Bronwyn Scott's Sexy Regency Bundle (214 page)

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closed ranks behind them, turning their horses to face any would-be followers.

They'd made it! Sophie tossed off her veil and let out a whoop of delight, thrilling in the wind blowing her hair about her. She looked back to see

give Julian a salute and ride back

into the city.

"I told you

began.

"Would you rather have had your

shoot

the count? This way was much simpler," Sophie smiling her joy. It seemed that in leaving the city, her burdens had been lifted.

Julian couldn't stay angry with Sophie for long. The look of radiant happiness on her face, so much like the look that had first attracted him to her on the ballroom floor, was too hard to resist.

He pulled his bride of two hours across the carriage and into his arms. He kissed her hard on the mouth. "You are a

minx, Lady

Burke. Life with you will always be an adventure.

I will have to learn not to underestimate you."

Sophie laughed up at him. "I was thinking the same thing about you."

Epilogue

Three months later, Tower

Julian and Sophie stood amidst a small, private gathering of family and friends in the Tower's jewel house. Among the group was King George IV and other members of the royal family.

Julian's brother, the Earl of Dunsmore, stood soberly next to Julian. It had taken Sophie a little time to get used to the fact that Julian had a twin, an identical twin. They looked impossibly alike.

But Julian was a

adventurer and Dunsmore

was far more reserved.

There was a hushed silence as the king's brother, the Duke of Clarence, began the short ceremony. "Two centuries ago, a treasure was lost to England. It recently resurfaced, and we knew we had to send the best to get it back. Julian Burke has returned triumphant. As of today, the diamonds have been restored to their

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place." With a wave of his hand, he gestured for the curtain to be pulled back, revealing the diamonds. The group clapped politely.

Dunsmore leaned over to Sophie and Julian.

"It looks like it always did," he whispered quietly.

"But those were paste," Julian said.

"I

know.

Still,

rather

anticlimactic,"

Dunsmore mused, "especially since we can't tell anyone about it. What do you think happened to the fakes?"

Julian smiled. "St. Just wrote Italy to

tell me he recovered them while visiting the count di Brazzo's palazzo in Florence."

"And he never knew he had the fakes?"

Dunsmore queried. "Amazing. What else did St.

Just have to say? Is he still wooing his way through the continent?"

"That appears to be the case," Julian replied obliquely.

Dunsmore snorted. "It's been two years. Do you think he'll ever come back?"

Julian shrugged. "He'll come back when he's found what he's looking for."

Beside him, Sophie squeezed Julian's hand.

Now that she had Julian, she could imagine how empty her life would be without him. It pained her

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Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss

to think of the young viscount searching for a way to be whole. She could only hope that his time would come, that love would find him again.

"If we could have your attention once more."

This time it was the king who spoke. "Julian Burke, come

please." Julian cast a

curious glance at Sophie. She merely

"For services rendered, you should be paid.

But what does one give someone who has everything?" The little group laughed politely at the monarch's humor. "Burke has more money than what's good for him, has a wife far lovelier than he deserves. The one thing you don't have is a title, for what it's worth. We'll have an official ceremony later, but as of today, you are now elevated to the rank of viscount. You'll have to let me know which name you'll attach to it. You've got several estates already to choose

"That's easy." Julian fixed Sophie with a smile. "It will be Leighton, for the estate where my wife has started her horse

Sophie beamed while those around her applauded. When she had set out to retrieve the jewels, she'd known the risks such a venture held.

She had never imagined the rewards.