Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (209 page)

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Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss

he'd left behind on a prior visit. I assumed he was telling the

I had no reason to disbelieve him.

We went into the study and we took a book. It seemed

enough to me until he took me

outside and showed me what was in the book. The book was hollow and there were some rubies inside. Of course, I was shocked. But he explained how these jewels really belonged to his mother's side of the family and how the host had tricked his mother's family out of them years ago.

"Then he told me about the opportunities to help people find lost things, how the war had displaced valuables like those rubies and how they'd fallen into the wrong hands."

Julian supplied the rest. "You came to to help restore lost items, then?"

"Yes." She was defiant now. "I did not steal anything. The items I took

did belong to the

people who hired me."

"Until now," Julian said

"The

diamonds don't belong to Count di Brazzo, no matter what he's told you."

Sophie bit her lip. "I know. This was to be the last job. I needed the money for my horse and a decent life in England. I suspected the

start he had not told me the whole

Scott

Julian shifted to face her. He pushed a strand of hair out of her face. "The diamonds belong to the monarchy of England. I've been hired to bring them back. They were originally part of the royal treasury before the execution of Charles I. Much was destroyed intentionally by the council of state under the new government, but much of it was also discreetly looted and made its way abroad.

Within time, people forget to be on the lookout for quiet "oh" escaped Sophie's lips. There was so much she didn't know about Julian Burke.

He was the king's man, a diplomat, a jewel thief, a great lover of women. What else comprised the sum of the man who lay beside her? There was no time to ask or to ponder that question. Julian was rolling her beneath him again and her body was ready for him, for a chance to return to that magical place where nothing mattered for a few moments of bliss. In Julian's

she could hold

the morning at bay.

Julian dressed efficiently in the morning light.

There was much he wanted to have done before Sophie awoke. He had loved her thoroughly in the night and now she slept deeply. No matter what happened this morning with di Brazzo, today

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Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss

would be their last day in

Sophie had to

leave the city and he would protect her with his body, with his very name if need be. She had given herself to him and she was his.

his dressing room, Julian threw a spare change of clothes into a traveling valise. He wrapped the box holding the king's diamonds in a clean shirt and placed it in the bottom of the bag.

He packed up his personal items; razor and hairbrush. From his dresser drawer, he took out the wooden box containing his papers and tucked them into his coat pocket. There was another item in the box too, and Julian added it to his pocket.

One never knew when a ring would come in handy. From the bottom dresser drawer he drew out his weapons; two pistols and a knife. There was powder and shot too. The next task was to write the necessary letters and get them delivered.

With luck, St. Just hadn't

for Italy yet.

half hour later, the notes were on their way a few blocks over to St. Just and his uncle. It was time to wake Sophie. Julian was reluctant to do it.

She looked content as she slept. There was so much to face in the waking world. It would take all their wits to survive today.