piece with his long fingers, thinking. "You have to get them back. The king can't have an excellent forgery loose in Europe. There's all kinds of mischief that could come of it. Have you approached her about the incident?"

"Yes, I went to her place this morning."

"Obviously with an unsatisfactory outcome his

surmised. "What did she say when you asked for your paste diamonds back?"

"I didn't precisely ask for them back. I told her I'd play her for them."

"We played strip piquet."

Coffee spewed inelegantly out of St. Just's mouth. He dabbed at his mouth and trousers with a white napkin. "Good lord, what were you thinking?"

"That's just it. I was thinking that I rather liked her. I've yet to meet a woman who strikes me so

She's

passionate,

witty, daring. I find myself wanting to know what

Bronwyn Scott

she'll do next. I only suggested we play piquet for clothing because I didn't think she'd accept.

Before I knew it, we were sitting there in our don't wear

Val corrected.

"That's why I lost. She'd already won the shirt off my back. I had to stop the game before she took my trousers."

St. Just stifled a laugh.

It's not particularly

Julian

looked around to make sure they weren't drawing undue stares.

"It is when it's you, my friend. You've had your way with every woman you've laid eyes on.

These continental women have made it far too easy for you. You toss them aside after a week when someone new captures your meager attention span. Finally you've met a woman who challenges you, pushes you and apparently has the ability to best you. I like her already."

"She's mine. You'll have to get your own, maybe a pretty
signorina
in Italy," Julian jested.

But St. Just didn't laugh. He looked away, glancing at a spot over Julian's shoulder, pretending that his attention was caught by some activity at another table. Julian wasn't fooled. In a

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Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss

fleeting moment of insight, he knew why St. Just avoided England. "Tell me about her," Julian said quietly.

"Who?" It was St. Just's

to be obtuse.

"The woman who keeps you from England.

The woman who holds your heart."

"It hardly matters anymore. She's to

another. Her family needed more money than I had

to

offer."

Valerian

shrugged

and

contemplated the dregs in his coffee cup. "A cautionary tale, my friend, about how little love matters and how little love can do in this world."

"I only said I liked her. I didn't use the word love," Julian protested. "I'm merely worried for her."

St. Just

his brow. "Don't be naive,

Julian. She stole what amounts to diamonds you. She's not as pure as the driven snow. Don't be taken in by her beauty alone."

"Whatever her usual game is, I think she's in too deep this time. She's working for Count di Brazzo. He's the one who hired her to get the diamonds."

St. Just let out a low whistle. "That is deep. If she's with di Brazzo then it means she's done this before. He wouldn't hire a novice. The count is