Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (213 page)

Scott

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"It is suited to my station, dear," he said with a wink and a smile.

The trip through town went smoothly. They drew attention with their escort and the prettily decorated

Julian played the happy

bridegroom to the hilt and threw gold coins to the children chasing the carriage.

Traffic slowed at the gate. The horses champed restlessly at their bits in a desire to be off. Sophie shared their

Her hand

clenched instinctively around the gun in her pocket.

Julian shot her a warning. "Don't pull that gun out unless I'm dead," he said in earnest seriousness.

"Don't say such morbid things!" Sophie hissed.

"Even then, remember you

my name

now. You'll be a rich widow."

"Don't even think it, Julian."

"That's my fiery angel. But it might help to look a bit paler. Officers have a soft spot for women." Julian nodded in the direction of the man approaching them.

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Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss

"Good day," the man said. He was dressed in the

of the city guard. "We're just checking traveling papers

"Why is that?" Julian asked blithely, handing the packet of papers to him.

"An Italian count reported a great fortune in diamonds

was

U

for

the

inconvenience." He

the documents.

"Lord Burke, Lady Burke, you may be on your way. Felicitations on your marriage."

Sophie managed a smile, thankful for what little protection the veil gave her. She felt the move

slowly. She allowed

herself to relax. They were nearly through. Then she heard it.

"That's her! Stop the carriage." There was confusion. She looked back to see di Brazzo himself and his men parting the crowd on their big horses.

shot rang out, chipping the side of the carriage.

"Get down!" Julian threw himself at her, forcing her onto the floor of the

"Keep

driving," he yelled to the driver. "We've been cleared to pass. They are too late."

Real fear coursed through Sophie. She thought about St. Just,

and

up

Scott

there. She heard other shots.

horse

in

agony. "Please don't let that be one of ours,"

Sophie prayed.

The carriage had stopped moving. That was a bad sign.

She felt Julian's hand on her arm. "Get up, darling." She sat up and saw the reason the carriage had halted.

city guard held the lead

horse by the halter. St. Just was beside them, flanking the carriage. She glanced at He

was unharmed, thank goodness. His eyes were the color of cold steel.

"Count di

to what do I owe the

pleasure of your disruption on my wedding day?"

Julian's tone conveyed his dislike of the man.

"Your wife?" The count stared at Sophie in disbelief. She could feel his eyes boring through her, radiating menace. "She is none other than a thief who stole jewels

me. She should hang

for her crime against nobility."

"I will not sit here and have my wife insulted." Julian's indignation was real. He turned to the officer holding the horse. "Take your hands off the horse. Is this the way Englishmen are treated abroad? We were told we were to

90

Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss

pass." Julian fixed the other guard with a steely stare, forcing him to intervene.

"I'm

Count," the man stammered.

"Lord and Lady Burke have been cleared to pass.

Surely, you're mistaken."

St. Just drew his pistol and aimed it at di Brazzo with deadly intent. The nice young man who had given her a bouquet of white roses had into a merciless warrior. "You are obstructing an agent of the crown. No one in England will convict me for shooting you."

Sophie sucked in her breath. This was all her fault. This was hers to solve. Julian could scold her later. She slipped the little gun her

pocket. Everyone was too busy staring at St. Just and di Brazzo.

quick shot near the horses would

startle them. No one would be able to hold them back. "Brace yourself, Julian," she said quietly right at the last. Then she fired quickly, her gun hidden in the palm of her hand and tucked back into her gown before anyone was

what they

saw. In any case, the horses leapt

tearing

of the shocked officer.

The carriage sailed past the crowds and out into the countryside.

and